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

A collage of images with a researcher in a heat resistant suit on the left and the exterior of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability on the right.

Golisano Institute for Sustainability

Research and education organization working to advance sustainable technology and innovation within the industrial sectors of our economy that have the greatest impact on the environment—manufacturing, energy, transportation, and the built environment.

Learn more about the Golisano Institute for Sustainability 

Research Centers

Two men in a factory setting wearing hard hats.

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

Industrial machinery.

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

A researcher using a 3D scanning arm.

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

A researcher in a lab coat adjusting a piece of equipment in the lab.

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.

Learn more about the Center for Sustainable Energy Systems

An aerial view of a busy highway exchange.

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.

Learn more about the Center for Sustainable Mobility

A closeup of a nanotechnology device.

NanoPower Research Laboratories

The NanoPower Research Laboratories researches novel nanomaterials, devices for power generation and storage, and emerging materials for photonic and optoelectronic applications.

Learn more about the NanoPower Research Laboratories

Key Faculty and Staff

Nabil Nasr headshot
Nabil Nasr
Associate Provost Academic Affairs and Director of GIS
nzneie@rit.edu
Enid Cardinal headshot
Enid Cardinal
Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Planning and Sustainability
Office of the President
elcpro@rit.edu
Callie Babbitt headshot
Callie Babbitt
Professor
Department of Sustainability
cwbgis@rit.edu
Eric Williams headshot
Eric Williams
Professor
Department of Sustainability
exwgis@rit.edu
Thomas Trabold headshot
Thomas Trabold
Research Faculty
Department of Sustainability
tatasp@rit.edu

Related Degree Programs

Related News

  • April 6, 2017

    Group of Researchers gathered in front of Research posters

    RIT celebrates researchers’ achievements

    RIT honored researchers who served as principal investigators on active awards in fiscal year 2016 at an April 5 reception. Also recognized were the 18 recipients of Seed Funding Awards and 11 new inductees in RIT’s PI Millionaires.

  • March 29, 2017

    Two carbon chain diagrams under water

    Researchers study carbon nanotubes as water filters

    Enhanced single-walled carbon nanotubes offer a more effective and sustainable approach to water treatment and remediation than the standard industry materials—silicon gels and activated carbon—according to a paper by RIT researchers John-David Rocha and Reginald Rogers.

  • March 29, 2017

    RIT President Bill Destler posing on couch with his wife

    End of presidential era

    Under Bill Destler’s leadership, RIT’s enrollment has reached record levels, selectivity and diversity have improved, the value of research awards has skyrocketed and geographic draw continues to widen. But his strong relationship with students is the key piece of his legacy.

  • January 4, 2017

    Image of Sustainability Building on RIT campus.

    RIT to lead new Manufacturing USA Institute

    Golisano Institute for Sustainability was selected today by the U.S. Department of Energy, as part of its Manufacturing USA initiative, to lead its new Reducing Embodied-Energy and Decreasing Emissions (REMADE) Institute.