Keep Eckerd green with our sustainability programs
Our campus teaches and inspires us every day. It’s only natural for us to nurture it through conservation efforts like:
- the first enacted “Break Free from Plastics” pledge signed by a college president,
- a federal grant to reduce single-use plastics,
- a one-acre sustainable farm and food forest,
- two bike share programs for on- and off-campus use.
In our cafeterias, seasonal ingredients come from local, owner-operated farms and ranches. Meat and dairy from animals raised with artificial hormones or routine antibiotics are avoided.
Our Green College ranking also factors how we build:
- The Center for Visual Arts is oriented to minimize heat load created by intense sunlight and uses fritted glass for its south-facing windows.
- We cool the James Center with wastewater rather than toxic coolants; it holds a coveted LEED Platinum certification.
- The Environmental Science building is powered by a solar array.
- Iota residence hall is LEED-certified.
What You Can Do
- Take a shift collecting campus recycling
- Help promote the Environmental Film Festival
- Submit a story to Planet Forward
- Take the plastic reduction pledge
- Minor in Sustainability
- Join a club below to foster sustainable behavior
Campus Groups
Fostering sustainable behavior at Eckerd College
ECO REPS
Working towards solving environmental problems on campus through the Office of Sustainability.
GARDEN CLUB
Running an organic vegetable garden of herbs, greens, and vegetables along with a young orchard, which includes bananas, mangoes and guava.
REDUCE SINGLE-USE PROJECT
Raising awareness, conducting science and taking action to reduce single-use plastic consumption on campus.
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
An official Audubon Campus Chapter that introduces students to the world of birding. Eckerd has the highest bird diversity of any college in the continental U.S.!
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Getting students out and active off campus, through skydiving, kayaking, camping trips, hikes, snorkel trips, surf trips, rock climbing and more!
SCUBI JEW: EC ENVIROMENTAL DIVERS
Educating students and actively doing our part to repair the damage done to our oceans, rivers and lakes, and the creatures that live in them.
SHARK CONSERVATION
Pursuing shark conservation awareness and conducting independent research throughout Florida.
SAVE OUR SEABIRDS
Protecting and understanding our local seabirds and other wildlife through rescue and education.
Initiatives
Waste
Eckerd College promotes waste reduction with recycling and composting programs, water bottle filling stations, reusable Eco-Clamshells at the cafeteria, fishing line recycling containers and an annual Trash to Treasure project.
Energy
In 2007, our president signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. In 2013, solar panels were installed as part of the 50 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array on top of our Environmental Studies building.
Green Campus
Our campus is home to over 1,200 trees, of which over 90% are native, providing countless benefits to campus residents—including humans, pets and wildlife! Many have tags which you can look up for identification in this map.
Green Campus
Our campus is home to over 1,200 trees, of which over 90% are native, providing countless benefits to campus residents—including humans, pets and wildlife! Many have tags which you can look up for identification in this map.
In their own words
“Eckerd solidified my direction. Since graduating, I’ve worked at Egmont Key alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and at the Florida DEP as a Bio-technician Intern and Park Manager Assistant. After earning my Master’s degree in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, I served as the Sustainability Assistant for the City of Oldsmar, Florida. For the City of St. Petersburg, I co-led a project which secured $130,000 for a 42 kW parking lot solar installation and worked on policy development, solar power economics and energy efficiency programs that launched a successful solar co-op. Currently I serve on the Suncoast Sierra Club Executive Committee.”
— Peter Killeen ’11
Sustainability & conservation management professional, Two Trails Inc.
More Sustainability at Eckerd
- Reducing single-use plastic consumption at Eckerd
- Questions? Contact our Director of Sustainability, Evan Bollier ’11, at bollieea@eckerd.edu or 727.864.8908
