Campus Environmental Commitments

As a signatory of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, Chatham has pledged to work toward carbon neutrality. We have taken many steps to help create a more sustainable living, learning, and working environment for the campus community.

Photo of solar panels on Chatham's Eden Hall Campus

Energy & Operations

Chatham has made and purchased renewable power either directly or through RECS since 2002, and now purchases 90% of their total electricity usage from a Green-E Certified mix of renewable energy that is primarily wind power. At Eden Hall, we have photovoltaic panels on the entrance canopy, field lab, Dairy Barn Café, Barazzone Center, and Orchard Hall. In Shadyside, Chatham has installed solar thermal water heating for the University's Woodland and Fickes dormitories and completed the retrofitting of the lighting system at Chatham's Eastside building.

Photo of a male Chatham University student working in a garden

Recycling & Waste

For over a decade, Chatham has been focused on waste reduction. We've instituted many initiatives, including eliminating the sale of plastic water bottles; going trayless in the dining hall; implementing a reusable take-out food container program; using compostable containers; converting spent fryer oil to bio-diesel fuel; following the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch guidelines for purchasing sustainable seafood; and running a composting program for pre– and post–consumer materials. Chatham also competes annually in RecycleMania, the nationwide competition between colleges and universities to increase recycling and composting and reduce the most trash.

Photo of Chatham University's Shadyside Campus in the fall

Campus Grounds

In addition to being an arboretum, Chatham’s Shadyside Campus is a collection of historic estates, wooded areas, and sweeping greens. Our Eden Hall Campus is home to a farm and secondary forest. Chatham has a decade-long no chemical pesticides policy and actively preserves green space throughout its campuses. These areas are cared for by a grounds crew that works to maintain the integrity of the historical aspects of the campuses while sticking to the plant species native to western Pennsylvania.

Photo of a Pittsburgh river and bridge

Water

One major environmental concern of Pittsburgh is the management of stormwater. With an antiquated storm system, large rain events have a harmful effect on its waterways. Chatham has implemented a number of techniques to reduce the effects of stormwater. An historic pond has been restored to capture rainwater from the Mellon Green, and the athletic field storm system allows water to infiltrate and slowly releases after the rain stops. All new buildings will be planned to have a rain garden, and all existing buildings where a rain garden is possible are having them installed over a 10-year period. Eden Hall has 16 rain gardens to manage runoff from parking areas (although parking areas are also built with permeable paving.)

Photo of a man waiting for a bus, with a blurred bus passing into the frame

Alternative Transportation & Carpooling

Chatham maintains a fleet of shuttle buses to transport students between its Shadyside, Eastside, and Eden Hall Campuses. We also provide free public transportation to all Chatham students on the entire Pittsburgh Regional Transport (PRT) system. Chatham offers a bike commuter benefit program for full-time staff who bike for a "substantial portion" of their commute. Chatham participates in the Southwest PA Commission Commute Info program, which coordinates vanpool, carpool, and bikepool riders across the region.

Environmental Commitments

Aerial photo of Eden Hall Campus on a sunny fall day

What to Check Out During a Visit to the Falk School

What’s Happening at the Apiary for Pollinator Week?

Joshua Lewis, MSUS ‘16, is taking care of environmentally significant land

Planting Seeds in the Depths of Winter—Thanks to the Solar High Tunnel