The Ohio State University, Platinum Report (2018)

Abstract

AASHE STARS is a sustainability framework that provides a method for higher education institutions to measure their sustainability performance. Institutions self-report data in a variety of categories that results in a score that is classified as a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum rating. The Ohio State University has recently implemented a set of sustainability goals that commit to improving its future sustainability outlook, which include a goal to achieve a Platinum rating by 2018. As of 2016, The Ohio State University's AASHE STARS submission earned an overall score of 72.53 points, which produced a Gold rating. In order to receive a Platinum rating, Ohio State must increase this score to 85 points by 2018. To reach this goal, Ohio State needs to focus on credits in heavily weighted areas where performance is lacking. The main areas of focus in this report are Academic Curriculum and Learning Outcomes, Food and Beverage Purchasing, Building Energy Consumption, Landscape Management, Purchasing, Waste Minimization and Diversion, and Water Use. After determining a projected score for each of these core areas, it was estimated that The Ohio State University would receive a score of 83.93 points by 2018. This projection falls short of the 85 points needed to attain a Platinum rating. If the university is truly committed to attaining a Platinum rating by 2018, there is a drastic need to accelerate its progress in the aforementioned core areas. In order for Ohio State to exceed these projections and achieve a Platinum rating, it is crucial to implement sustainability coursework into survey courses while also accelerating the progress of the university’s other sustainability goals.