Contributed by 2030 District
Greater Cincinnati’s three largest universities – University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Northern Kentucky University – have officially joined the Cincinnati 2030 District as regional members. The collective commitment of the universities – 152 buildings with approximately 17.1 million square feet – increases the district’s total footprint to over 24 million square feet across the region.
“These institutions symbolize the benefits of setting goals that help achieve higher levels of innovation,” says Elizabeth Rojas, new 2030 district director, “The relationship between our universities and the 2030 District is mutually reinforcing: ensuring our largest institutions continue to uphold their role in the community as they simultaneously foster our future innovators.”
By joining the District, each university commits to the 2030 member goals of 50% reductions in energy and water consumption and transportation emissions. For all three universities, the commitment is part of larger long-term sustainability efforts.
“Joining the 2030 District shows NKU’s support for sustainability and that we are dedicated to our commitment to being carbon neutral by 2050,” said Tiffany Budd, NKU’s sustainability operations coordinator.
Beyond working with each university’s building portfolios, the 2030 District will gain valuable access to a robust research base for collaboration across district members and partners.
All three institutions agree that the greatest opportunity of membership is the educational engagement opportunities for students. “It is a particularly important statement to our students and the greater Cincinnati community that all three major institutions of higher education have joined the district initiative,” said Dr. James Buchanan, XU professor and executive director of the Brueggeman Center for Dialogue.
In its inaugural year, the Cincinnati 2030 District has accepted 26 members including developers, commercial building owners and tenants working to advance the bold sustainability goals of the 2030 network. There are also opportunities to become financial sponsors and professional and community partners.
To learn more about becoming part of the solution to decrease the region’s carbon emissions and secure a sustainable future for all our community members, visit 2030districts.org/cincinnati or email Elizabeth Rojas.