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Annual Sustainability Report

Each year, Caltech's Sustainability Office issues an annual report reviewing the Institute's progress toward enhancing campus sustainability. Progress in the six main sustainability focus areas of energy, water, materials, built environment, mobility, and emissions are chronicled in each year's report.

Recent Highlights

  • A newly comprehensive understanding of campus utilities and spaces opened the door for a major campus decarbonization effort. In 2021, technicians analyzed thermal systems in every building and air flow in more than 500 spaces, and wrapped up a meticulous multiyear study of the campus utility system and energy sources, consumption, and associated emissions.
  • The return of many community members to campus as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions lifted caused a rebound in energy and water use and waste generation.
  • Emissions rose as campus was reoccupied and cars began returning to parking lots in significant numbers.
  • Most Caltech community members chose a different method of coming to campus than driving alone.
  • Water savings were realized from new drought-tolerant landscape installed in place of turf.