For its sustainability efforts, the University of Houston was honored as Outstanding Proud Partner at the 2017 Mayor’s Outstanding Proud Partners Awards.

UH President Renu Khator and UH System Regent Paula Mendoza accepted the award on behalf of the University at an awards luncheon in November. The Outstanding Proud Partner Award recognizes an individual or an institution that has made an overwhelming contribution to the city of Houston’s quality of life.

“Sustainability is not a singular effort at the University of Houston,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner at the Mayor’s Proud Partners luncheon on Nov. 13. “The entire Cougar community contributes to creating a durable physical, social and economic environment, both on and off campus.”

Several sustainability achievements and efforts were highlighted at the luncheon. These included the University earning Gold status in the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) report; the Campus Community Garden; the sustainability and waste diversion efforts of UH Dining Services; the solar array atop the UH Central Power Plant, which powers 25 percent of the plant’s office space; Cougar Woods Dining Commons’ LEED Silver certification; Parking and Transportation Services’ COAST program; and the more than 70 UH2O water bottle refilling stations across campus.

For more information about the University’s numerous sustainability projects, visit the Office of Sustainability website.