Fordham’s Green Work

An infographic showing Fordham's Green Progress from 2007 to 2022

Fordham Infrastructure 

Rose Hill Building Exterior.

NYC Carbon Challenge

In 2007 Fordham pledged to reduce greenhouse gasses by 30% from our baseline year of 2005 as part of the NYC Carbon Challenge started under Mayor Bloomberg. This grew to a commitment to a 40% reduction. As of 2021 we have reduced CO2e by 36.8%.

NYC Carbon Challenge
Rose Hill Building Exterior.

NYS REV Carbon Challenge

Fordham was recognized as a “First Mover” by NYS REV Carbon Challenge by being one of the first to sign on to this NY State initiative to implement clean energy solutions.

NYS REV Carbon Challenge
Rose Hill Aerial Photo.

Wildlife Conservation Society

Fordham is the first institution of higher education to collaborate with Wildlife Conservation Society’s Framing our Future Campaign (wcs.org).

Wildlife Conservation Society
Front entrance to Lincoln Center campus

LEED Gold Certified

Campbell Hall, Salice, and Conley Halls are LEED Gold certified. The Law Building and McKeon Hall are LEED Silver. Duane and Hughes are LEED.

LEED Gold Certified

 

Fordham has undertaken several solar projects which currently offset 20% of Fordham’s energy usage, and 37% of that of Fordham Prep.

The Fordham Staten Island Solar Project
Solar Projects

Fordham Staten Island Solar Project

This 2.6 MW ground-mounted solar project is the largest solar array dedicated to any educational entity in NYC. The project has generated over 7,300 MWH to date, with Fordham owning and retiring 100% of the associated Renewable Energy Credits (substantial LL 97 benefits).

The Laudato Si’ Action Platform

Solar panels are installed on top of the Rose Hill parking garage
Rose Hill Parking Garage Community Solar Project

This 960 KW roof mounted system is the largest Community Solar project to be hosted by any educational entity in NYC

Campbell, Salice, Conley Halls
Campbell Hall Solar Project

This 7.7 KW roof mounted system was installed on the roof of Campbell Hall in 2019, and was partly funded by a student & alumni GoFundMe campaign.

Installing solar panels on top of Walsh Library on the Rose Hill campus
Walsh Library

250 KW roof mounted solar array installed in 2012.

Teaching, Learning, and Research

Fordham is home to a strong set of academic programs that support teaching and learning in the areas of ecology, environmental sustainability, and environmental justice:

 Humanities and Social Sciences

Fordham offers many courses across disciplines, including in the humanities and social sciences, which offer students an opportunity to engage with sustainability content as a part of the course. Fordham offered 175 such courses in recent years.

The Louis Calder Center

Fordham runs the Louis Calder Center, a field station in Armonk New York, which functions as a living laboratory for sustainability research.

  • Researchers collect “climate and ecological” data on water quality, pertabrates, plants, and phytoplankton and benthic algae.
  • The facility includes 7 buildings with a dorm, labs, and other multi-use facilities.
  • The Center is part of a urban-rural transect of forest, and supports the longest running study on lyme disease in the country.
  • The Center is staffed by 7 on-site faculty, 3 on-site scientists, 3 RH faculty, 2 staff, and hosts 10 graduate students, 2 undergraduate students, and 2 high school students when fully operational.