Our mission is to enhance the sustainability of the College in its operations, academics, and outreach, while making Bard carbon neutral by 2035.

We seek to grow our environmental, social, and economic capital while operating within the limits of the ecosystem. Our primary work areas involve efficient transportation, the flow of goods, and energy use. We foster dialogue among community members, assess new technology and industry best practices, coordinate projects, develop policy, and market programs. We believe all community members have a part in furthering sustainability.  We are all Bard-E3s (Bardies) who understand the three "E's" of sustainability - environment, equity and the economy.

Bard Sustainability Timeline

2019

  • President Botstein signs the SDG Accord to embed the Sustainable Development Goals into our education, research, leadership, operations, administration and engagement activities
  • President Botstein signs the Global Climate Letter declaring a Climate Emergency, and agreeing to undertake a three-point plan to address the crisis through Bard’s work with students
  • Bard and the wider community formed a team to participate in Drawdown Ecochallenge. Click here to see the results and find out more.
  • Rebecca Yoshino starts as Bard Farm Coordinator & Educator

2018

  • Bard is recognized with a Mark of Distinction from Second Nature
  • Energy Master Plan underway
  • Bard becomes a Clean Air New York Campus
  • Bard becomes an EPA Green Power Partner
  • EcoReps replaced with BardE3s (Bard-ies)

2017

  • Bard improves Gold rating from STARS
  • College hires Supervisor of Food & Agricultural Programs
  • New Bard Master Plan includes sustainability
  • President Botstein signs the We Are Still In open letter

2016

  • Bard purchases historic 380-acre Montgomery Place Estate
  • DOE Better Buildings Challenge participant at Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
  • NYSERDA Energy to Lead Micro Hydropower Award
  • Goats begin mowing Blithwood
  • Saw Kill Watershed Community forms

2015

  • Bard receives a Gold rating from STARS
  • Purchase of Renewable Energy Credits representing 20% electricity offsets
  • Reforming the Energy Vision Campus Challenge Achiever
  • Resnick Commons complete with 14 geothermal buildings

2014

  • Demonstration Project in Green Infrastructure at Olin Lot
  • 1st place Recyclemania, Food Scrap contest
  • Top Ten in Campus Conservation Nationals
  • BardEATS council forms

2013

  • Single stream recycling begins
  • Bartlett 280kW Solar Array project goes on-line
  • Salamander Migration Community project begins

2012

  • Bard Farm opens
  • Bard wins first place in Recyclemania – Food Scrap contest
  • Phaseout of bottled water deliveries, start of in-line filtration units
  • Princeton Carbon Mitigation Initiative Wedge Workshop

2011

  • Bard earns a Silver Award from STARS – Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System
  • Carshare arrives on campus
  • Princeton Carbon Mitigation Initiative Wedge Workshop

2010

  • Sustainability Council formed
  • Bard’s Climate Action Plan released
  • Solar thermal systems installed at Tremblay and Keene Dorms
  • Global Warming Teach-In
  • Princeton Carbon Mitigation Initiative Wedge Workshop

2009

  • Bard forms a Climate Commission
  • Prepares first Greenhouse Gas inventory
  • Conducts campus-wide energy audit
  • Clean Air Campus participant
  • 1st place in the Food Scrap division, Recyclemania
  • Campus-wide 350 Campaign
  • Bard hires Energy Coordinator

2008

  • President Botstein signs the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment
  • US EPA WasteWise Partner
  • Bard earns 2nd place in Food Scrap division, Recyclemania
  • Focus the Nation on Climate Change conference

2007

  • Bard first participates in Recyclemania, the national recycling competition
  • Bard begins participation in the NYISO’s Energy Demand Response Programs, a program through which Bard was paid to reduce its electricity consumption while the power grid was under high demand

2005

2004

  • Bard Free Use Store opens
  • Re-usable material collection added to recycling and trash stations

2002

  • Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts opens, utilizing geothermal heating and cooling

2000

  • Resnick Commons Phase 1 opens, utilizing geothermal heating and cooling

1997

  • Community Garden opens

1995

  • Campus composting program begins

1992

  • Recycling Program begins
  • 1st geothermal system installed at the original Ravine Dormitories