Sustainability

As a leader in groundbreaking sustainability research, teaching, and engagement, RIT serves as a living laboratory for sustainable technologies, practices, and philosophies.

6

Applied research centers dedicated to energy, manufacturing, transportation, and the built environment

$14M+

Sponsored research funding each year in sustainability

12

Labs and test beds dedicated to sustainability research

74%

Academic departments that offer sustainability-related courses

Golisano Institute for Sustainability

Research and education organization working to advance sustainable technology and innovation within the industrial sectors of our economy that have the greatest impact on the environment—manufacturing, energy, transportation, and the built environment.

Learn more about the Golisano Institute for Sustainability 

Research Centers

New York State Pollution Prevention Institute

Gives Empire State businesses, communities, and nonprofits the practical tools and solutions they need to realize the benefits of sustainability for our economy, environment, and our society as a whole.

Learn more about the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute

Center of Excellence in Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing

We help companies solve technical problems and explore opportunities to reduce costs, improve quality, and minimize environmental impacts. The Center of Excellence in Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing is a partnership between New York state and RIT dedicated to helping state manufacturers develop and apply new technologies that create competitive business advantages.

Learn more about the Center of Excellence in Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing

Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery

We’re the world’s leading research center dedicated to the advancement of remanufacturing. At the Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery, we’re meeting the biggest challenges facing the remanufacturing industry. Our team of researchers, engineers, and experts combine the power of innovative research with practical industrial experience to develop new technologies that will grow remanufacturing’s potential for businesses.

Learn more about the Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery

Center for Sustainable Energy Systems

The global demand for energy continues to grow. The industrial sector is one of the largest consumers of energy, yet energy efficiency can be an afterthought among manufacturers under the daily pressures of fulfilling customer orders. Our team works closely with industry partners, government agencies, utilities, and other research centers to develop new energy systems, applications, and products.

Learn more about the Center for Sustainable Energy Systems

Center for Sustainable Mobility

Transportation alone accounts for more than 25% of carbon dioxide emissions globally. At the Center for Sustainable Mobility, we’re focused on what comes next for our cities. We conduct advanced research to discover the technologies and processes that will drive the next generation of sustainable mobility. It’s not just about vehicles, but how all mobility technologies work together.

Learn more about the Center for Sustainable Mobility

NanoPower Research Laboratories

The NanoPower Research Laboratories researches novel nanomaterials, devices for power generation and storage, and emerging materials for photonic and optoelectronic applications.

Learn more about the NanoPower Research Laboratories

Key Faculty and Staff

Nabil Nasr
Associate Provost Academic Affairs and Director of GIS
Enid Cardinal
Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Planning and Sustainability
Office of the President
Callie Babbitt
Professor
Department of Sustainability
Eric Williams
Professor
Department of Sustainability
Thomas Trabold
Research Faculty
Department of Sustainability

Related News

  • November 20, 2024

    Five black men stand in a semicircle in a small garden in Kenya.

    RIT professor helps to tackle energy access in rural Africa

    Williams’ collaborative work tackles the subject of energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, the United Nations established Sustainable Development Goal 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

  • August 29, 2024

    Stephen Hammer and Andel Koester explains a robotic arm used for textile recycling.

    RIT aids in global climate solution initiatives

    The Exchange plans to build a 400,000-square-foot campus on Governors Island, in the West River, next to the Statue of Liberty. One of the new facilities will be a state-of-the-art building with a serpentine roof that resembles a roller coaster with a solar canopy.