Sustainability
From building construction to daily operations, the Ohio Union recognizes the importance of being an environmental steward and sharing in Ohio State’s commitment to sustainability.
The Ohio Union has received LEED® Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). According to USGBC, “LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a whole-building approach, which encourages and guides a collaborative, integrated design and construction process that optimizes environmental and economic factors.” The Ohio Union is only the second building on Ohio State’s Columbus campus to reach this esteemed designation. Find a complete listing of LEED features in the Ohio Union.
The Ohio Union is also designated as an official GreenSpot by the City of Columbus.
Ohio Union Green Meeting and Event Planning
As a part of Ohio State’s commitment to creating a sustainability campus, the Ohio Union has developed guidelines aimed at reducing the environmental impact of events held at the Union and throughout campus. These guidelines help event organizers and planners “green” their events by providing basic recommendations that take into consideration best practices in the areas of waste reduction, energy conservation, dining and transportation.
The Ohio Union can also assist with Zero Waste events, which involve special containers to sort out compostable materials from recycling and regular trash. If you are interested in making your event a Zero Waste event, please inform your event coordinator at least two weeks in advance.
Additional Sustainability Resources
Ohio Union Sustainable Meeting and Event Planning Guidelines