{"id":17930,"date":"2024-01-31T17:44:37","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T00:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/?page_id=17930"},"modified":"2025-06-30T11:16:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T18:16:49","slug":"operations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/sustainability\/operations\/","title":{"rendered":"Operations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Operations<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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You name it, we\u2019re on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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USC\u2019s operational goals for sustainability are ambitious, knocking down emissions, reducing water usage, diverting waste, incorporating native plants into campus design and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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What We’re Doing<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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From achieving climate neutrality to waste diversion, water reduction and so much more, USC\u2019s campus operations are evolving into a future-oriented sustainable model that represents our vision for a healthier future for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \nUSC’s Sustainability Progress Report<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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55%<\/h3>\n \n

Campuswide waste diversion<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n

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90%<\/h3>\n \n

Waste diversion rate at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the 2023 football season<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n

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55%<\/h3>\n \n

USC Hospitality food purchased from sustainable sources<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n

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50,000 sq. ft<\/h3>\n \n

Solar panels covering the Galen Center roof, powering 15% of the venue’s electricity<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n

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60% <\/h3>\n \n

Reduction in lighting load due to energy-efficient LED lighting<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n

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400,000 lbs.<\/h3>\n \n

Equivalent of coal that was not burned due to a centrally managed HVAC automatic scheduling system<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n\n \n Harnessing solar energy<\/span>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\n USC\u2019s largest solar project continues to transform the Galen Center\u2019s roof<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n
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\n\n \n Making the most of energy <\/span>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\n USC-LADWP agreement taps into offsite solar power for the university and its neighbors <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n
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\n\n \n Paving cleaner paths<\/span>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\n USC is eliminating single-use plastic beverage bottles <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n
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\n\n \n Cooling down global warming<\/span>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\n Sustainable operations at USC<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n
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\n\n \n Zero waste at the L.A. Coliseum <\/span>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\n Historic venue points the way to a sustainable future<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/article>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/section>\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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USC\u2019s Sustainability Efforts Receive Gold Rating<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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The rating is part of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education\u2019s STARS system, and comes a year earlier than planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n

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\n\n \n \n \nUSC\u2019s sustainability efforts receive gold rating<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Healthier Ecosystems & New Water Realities<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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Our long-term plan for USC’s grounds and landscaping includes strategically growing native and climate-adapted plants \u2014 saving an estimated 40% on water usage \u2014 and updating our design guidelines to incorporate health and wellness strategies into facilities designs. We’re committed to achieving a 20% potable water use reduction across campus by 2028, and we’re already three quarters of the way there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n

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\n\n \n \n \nUSC Native and Climate Adapted Plant, Master Plan (PDF)<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \nUSC Sustainable Design & Construction Guidelines (PDF)<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \nUSC’s Water Dashboard<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Building Circular Economies<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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We\u2019re well on our way to achieving 90% waste diversion by 2028 across university campuses, USC Village, labs and buildings dedicated to student housing and staff workplaces. Beyond that, we\u2019re working toward 30% waste aversion, which avoids waste creation altogether.<\/p>\n

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\n\n \n \n \nWaste diversion at USC<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Take Action<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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\n\n \n \n \nTake action on sustainability<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":22970,"parent":17267,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17930","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSustainable Operations - USC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how USC is advancing sustainability through ambitious operational goals. 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