Sustainability
As a leader in groundbreaking sustainability research, teaching, and engagement, RIT serves as a living laboratory for sustainable technologies, practices, and philosophies.
6
Applied research centers dedicated to energy, manufacturing, transportation, and the built environment
$14M+
Sponsored research funding each year in sustainability
12
Labs and test beds dedicated to sustainability research
74%
Academic departments that offer sustainability-related courses
Research Centers
New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
Gives Empire State businesses, communities, and nonprofits the practical tools and solutions they need to realize the benefits of sustainability for our economy, environment, and our society as a whole.
Learn more about the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute
Center of Excellence in Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing
We help companies solve technical problems and explore opportunities to reduce costs, improve quality, and minimize environmental impacts. The Center of Excellence in Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing is a partnership between New York state and RIT dedicated to helping state manufacturers develop and apply new technologies that create competitive business advantages.
Learn more about the Center of Excellence in Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing
Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery
We’re the world’s leading research center dedicated to the advancement of remanufacturing. At the Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery, we’re meeting the biggest challenges facing the remanufacturing industry. Our team of researchers, engineers, and experts combine the power of innovative research with practical industrial experience to develop new technologies that will grow remanufacturing’s potential for businesses.
Learn more about the Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery
Center for Sustainable Energy Systems
The global demand for energy continues to grow. The industrial sector is one of the largest consumers of energy, yet energy efficiency can be an afterthought among manufacturers under the daily pressures of fulfilling customer orders. Our team works closely with industry partners, government agencies, utilities, and other research centers to develop new energy systems, applications, and products.
Center for Sustainable Mobility
Transportation alone accounts for more than 25% of carbon dioxide emissions globally. At the Center for Sustainable Mobility, we’re focused on what comes next for our cities. We conduct advanced research to discover the technologies and processes that will drive the next generation of sustainable mobility. It’s not just about vehicles, but how all mobility technologies work together.
NanoPower Research Laboratories
The NanoPower Research Laboratories researches novel nanomaterials, devices for power generation and storage, and emerging materials for photonic and optoelectronic applications.
Related Degree Programs
- Architecture M.Arch.
- Civil Engineering Technology BS
- Environmental Science BS
- Environmental Science MS
- Environmental Sustainability, Health and Safety BS
- Environmental, Health and Safety Management MS
- Packaging Science BS
- Packaging Science MS
- Sustainability Ph.D.
- Sustainable Engineering ME
- Sustainable Engineering MS
- Sustainable Systems MS
Related News
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December 13, 2024
![Two students and a female professor sit at a atable with brightly covered bridge samples in front of them.]()
Researchers discover solutions to build stronger bridges
Aging infrastructure is a major issue in the U.S. with nearly 50 percent of bridges considered in poor condition. Investments are often for immediate repairs, but today engineering researchers are exploring how structural changes might improve longevity, safety, and construction costs. -
November 22, 2024
![a group of six students and adults stand in front of a sign bearing logos from R I T and other companies.]()
RIT expands research on circular economy in Southeast Asia with new funding boost
A $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of State will continue the work led by professors Clyde Hull and Eric Williams with entrepreneurships based on circular economy principles in member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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November 20, 2024
![Five black men stand in a semicircle in a small garden in Kenya.]()
RIT professor helps to tackle energy access in rural Africa
Williams’ collaborative work tackles the subject of energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, the United Nations established Sustainable Development Goal 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
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October 25, 2024
![Evelyn Brister works with a group of Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) students on a project that embraces an interdisciplinary approach to wetland restoration research]()
Embracing philosophy and a proactive attitude in environmental conservation research
Depending on their discipline, researchers have different ways of addressing environmental problems. Professor Evelyn Brister believes that having a philosopher on research teams can help balance differing viewpoints and priorities, while also addressing ethical questions that tend to get lost in the mix.
