Sustainability at Regis

At Regis University, we don’t just talk about values. We live them. Sustainability is one of those values. The responsible stewardship of the earth’s resources is a major tenet of Catholic Social Teaching, and a compelling answer to Regis’ foundational question: How ought we to live? Attempting to live sustainably is a choice we make every day, to act with intention in all that we do.  

Below are just a few of the ways that Regis is living its commitment to sustainability.

Regis students want to make an impact on the campus community and the world. Here are several examples of how you can get involved with Regis’ student sustainability movement. 

Bus Pass Program

Choosing public transportation is a great way to protect our planet. Regis makes it easy by providing students with free bus passes. This service is included in your student activities fee as a traditional undergraduate. Contact or visit the Office of Student Activities for more information.

Community Garden

There is no better way to grow the green movement than by working in your own garden. Regis offers students the chance to do just that. Sign up for a plot and cultivate your green thumb. Connect with the Environmental Studies program to get started. 

RU Bikes

For the last three years, the bike program has provided free bike rental to students. Students are able to check out bikes for up to three days as well as get their personal bikes serviced at no charge. This service promotes sustainable choices and a healthy lifestyle. To rent a bike or get one fixed, visit the Office of Student Activities!

Sustainability Committee

The Regis University Student Government Association’s (RUSGA) Sustainability Committee works to raise awareness about environmental issues and sponsors initiatives that help reduce the University’s ecological footprint. To get involved, contact the director of the sustainability committee at rusgasus@regis.edu.

Trust the Tap

Co-sponsored by the sustainability committee and Physical Plant, the goal of this initiative is to eliminate the Regis community’s dependence on plastic water bottles. Making filtered tap water available in every building helps people make good choices, and raises awareness about reducing plastic usage and greenhouse gas emissions. So bring your reusable bottle and fill up at a hydration station!

One needs to look no further than the facilities and lawns of Regis’ North Denver (Lowell) Campus for evidence of the University’s strong commitment to sustainability.

Physical Plant has taken a leadership role in the effort to help lessen Regis’ environmental impact. Every choice they make, from paint to paper products, is carefully calculated with an eye toward conservation. Of the hundreds of examples to cite here are a few highlights: 

  • Walls are painted with VOC-free paint, which doesn’t give off harmful gases
  • Carpets are made from recycled materials and no chemical adhesives are used to install them.
  • Buildings are cleaned with citrus-based cleansers and cloth material.
  • Bathrooms are stocked with 100-percent-recycled paper products.
  • Newer buildings are designed to conserve energy through reflective glass, sensor lighting and innovative light/heat regulation.
  • Trees are planted near buildings to block or welcome heat to create less reliance on HVAC systems.
  • Smart irrigation, moisture-retaining mulch and drought tolerant plants regulate water use.

A few other noteworthy initiatives:

Composting

With support from one conscientious student, Bon Appétit and Regis recently hired Waste Farmers, an organization that specializes in composting, to ensure that the community is disposing of organic material in the most effective and responsible way.

Energy Conservation

Regis has very aggressive energy conservation goals. Our energy conservation policy sets specific guidelines and procedures for each facility on campus, so that we can maximize our efforts. The resource conservation administrator is responsible for monitoring our success and exploring opportunities to make us even better.

Recycling Program

Our recycling program is single stream, meaning all recyclable material can be placed in the same bin. No sorting required! Besides the many bins around campus, there are several large, white recycling dumpsters for your convenience.

Satellite Campus

Regis’ DTC Campus is housed in a certified green building. The architectural design and materials used in the construction make this state-of-the-art building one of the most sustainable facilities in the Regis family. And with a light rail station steps from the front door, students can leave their cars at home, too!

Wind Power

Energy from the wind has been powering Regis University since 1997. That is when the University began purchasing electricity from the state’s first "wind farm" in northeastern Colorado. Regis has committed to purchase 240,000 kWh of electricity per year, which equates to approximately five percent of the University's total electric consumption. This commitment to renewable wind energy is the equivalent of not driving a car for a half million miles. Regis' purchase of wind power reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by 168 tons a year.

Regis University builds sustainability into its classes as well. Regis College offers an environmental studies program for students interested in making sustainability the center of their academic lives.  As part of Regis College’s integrative core, every student is required to take a Global Environmental Awareness course.

Classes like Eco-Theology, Wilderness: A Story of Passion and Perseverance, and Justice Oriented Farming Practices are just a few of the exciting offerings that focus on this important value.

Our College for Professional Studies and Rueckert Hartman College for Health Professions also integrate responsible stewardship into their curricula where possible.