Sustainability at Colby-Sawyer College

Colby-Sawyer runs on renewable energy—and it runs on your energy, too. At its core are Four Foundational Commitments established to promote a culture of sustainability and resilience through a shared vision of personal wellness, social justice, financial stability, and ecological balance for the larger global community.

Sustainability Timeline
  • By 2050 the campus will be carbon neutral—but no one is waiting until then for change.
  • In 2010 the Windy Hill School achieved LEED Silver Certification as a green and healthy building.
  • In 2012 solar power came to Colby-Sawyer and energy conservation measures have saved the college $150,000 annually.
  • By 2015 the college reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent.

Colby-Sawyer offers classes in environmental law, global sustainability, and permaculture, while faculty from across disciplines integrate these principles into their curriculum and every student has the option to choose sustainability as a minor.

Your participation is essential as the college works to meet sustainability goals. Here is what you've been doing:

Student Participation
  • Designing and building a super-efficient, cutting-edge Sustainable Classroom with locally-sourced, non-toxic materials.
  • Planting and managing the organic permaculture garden.
  • Advocating for sustainable agriculture and locally-grown food in Ware Dining Hall.
  • Raising funds to install water bottle refilling stations and a wind turbine on campus.
  • Organizing the first Fair Trade Certification of a private college in N.H., to increase global workers’ rights.
  • Participating in national pilots to research best practices for resource reduction and recycling.

Some of your classmates are award-winning Eco-Reps who educate the community about their power to make a difference. So far, 300 of you have partnered with community stakeholders and gained professional experience through your participation in the Sustainable Learning Initiative at Franklin Falls.

Over the coming years, you'll likely witness similar changes in society's legislation, technology, and community infrastructure that support Colby-Sawyer's vision and strategic plan. From that mindful perspective, you will learn how to move toward a clean-energy economy and to address the origin and impact of climate change. Meanwhile, each one of you has an important role to play in this process. The cumulative impact of your day-to-day actions is shaping the kind of world future generations will inherit.

Learn more about how you can create a more sustainable campus culture with Colby-Sawyer’s Blueprint for Resilience & Innovation.