Campus Sustainability

Sustainability on Campus

Ohio Northern University's commitment to a sustainable future is evident in the numerous energy projects implemented across campus in recent years, with even more "green" updates on the horizon.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

• ONU’s fleet of hybrid and electric campus vehicles reduces the University’s dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, the University recently purchased its first electric, zero-turn lawn mower and has plans to convert all campus grounds equipment–from utility vehicles to lawn mowers to leaf flowers– from gasoline/diesel to electric.

• ONU converted all exterior lighting as well as the interior lighting in several major buildings from halogen and incandescent to energy efficient LED lighting. In total, 10,162 lighting fixtures were retrofitted.

• Working with PlugSmart, an Ameresco company, ONU installed an automation and control system in approximately 90 percent of campus buildings in order to remotely control and monitor energy utilization in each building. The system alerts ONU to energy spikes caused by equipment failure, and allows staff to remotely adjust HVAC and heating levels to reduce energy usage during academic breaks.

• The Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building is a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building.

Wind Turbines

ONU installed three wind turbines on the west end of campus in 2010 that stopped working in recent years and were no longer serviceable. The turbines have been removed, and ONU is waiting on a shipment of two new turbines to be installed in the same location. Due to supply chain issues, the new turbines are not expected to arrive until 2024 or 2025.

Four solar-powered picnic tables

These tables on campus have LED panels on the picnic tables’ umbrellas that capture the sun’s energy and power USB ports that can charge laptops, cell phones and tablets.

solar field at Ohio Northern University.

Solar Field Agreement

Ohio Northern has a 25-year contract with AEP Energy for a 3 megawatt (annually) solar field on 11 acres of University property located southwest of campus on Klinger Road. The agreement allows for 18,000 panels, a surrounding chain link fence covered in greenery and a perimeter tree line. Ohio Northern provided the property and AEP provided the funding of the entire project. AEP Energy also provides all mechanical and ground maintenance of the property.

For the Bees

The grassy area surrounding the retention basin on the south side of campus between the president’s home and Stadium View Apartments is home to a colony of bees. This prairie area features natural vegetation (i.e., 100 small flowering trees, shrubs and wildflowers) that provides a perfect habitat for 10 beehives. Seeding this former grassy space eliminates the need for mowing, thereby reducing the University’s use of gasoline and polluting lawn mowers.

Tree Campus USA

Since 2009, Ohio Northern University has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation. Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. To obtain this distinction, Ohio Northern University met the five core standards for effective campus forest management: a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and student service-learning projects.

student walking across campus during the fall.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations

ONU has eight electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on campus. The stations are 220-volt, Level 2 ChargePoints. Two are located at the Dicke College of Business Administration; two at the King-Horn Sports Center; one at the Raabe College of Pharmacy; and one at The Inn. ONU charges $1 per hour for the first four charging hours and $4 each additional hour. The location of the stations can be found on the campus map.

Campus Map

Recycling Efforts

The past few years have seen the reduction of “landfill” dumpsters and an increase of recyclable dumpsters on campus. In fact, the University’s landfill waste has been cut in half. Although these efforts have not led to any cost savings, they have reduced the number of trash hauls and we’re doing something that we know is good. In conjunction with Allied Waste Haulers, Ohio Northern is funding a recycling program at Ada Schools. A recycling dumpster has been placed on the Ada Schools campus.

Sustainable Dining

ONU Dining Services promotes a number of sustainability initiatives, including these programs: “Green Container, Green Planet” program, “Skip the Straw”, use of BPA-free recyclable tumblers, trayless operations, as well as celebration of WasteLESS Week and Earth Day events.

The exterior of Founders Hall at Ohio Northern University.

Geothermal Heating

Founders Complex and Affinity Village Complex feature a geothermal heating and cooling system to reduce energy use and water consumption.

Academic Programs

Environmental and Field Biology

Are you interested in majoring in an environmental field of study? A knowledge of environmental issues from several disciplinary perspectives, using methods from the social sciences, the natural sciences and the humanities are available to you.

Advanced Energy Concentration
The Ohio Northern advanced energy concentration is open to electrical, mechanical and computer engineering students. The concentration builds on a foundation of strong fundamentals coupled with current energy topics and issue
Environmental and Field Biology
The environmental and field biology major connects key concepts from many disciplines in an environmental context, providing a framework for the study of ecosystems and human interaction with the Earth. Environmental challe