The Yale community overall has a solid understanding of sustainability and a desire to deepen the University’s commitment—both in campus operations and in providing leadership on climate solutions. Those are the findings from a biennial survey conducted by the Office of Sustainability.
The Yale Sustainability Survey—which was completed by more than 1,500 students and employees in October 2022—provides an assessment of sustainability knowledge, behaviors, and areas of interest within the Yale community. The release of the survey findings coincides with the re-launch of Yale Sustainability’s interactive Data Hub. This includes new dashboards that capture results from the latest survey as well as data on the University’s greenhouse gas emissions, materials management, and the co-benefits of Yale’s sustainability goals.
Among the key takeaways that emerged from the 2022 survey were:
- The Yale community has a strong knowledge of facts related to sustainability. The survey asks a series of knowledge-based sustainability questions in six categories—from sustainable consumption to environmental justice—which yielded an overall correct response rate of 81%.
- Yale community members said they would be more inclined to adopt sustainable behaviors if they had clearer ways to see their impact: 93% of students answered this way, as did 83% percent of faculty and staff.
- There are opportunities to increase awareness around disposal best practices and to expand recycling and reuse infrastructure at Yale. While the number of students who recycle at least half the time increased 4% compared to the prior survey, 2022 also saw a 4% decrease in students limiting the amount they print; a 5% decrease in students avoiding food waste in dining halls; and a 3% decrease in students who use reusable containers such as water bottles or mugs.
- Undergraduate students continue to advocate for waste reduction, increased engagement efforts around sustainability, and Yale’s divestment from fossil fuels.
- The degree to which students see Yale as a leader in sustainability has decreased by 5% since 2021.
- Yale staff are interested in the continuation of telework, building energy efficiency, and increased sustainable transportation options on campus.
“Making progress on Yale’s sustainability goals starts with listening to the needs and priorities of our community so that we can be responsive to them,” said Amber Garrard, Director of the Office of Sustainability. “What we hear from these survey results is a community that is deeply invested in making Yale and New Haven a more sustainable place to work and live. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to complete the survey and provide such valuable feedback.”
The sustainability survey was first conducted in 2018 as part of the Yale Sustainability Plan 2025, which charted a nine-year path toward achieving sustainability goals within and beyond campus borders. The survey’s goal was to better understand the knowledge and behaviors of the Yale community on sustainability-related topics while building awareness and empowering action. That first survey—and a subsequent survey in 2021—yielded valuable feedback that led to improvements in the 2022 version.
Results from the survey are used to measure Yale’s progress; to compare itself to peer institutions; and to implement programs and initiatives that will help increase sustainability knowledge and behaviors at the University.
In addition to questions that gauge individuals’ knowledge about sustainability topics, sustainable behaviors, and attitudes toward sustainability, the survey asked respondents what kinds of sustainability initiatives they would like to see implemented at Yale, which yielded 870 individual responses. By far, the strongest interest was around materials management at Yale, including single-stream recycling and composting. Results demonstrate that the Yale community wants more outreach, signage, and training when it comes to waste management, as well as more abundant and diversified recycling infrastructure. Yale staff would like more opportunities to compost in the buildings they work within, and several community members voiced the need for better management of and more transparency around food waste generated and disposed of at Yale.
Respondents also expressed a desire for: more transparency around Yale’s energy sources; stronger partnerships with the city of New Haven to prepare for climate disruptions; a continued commitment to using plant-forward, sustainable ingredients in dining; publicity campaigns focused on conserving resources; reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting; planting more native species—and fewer lawns; and dozens of other priorities.
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