Skip to main content

Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC)

Built Environment
Civic Engagement
Energy & Climate
Food
Natural Environment
Procurement
Recycling & Waste
Transportation
Wellness
Faculty
Staff
Students

The Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee is a group of faculty, staff, and students who advise the President on sustainability.

Folks strolling down Locust Walk
Purpose

ESAC subcommittees, each led by two co-chairs, develop recommendations and implement solutions for short- and long-term actions which address Penn's Climate & Sustainability Action Plan 3.0.

Impact

ESAC has been developing and executing Penn’s climate and sustainability goals since the signing of the Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2007.

Activities

ESAC subcommittees meet bimonthly to advance goals and tactics outlined in CSAP
3.0, with members then sharing information with their respective schools, centers, or
departments.

LEED Buildings

Designing for Tomorrow

The campus development plan, Penn Connects, recommends sustainable development for all new projects. Every new building and major renovation project currently under design is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and is targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.

Designing for Tomorrow

The campus development plan, Penn Connects, recommends sustainable development for all new projects. Every new building and major renovation project currently under design is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and is targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.

Overview

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a widely recognized standard for green building design, construction, operation, and maintenance. LEED is a globally recognized rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) that focuses on promoting sustainable and energy-efficient building practices. LEED-certified buildings are designed to minimize environmental impact, conserve resources, and provide healthier spaces for occupants.

The University of Pennsylvania has been committed to sustainable and environmentally conscious construction and design practices and has incorporated LEED principles into several of its building projects to promote sustainable practices on campus. Every new building and major renovation project currently under design is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and is targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.

Projects by Rating

  • Morris Arboretum Horticulture Center

  • 3901 Walnut Street
  • Academic Research Building
  • Evans Centennial Century Bond Renovation
  • FMC Tower (Cira Center South)
  • Golkin Hall
  • Hill College House
  • Joe's Cafe
  • Lauder College House
  • Lerner Center (Music Building)
  • Penn Medicine Pavilion
  • Pennovation Center
  • Richards, Phase 3
  • Robbins House
  • Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics
  • Singh Center for Nanotechnology
  • Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall Addition (Mack Pavilion)
  • Steinberg-Dietrich Dean's Suite
  • Stemmler Hall Renovation
  • University Meeting and Guest House
  • Vance Hall (upper floors)
  • Weiss Pavilion
  • Wharton China Center in Beijing, China
  • Wharton Research Building and Substation
  • Wharton San Francisco in San Francisco, CA

  • ARCH (Arts, Research & Culture House)
  • Graduate Research Wing Phase 1 (Levine North)
  • Graduate Research Wing, Phase 1 & 2
  • Holman Biotech Commons
  • Houston Hall Market Renovation
  • Hutchinson Gymnasium Infill
  • Lauder Institute
  • Levin Building (Neural & Behavioral Sciences)
  • New College House West 
  • Penn Museum Coxe and Harrison Renovations, Phase 1
  • Penn Squash Center
  • Pennovation Main Lab
  • Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine (PCAM)
  • Perry World House
  • Richards Medical Research Building, Phase 1 & 2
  • Smilow Center for Translational Research
  • Tangen Hall
  • Vance Hall

  • 3401 Walnut Street (4th floor)
  • Penn Dental Center's Schattner Addition & Renovation

Our Progress

49

LEED-certified projects with additional projects in design and construction.

6,272,422

Square feet on campus certified through LEED.

Projects Map

Stormwater Management

Stormwater Management Plan

The purpose of the plan is to aid campus planning by identifying opportunities to incorporate sustainable stormwater management practices into future projects.

Stormwater Management Plan

The purpose of the plan is to aid campus planning by identifying opportunities to incorporate sustainable stormwater management practices into future projects.

Stormwater Management

In accordance with Philadelphia Water Department requirements, campus buildings and landscapes are increasingly being designed to prevent stormwater from overwhelming the city’s sewer system. These stormwater management practices include the installation and maintenance of lush rain gardens and green roofs, and also help further Penn’s water conservation efforts.

 

 

Green roof of Golkin Hall
aerial photo of Shoemaker Green

Shoemaker Green

Shoemaker Green contains an underground cistern capable of holding 20,000 gallons of water, as well as a rain garden planted with native trees and other vegetation to allow for stormwater to drain slowly into the soil.

A view of Penn Park and the City Skyline

Penn Park

Penn Park contains a cistern with a 300,000-gallon capacity so stored rainwater can later be used for irrigation, as well as six acres of native grass meadows to help divert stormwater from the sewer system.

colorful map of stormwater locations on penn's campus

Green Labs

Green Labs
Faculty
Staff
Students

Penn has over 676 labs in over 30 buildings and has an expanding lab footprint, including Chemistry, Engineering, and Medicine. Each of these labs present significant opportunities to optimize labs for safety and sustainability. Penn’s Green Labs Program aims to support the lab community to achieve these savings.  

man at microscope in white jacket
Purpose

The Green Labs Program at Penn aims to improve safety and sustainability through educating and empowering lab staff on best practices in labs. 

Team

The Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety and the Penn Sustainability Office collaboratively support the Green Labs Program at Penn. The Green Labs Executive Committee helps guide and promote sustainable lab practices and opportunities.

Matina Granieri

Matina Granieri, Sustainability Coordinator

Matina is the Sustainability Coordinator. In her role at Penn, Matina manages a number of engagement and outreach initiatives including Green Living and Green Office certification, Staff and Faculty Eco-reps and the Penn Green preorientation program. She also coordinates events, provides website support, and manages social media for Penn Sustainability.

Previous to her role at Penn, Matina worked in various climate-focused roles, including at CDP and the City of Philadelphia. At CDP, Matina managed an accelerator program for municipal sustainability staff across the U.S. and Canada to develop and finance urgently needed climate-related infrastructure projects. Before working at CDP, Matina was the City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability’s first Program Manager for Place-based Initiatives. In this role, her main areas of focus were fostering cross-sector relationships and elevating community leadership to implement strategic initiatives to support resilience and environmental justice in Philadelphia’s most climate impacted neighborhoods.

 

 

Austin Sutherland

Austin Sutherland, Sustainability Analyst

Austin is the Sustainability Analyst in the University of Pennsylvania Sustainability Office. Austin serves as the primary data and metrics analyst by collecting and reporting university sustainability performance metrics. He oversees the Green Office Certification program, Green Labs, ULT Freezer Rebate Program, the Integrating Sustainability across the Curriculum (ISAC) program, and the Civic Sustainability Fellows (CSF). Austin is also responsible for submitting University sustainability data to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), and the City of Philadelphia. 

Previously, Austin worked for a local recycling and waste company, consulting on sustainability and landfill diversion projects. There, he was responsible for supplier emissions reporting as well as identifying new zero waste strategies tailored to each clients’ operations. Prior to that, he worked at the University of South Carolina as their Sustainability Coordinator where he lead the completion and submittal of the university’s comprehensive sustainability report (AASHE’s STARS); managed the office’s financial operations; tracked progress on university sustainability goals; and supervised the Sustainable Carolina Garden program. During his time at USC, he was selected to participate in the Obama Foundation’s inaugural Community Leadership Corp where he started an initiative in Columbia, SC providing Latinx and undocumented high school students and their parents with resources to pursue a higher education after graduating high school. Austin holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of South Carolina and is a LEED Green Associate. Austin has lived in Philadelphia since 2020 and in his free time you will likely find him hiking; camping; kayaking; with his two rescue dogs, Lizzie and Willow, in tow.

 

Noah Swistak

Noah Swistak, Sustainability Manager

Noah is the Sustainability Manager in the University of Pennsylvania's Sustainability Office. He implements projects in support of the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan across a broad spectrum of sustainability topics such as decarbonization, GHG reporting, stormwater management, procurement, transportation, and waste. Noah also helps oversee the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee, manages the Student Eco-Reps program and School & Center Sustainability Coordinators group, and assists in the production of many of the Sustainability Office's outreach events. 

Previously, Noah worked as the Membership Director for the Philadelphia-based Energy Co-op where he managed all campaigns and analyses pertaining to the cooperative’s sales, customer and business development; ran an internship program; and served as a subject matter expert for renewable energy financing, campus sustainability planning, and emerging renewable power technologies. Previous to his time at The Energy Co-op, Noah worked for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) as their Membership Development Manager. In this role, Noah provided direct technical consultation to academic member institutions to further their sustainability and decarbonization goals and supported the annual AASHE international sustainability conference. He received his Master of City Planning degree from the Stuart Weitzman School of Design in 2010 and his Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Villanova University in 2008. Noah lives in Philadelphia and serves on the Board of Directors and Zoning Committee of his neighborhood civic group, the Queen Village Neighbors Association.

 

Nina Morris

Nina Morris, Sustainability Director

Nina is the Sustainability Director in the University of Pennsylvania Sustainability Office. Nina leads the sustainability office and collaboratively sets and implements Penn’s sustainability goals, programs, reporting, and communications. She also serves as the University’s primary spokesperson regarding sustainability performance and is responsible for compliance with University membership requirements for the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, the Ivy+ Sustainability Consortium, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and the Global University Leadership Forum’s International Sustainability Campus Network. 

Previously, Nina worked for 10 years at the University of Virginia's Office for Sustainability leading the outreach programs and communications team. There, she served as co-chair of the Civic Engagement Subcommittee and helped found and run the Equity & Environment Fund and hosted annual environmental justice events. Nina holds a B.A. in Spanish & Religious Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and a M.S. in Community and Regional Planning from Temple University. Nina is a LEED Green Associate, certified PROSCI Change Practitioner, and a mother who can be found exploring Philadelphia’s parks and playgrounds during her family time.

 

 

Power Purchase Agreement

Committed to 100% Carbon Neutrality

The University of Pennsylvania has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the creation of a solar power project moving the University significantly closer to meeting its commitment of a 100% carbon neutral campus by 2042. (Photo credit: AES)

Committed to 100% Carbon Neutrality

The University of Pennsylvania has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the creation of a solar power project moving the University significantly closer to meeting its commitment of a 100% carbon neutral campus by 2042. (Photo credit: AES)

Spacing: 50px

At a Glance

Purpose: Penn’s PPA moves the University significantly closer to meeting its commitment of a 100% carbon neutral campus by 2042. 

Completed: December 2023 

Location: Central Pennsylvania 

Solar Facilities Size: 220 megawatts 

Solar Energy Production: Approximately 420,000 MWh, roughly 70% of the total electricity demand of the academic campus and the University of Pennsylvania Health System. 

Related Initiatives: Climate and Energy

“This agreement not only allows the University of Pennsylvania to continue to demonstrate strong leadership on climate action, but it also provides a competitive price on electricity,”

Anne Papageorge, Senior Vice President, Division of Facilities & Real Estate Services

FAQs

A solar power purchase agreement (PPA) is a financial agreement between a solar project developer and customer. The developer agrees to design, build, and deliver the solar power from the system while the customer agrees to purchase the power generated by the system. In this case, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is purchasing solar electricity from AES, the developer.  

Many of our Ivy+ peers have signed PPAs as well (mostly solar, but some wind), but Penn’s is the largest at 220 MW. 

  • Johns Hopkins - 175 MW 
  • Stanford - 67 MW 
  • MIT - 44 MW 
  • Georgetown - 32.5 MW 
  • Harvard - 12 MW 

In terms of the Pennsylvania region, many of our peers have signed PPAs as well, but again, Penn’s is by far the largest. 

  • Penn State - 70 MW 
  • Partnership between Lehigh, Lafayette, Muhlenberg, and Dickinson - 45.9 MW 
  • University of Pittsburgh - 17 MW 

Penn has assessed the available roof space on campus and determined at this time that there is not enough space on campus to develop a sizable solar capacity. 

There is always going to be market risk of market prices falling below our locked in price. In response to these concerns, we analyzed various scenarios that used current forward market pricing to evaluate the market risk over 25 years. The results showed a low level of risk for market prices to drop below our contracted price over the life of the PPA, well within the accepted levels for the University. 

We do not have plans for another PPA at present. We are currently focusing on reduction of energy consumption on campus, which will reduce what we need to buy from the grid. Additionally, Penn has a goal of carbon neutrality by 2042. We are currently assessing a variety of avenues to achieve that goal. 

Penn is procuring power from a solar developer and will not be involved in operation or maintenance of the facility. Any job training is outside of our purview. 

Penn is working with the solar developer and the Environmental Innovations Initiative to identify research projects that are mutually beneficial. More information will be shared as available.  

The project will put Penn on a solid path to its goal of carbon neutrality. These benefits were seen as optimal for Penn’s desire to address carbon emissions in mitigating the effects of climate change. Other potential impacts were considered but not included in the analysis

The project is expected to have a 35-40 year life. The project will be decommissioned at the end of its life. The steel posts that support the racking structure that hold the panels are pounded into the ground with no concrete footers so they can be fully removed at the end of the project’s life. Steel and aluminum parts are expected to be recycled. Solar panels are more than 80% glass and aluminum, so recycling of the panels is expected as well. The solar panel recycling industry is in its early stages of development as the vast majority of panels manufactured are still in operation. There are facilities in the US and abroad, and we expect solar panel recycling to grow as more and more panels are decommissioned. 

Penn's primary commitment was to create additionality of alternative energy production. Over the 25-year contract, the rates are competitive with projected conventional electricity prices. 

The PPA provides ~70% of Penn’s electricity of the academic campus and University of Pennsylvania Health System in the Greater Philadelphia area annually from a renewable source - approximately 400,000 MWh. This project reduces over 130,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equaling an estimated 26% reduction of the academic campus’ emissions from its 2009 baseline. 

The PPA contact includes $50,000/year for education and/or training associated with technical, operational, and economic aspects of renewable energy and energy storage. Currently, Penn researchers are exploring the impact of solar facilities on soil health at the Great Cove I & 2 facilities.  You can read more on the Environmental Innovation Initiative’s Website (The soils beneath the solar fields | UPenn EII)

By reducing Penn’s emissions, Penn is helping the City of Philadelphia meet their citywide goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, and support’s PA’s Climate Action Plan by increasing renewable energy generation.