Green LMU

Sustainable Innovation is paramount to solving our global environmental health crisis. With dozens of initiatives, Green LMU, as the office of sustainability, has been working to improve LMU's environmental presence since our first initiatives prior to 1990. Our team is built of faculty, staff, students, and partners committed to bettering the environment in creative, eco-friendly ways. We've become a global leader in sustainability. We seek to inspire environmental consciousness, adventure, and innovation.

Highlights

L.I.O.N.S. Garden

The Lion's Garden's mission is to address LMU's focus on social and environmental justice by examining issues such as hunger and nutrition through organic, urban gardening. Plants grown in the garden are native to California and are known to attract pollinators. The garden is managed by Green LMU students. Campus organizations are invited to "adopt a plot" to manage throughout the year. The garden also hosts Garden Volunteer Days, during which any campus member can opt to help out in the garden.

The Cycling Lion

The Cycling Lion offers free bike services to LMU students, faculty, and staff, fostering a convenient and eco-friendly transportation option. Our program is committed to enhancing mobility and accessibility on campus, supporting a variety of alternative transportation modes to meet the diverse needs of our community.

In-Vessel Composting

LMU is set to implement in-vessel composting, starting with campus dining facilities in the 2024-25 academic year and expanding to residence halls and offices by 2025-26. The program aims to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, synthetic fertilizer use, and water consumption, while enhancing LMU's commitment to zero waste and sustainability.

LMU Joins Laudato Si' Action Platform

LMU has joined the Laudato Si' Action Platform, a global movement inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical On Care of Our Common Home. This commitment will steer LMU’s path toward ecological renewal by 2030. The CSJ Center for Reconciliation and Justice will lead this initiative, guided by the seven Laudato Si’ Goals. These goals provide a comprehensive framework for fostering social, cultural, and economic transformation, supporting LMU’s dedication to environmental sustainability.

Water Conservation

LMU offsets its water usage by implementing extensive conservation measures, including removing 210,000 square feet of turf, using reclaimed water for 75% of campus irrigation, and installing low-flow fixtures. Collectively, these efforts have significantly reduced water consumption by over a million gallons annually, demonstrating LMU's dedication to sustainability and efficient resource management.

LMU's Clean Energy Transition

LMU sees over 50% of its carbon footprint from energy use, which is why alternative energy projects are key to carbon neutrality. LMU finished installing a major solar panel system in 2005, the largest of its kind at a university and in Southern California at the time, saving $210,000 annually and generating 1,100,000 kWh yearly.