CMU’s geo-exchange system is just one of many initiatives that have made the university more sustainable in the past, present and future
Walking around campus, you might stop to admire a flower, a blooming tree or the expansive grounds. But you likely don’t otherwise give a whole lot of thought to what goes on behind the scenes to create such a beautiful and sustainable environment.
Each detail and decision comes after careful consideration about steps towards sustainability. From green buildings to water conservation to a one-of-a-kind geo-exchange system, Colorado Mesa University has a long history of aligning education, innovation and environmental stewardship on the Western Slope.
Sustainability at CMU began taking root in the early 2000s. Students started participating in recycling projects while campus leaders shaped long-term plans centered on conservation and resource management. Small initiatives laid the foundation for a culture of sustainability that would end up touching every aspect of campus operations.
Thermal Energy Network
A major milestone in CMU’s sustainability journey came in 2008 with the launch of the Thermal Energy Network (TEN), a campus-wide geo-exchange system. The project began after Governor Ritter’s executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent in 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.
CMU aimed to become the first higher education institution in Colorado to be fully heated and cooled by geothermal energy, reported Kent Marsh, CMU vice president for capital planning, sustainability and campus operations.
“I like to say that CMU was geo before geo was ‘cool’,” he said. “It’s rewarding to see how CMU is considered to be one of the pioneers in the geothermal space.”
CMU’s geo-exchange system covers approximately 70 percent of the campus and plays a crucial role in reducing the university’s carbon footprint. The benefits of this geo-exchange system extend beyond the environmental impact. By significantly reducing energy costs — saving millions of dollars each year — CMU can keep tuition affordable.
The project was a major step in CMU’s journey from early recycling and water conservation efforts that turned into a large-scale infrastructure change.
“Campus leadership in place at the time recognized the long-term potential of geothermal and agreed that all new construction and significant remodels on campus would be connected into CMU’s TEN,” said Marsh.
Buildings that were recently connected to CMU’s TEN include the Jac Kephart Fine Arts building, Lowell Heiny Hall, Moss Performing Arts and the Asteria Theatre. A future dining hall and new student housing, currently under construction, will be connected to CMU’s TEN as well. CMU will also begin construction of a new bore field to be placed beneath the rugby pitch and Alumni Field in late fall 2025.
As new buildings are added or remodeled on campus, they are connected to the geo-exchange system and other sustainability measures are taken into account.
“The HVAC installed in all new buildings, and significant remodels of existing buildings, consume far less energy than traditional HVAC systems,” Marsh said. “Using resources responsibly today helps ensure they are available for future generations.”
Landscape Design
In recent years, CMU’s landscaping practices have evolved to become more environmentally sound. For CMU Landscape Design and Sustainability Manger Kristina Good, sustainability is all about practicing the Three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.
“Reusing is a big one for me because you can control it, whereas you don’t always know where your trash is actually going when you recycle,” she said.
Sustainability is woven into her job, and she’s always looking for ways to adjust and adapt according to new technology and trends. From mulching grass clippings to using some organic fertilizer, to mowing grass to a higher length, the facilities team try to be mindful of sustainability and conservation in all their endeavors.
“Campus plant trimmings, for example, go into the compost pile and becomes Mesa Magic compost,” she added.
They also focus on using electric-powered carts and some hand-held electric equipment versus gas. Water usage is also an important concern.
“Since we’re located in the desert, we have to strategize on ways to reduce water usage even while temperatures are getting higher,” said Good. “We have started putting smart monitors and clocks on sprinklers so they can independently monitor the weather station and can adjust if it rains a certain amount or when temperatures drop. We also do water audits and check our sprinklers on a weekly basis to make sure we’re not wasting any water.”
Student involvement has grown alongside these initiatives. Having sustainable practices in place is not only good for the environment, but it also makes for a better student experience. CMU’s location in Grand Junction makes nature a daily part of life and learning and teaches students about sustainability practices that will last a lifetime.
“Working with students is one of my favorite parts of the job,” said Good of her student landscape employees. “They are everchanging, and it’s rewarding to watch them develop and grow throughout their four years, and learn about sustainability and how to care for their own yards in the future.”
Student Involvement
Students can also participate by getting involved with the Sustainability Council, a Student Life organization. One initiative they helped implement was GreenToGo boxes in The Caf starting in 2021.
“This is one of the largest benefits to students, as they can easily take home food and return their boxes, making an impact whether they are thinking about it or not,” said student and CMU Sustainability Council President Ethan Otto. “It goes to show the major waste reduction we have promoted and embodies the zero-waste component of our mission.”
Another project includes the New Way Refillery partnership, where students can fill empty bottles with 30 ounces of dish soap or laundry detergent every month for free.
“This is a great program that many students take advantage of each semester,” he said. “A major goal of the Sustainability Council is to engage the university students as well as the local community to educate and encourage others to promote a cultural shift to more sustainable practices.”
Other student-run initiatives include implementing a compost program in the kitchen of The Caf, working to reimplement a food capture program where food is sent to food banks and/or CMU’s The Pantry and implementing a recycling program within academic buildings.
“I became intrigued by the environment and saving resources in middle school and have always been someone that loves the outdoors and is interested in efficiency,” said Otto. “Everyone can take steps in their routines, such as recycling and/or composting, to improve overall sustainability. It is our duty to cultivate a world suitable and sustainable for future generations.”
CMU and the Sustainability Council efforts have been recognized by national programs including being designated as both a Tree Campus and Bee Campus. These designations reflect efforts to support pollinators, local ecosystems and carbon capture through strategic planting.
Campus Initiatives
Earlier this year, CMU became only the second university in Colorado to become a Bee Campus and joins 431 cities and campus affiliates across the country. As a designated Bee Campus, CMU is committed to minimizing hazards to pollinators while also exploring ways to introduce more native plants, bees and butterflies to campus.
The campus was also designated as a Tree Campus in 2018, which recognizes the campus’s commitment to tree stewardship. It’s one of only seven campuses in Colorado to receive the recognition.
Sustainability doesn’t stop at green landscaping, recycling and reusing endeavors. Buildings on Colorado Mesa University’s campus have also been recognized for their sustainable building efforts. Two buildings, in fact, have recently earned Green Globes certifications from the Green Building Initiative. The annual awards honor projects that improve a building’s functionality, longevity and value through creative sustainability features.
In 2023, CMU’s Foster Field House received a Green Globes Project of the Year Honorable Mention for its outstanding achievements in sustainable new construction. In 2024, the Asteria Theatre, a state-of-the-art performance venue, earned a Three Green Globes rating for new construction and received the Project of the Year award. It is the first performance venue to integrate geothermal energy, utilizing CMU’s geo-exchange system.
CMU continues to make progress towards the goal of heating and cooling the entire campus with geo-exchange technology. This effort along with many others will carry CMU into a more sustainable future.