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
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.
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.
NanoPower Research Laboratories
The NanoPower Research Laboratories researches novel nanomaterials, devices for power generation and storage, and emerging materials for photonic and optoelectronic applications.
Related Degree Programs
- Architecture M.Arch.
- Civil Engineering Technology BS
- Environmental Science BS
- Environmental Science MS
- Environmental Sustainability, Health and Safety BS
- Environmental, Health and Safety Management MS
- Packaging Science BS
- Packaging Science MS
- Sustainability Ph.D.
- Sustainable Engineering ME
- Sustainable Engineering MS
- Sustainable Systems MS
Related News
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May 3, 2019
RIT researchers contribute to massive Global Urban Evolution Project
RIT environmental science students turned some heads when they stopped to pick white clover plants near a gas station along New York State Route 33A in October. But little did onlookers know that they were helping to conduct the largest evolution study outside of human genomics.
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April 23, 2019
Drones are coming soon to a farm near you
Drones are adding a new level of precision to agriculture, giving farmers digital tools for cultivating better and more profitable crops.
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April 23, 2019
Packaging solutions improve product shelf life and sustainability
Images of plastic bags and bottles clogging beaches and oceans have some calling for a ban on all such products. But packaging experts say it’s not that easy to eliminate a highly effective material. Instead, researchers at RIT are looking to strike a balance: Find a way to produce plastics that retain their best qualities and yet are more environmentally friendly.
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April 23, 2019
Innovative solutions take bite out of food waste
When it comes to identifying creative ways to mitigate food waste, researchers at RIT have been managing a full plate of innovative initiatives over the last decade.