Goal: Net zero emissions by 2040
Target: 40% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030
Progress: 15% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2022

How the campus community can support:

• Turn off the lights when you leave a room or in empty areas
• Unplug or turn off equipment when not in use (computers, coffee makers, printers, chargers, etc.)
• Take the stairs if possible
• Open doors manually if able
• Encourage others to do the same

Waste reduction and sustainable purchasing go hand in hand to reduce Kirkwood’s environmental impact and increase the campus’s diversion rate (the percentage of materials not sent to the landfill). Efforts to date have focused on improving campus recycling and waste infrastructure (bin placement, signage), working to expand composting that occurs at the Hotel today, and engaging the campus in correctly sorting materials.

Target: Increase Kirkwood’s diversion rate from a 37% 2022 baseline to 50% by 2030
Progress: Working with waste haulers to increase data accuracy

How the campus community can support:

• Properly sort your waste while on campus
• Bring reusable cups, utensils, and other sustainable alternatives to use while on campus
• Think twice before printing, but if you do need to print, print double-sided
• Teach others how to reduce their waste and sort materials properly

Kirkwood stewards its land and resources with intention, nurturing local ecosystems to minimize environmental harm and build resilience against the effects of climate change. At Kirkwood, carbon sinks are minimally disturbed natural areas, such as prairies and tree groves, that absorb more carbon dioxide than they release while also providing benefits like clean water, wildlife habitat, and healthier soils. Recently, Kirkwood established a Land Management Council that meets to make decisions about land use at Kirkwood, develop strategic plans for future practices, and review requests from the Kirkwood community.

Target: Increase the percentage of land designated as a carbon sink from 8% to 10% by 2030
Progress: 12.7% of Cedar Rapids Campus land is designated as a carbon sink as of May 2026

How the campus community can support:

• Engage with Kirkwood’s Land Management Council - ask questions, support land use initiatives, and get involved with academic programs on campus
• Submit a project proposal to the Land Management Proposal Form if you have an idea for a sustainable way to leverage Kirkwood’s land resources
• Spend time outside while on campus and in the community

Sustainability is woven into Kirkwood's identity, serving as both a cultural value and a strength in recruitment and retention. The college regularly shares progress while striving to ensure students leave with the knowledge and skills to reduce their environmental impact in their careers and daily lives.

Target: Increase Kirkwood’s sustainability engagement score from a 48 to a 65 by 2030
Progress: Continuing intentional campus engagement and planning to survey campus in the 2026-2027 school year

How the campus community can support:

• Participate in the Sustainability Committee, Sustainability Club, or campus sustainability opportunities
• Share sustainability progress and ideas through campus communication channels
• Take the Sustainability Engagement Survey (when available) and encourage others to do the same
• Attend or host Earth Month and Sustainability Month activities

Kirkwood strengthens community resilience by building relationships and networks that support the region in times of crisis.

Target: Designate a Kirkwood location as a Community Resilience Hub
Progress: Actively working with Linn County’s Sustainability and Emergency Management Agencies to participate in their Point of Resiliency Program.

How the campus community can support:

• Participate in emergency preparedness drills and stay informed on Kirkwood's climate emergency plans
• Build connections across departments and with community partners to strengthen campus social cohesion
• Donate to, volunteer for, or participate in Kirkwood’s Food Pantry

Formalized the Sustainability Committee
In 2022, Kirkwood established a standing Sustainability Committee, bringing together administrators, faculty, staff, and students to provide ongoing guidance and accountability for the college's sustainability efforts.

Embedded sustainability into Hotel operations
The Kirkwood Hotel operates with sustainability woven into daily practice: composting food waste, recycling glass, sourcing food locally, and offering guests eco-conscious housekeeping options that reduce water and energy use.

Certified as a Tree Campus USA
In 2011, Kirkwood earned Tree Campus USA certification from the Arbor Day Foundation, recognizing the college's commitment to campus tree care, community engagement, and the maintenance of a healthy urban forest. Kirkwood has maintained this certification since!

Created the campus’s Sustainability Village
Kirkwood opens the Sustainability Village, which provides meeting spaces, land for gardening, and equipment to run sustainability activities on campus.

Adopted a facilities-focused sustainability policy
Kirkwood established a formal sustainability policy to guide facilities operations across campus, setting clear expectations for how buildings, grounds, and infrastructure are managed with environmental responsibility in mind.

Integrated sustainability into the curriculum
Kirkwood offers students hands-on learning opportunities with real-world environmental relevance through programs such as Agriculture and Horticulture, preparing graduates to contribute to sustainable food systems and land stewardship.

Encouraged student-led sustainability projects
Kirkwood students have led and contributed to projects focused on sustainability and climate action, applying classroom learning to real campus and community challenges and helping drive meaningful change from the ground up.

Standardized campus printing practices
Kirkwood students have led and contributed to projects focused on sustainability and climate action, applying classroom learning to real campus and community challenges and helping drive meaningful change from the ground up.

Led a comprehensive Climate Action Planning process
Kirkwood engaged administrators, faculty, staff, and students in a collaborative planning process — including workshops on visioning, climate consequences, and strategic direction — to shape a comprehensive Climate Action Plan.

Launched the Climate Action Plan
With the Climate Action Plan in place, Kirkwood moves from planning to action, putting strategies into practice across campus operations, curriculum, and community engagement.

Revitalized Sustainability Committee
The Sustainability Committee evaluated its governance structure and defined updated roles, responsibilities, and feedback loops to effectively advance climate action at Kirkwood.

Decommissioned the on-campus wind turbine
Kirkwood responsibly decommissioned its on-campus wind turbine, marking a transition point in the college's energy story and informing future decisions about renewable energy investments.

Launched a dedicated Climate Action webpage
A dedicated webpage was launched to serve as the central hub for Kirkwood's climate action work, making goals, progress, and resources accessible to students, staff, and the broader community.

Hosted student-led Earth Month events
Students took the lead during Earth Month, organizing a series of events, including a campus-wide scavenger hunt that made sustainability engaging, visible, and community-driven.

Documented energy efficiency strategies
The Energy Management Council documented strategies to improve energy efficiency across campus, creating a record of best practices and a roadmap to reduce the college's overall energy consumption.

Updated waste and recycling infrastructure
A multiphase project resulted in updated waste management practices on campus. New signage was designed in compliance with Recycle Across America guidelines and Kirkwood’s recycling hauler.

Celebrated Sustainability Month
Kirkwood marks Sustainability Month each year with campus activities and events that raise awareness, spark conversation, and connect the college community to the broader work of environmental stewardship.

Grew hundreds of pounds of produce on campus for Kirkwood’s Food Pantry
Three volunteers managed the garden at Sustainability Village, yielding hundreds of pounds of produce donated to Kirkwood’s Food Pantry.

Facilities Master Plan underway
An updated Facilities Master Plan is underway, with completion expected by Fall 2026. This plan will shape how Kirkwood's physical campus supports its sustainability and climate goals for years to come.

Sustainability in the classroom
Kirkwood added a new section to the bi-annual faculty survey focused on sustainability as a part of progress towards its climate action. The November 2025 survey indicated that approximately 40% of Kirkwood departments and program areas incorporate sustainability topics into their courses.

Course Highlight:
Industrial Maintenance Technologies has trained 24 students this year in how to complete an energy audit, the first completed for a community organization this past month! This program is the result of federal grant funding.

Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Progress
The Facilities team continues to roll out energy-efficiency improvements across campus, including LED lighting upgrades, temperature setbacks in unoccupied spaces, and initiatives to change behavior, such as turning off lights, unplugging equipment, and not using personal space heaters. These investments directly support Kirkwood's goal of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40% by 2030.

Campus Highlight
This past winter, the campus community was encouraged to practice energy conservation habits, such as dressing appropriately for the weather and sending work orders when spaces are uncomfortable. The Facilities team reported positive response from faculty and staff as a result of the campus communications.