Thanks to the collective effort of Notre Dame students, faculty, and staff, our campus has achieved substantial milestones in our sustainability journey over the past year. From the food we eat to the energy that keeps the lights on for late-night study sessions, here are highlights of how Notre Dame is working to care for our common home.
The West Campus Solar Project
Moving along the Saint Mary’s Lake Trail, you may have noticed that the West Campus Solar Project is now officially online! This 46,000-square-foot array provides roughly 1% of our campus electricity, and has the capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 700 tons annually—the equivalent of taking nearly 140 gasoline-powered cars off the road. The site isn't just for power, either. Notre Dame's values continue to be exemplified through this project, as both native, pollinator-friendly species have been planted to support local biodiversity, and the solar panels were purchased from a local supplier that actively prioritizes human dignity as part of its business model. From the University’s collective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Notre Dame has seen a 48% reduction in carbon emissions (2005 baseline).
Green Roofs are Growing
Notre Dame’s skyline is getting greener. Major buildings such as the Rockne Memorial and South Dining Hall are part of an expanding network of vegetative “green” roofs. With over four acres of green roofs now across campus, these roof systems can add longevity to a building’s roof by protecting from thermal shock and UV radiation, support local biodiversity, reduce urban heat island effects, and can help insulate a building to reduce energy demands.
Food Rescue and Reuse
Ever wonder what happens to uneaten food in the North or South Dining Halls? Notre Dame recognizes the nutritional gift of food and has taken a multi-pronged approach to help uneaten food avoid the landfill and serve a higher purpose. Two key pathways include Cultivate Food Rescue and Grind2Energy. Food that has been prepared but is still safe to consume is donated to Cultivate to create meals for food-insecure families in our community. In fall 2025, campus’ food donations provided more than 39,860 meals for our neighbors!
Meanwhile, food that is no longer safe for human consumption, such as plate scraps, is diverted from the landfill via three campus Grind2Energy (G2E) systems. The slurry produced by G2E is then used at a local dairy farm to create energy, fertilizer, and cow bedding. By keeping food waste out of the landfill, G2E helps avoid harmful greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane, which are produced when food decomposes in the landfill. The impact of Notre Dame’s G2E emissions avoidance - in the fall semester alone - is equal to the sequestration of planting 91 acres of forest.
Recycling Rate Increases
Everyday recycling collection and football game day recycling both saw dramatic improvements in diversion rates. Compared to last year, everyday recycling collection in toters around campus increased by 62%, and football gameday recycling improved 98%. These improvements have been made possible through the support of our collective campus community, like students sorting their recyclables in residence halls and collaborative efforts between Stadium Operations, Building Services, and the Sustainability teams working to expand recycling collection.
Keeping up the Momentum in 2026
While individuals may not have the power to create new large-scale infrastructure projects, everyone can contribute to shifting daily habits for more sustainable outcomes. Here is how you can contribute to mindful care of our common home in the next year:
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Food Choice: Eat as much as you’d like, but take only what you know you'll eat. Reducing food waste at the source is even better than sending it to G2E or Cultivate.
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Sorting Waste: Check the labels on waste bins and sort recyclables that are mostly free of food debris and liquid. Contamination in recycling toters can compromise a load of recyclables, forcing some materials to be rejected and sent to the landfill. When in doubt, check out Notre Dame’s recycling directory.
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Power Down: Simple changes like turning off lights and unplugging "vampire" electronics, like chargers or gaming consoles, when you head to class or a meeting, help reduce the overall load on our grid. Did you know? An iPhone charger can draw 135W of power in a month. This may not seem like much power, but multiply that by everyone on campus, and that’s a lot of energy being drawn!
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Participate: Stay informed about what's happening on campus. Get involved with sustainability programming to continue learning and contributing to our common home. Students can connect with their residence hall’s Sustainability Commissioners. Staff and faculty can check out our employee resources page to learn more.
Learn more about Notre Dame’s sustainability work by checking out the Sustainability timeline and green tour. Save the date for our Spring 2026 Sustainability Celebration, which will be held this year on Earth Day!
Originally published by at green.nd.edu on January 08, 2026.