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Sustainability

About Us

At BYU, sustainability is central to our purpose and integral to our faith.

BYU Sustainability: Central to our Purpose, Integral to our Faith

BYU students, faculty, and staff share what sustainability means to them, answering the question, "What is BYU doing to conserve resources, improve health, and increase understanding at a critical time for the university and the world?" This video features Dr. Ben Abbott, professor of ecosystem ecology; Eliza Estes, a biodiversity and conservation major who worked in the Sustainability Office when this film was produced; Mahina Piena, a civil and environmental engineering major; and Eric Lemus, an environmental law student. Infigo Films, a local production company founded by BYU graduates, shot and directed the film.

Sustainability, Defined at BYU

As beneficiaries of God’s creations, we have a divine stewardship to care for one another and the Earth; in doing so, we meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

"For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures" (Doctrine and Covenants 104:13).

Mission

At BYU, we commit to sustaining the Earth for all God’s children and creatures. We magnify this divine stewardship through our individual and institutional conduct, leading by example, and inspiring worldwide learning and service.

Vision

We envision a BYU campus and culture that cultivates lifelong stewardship by wisely managing resources in the top quartile of our defined sustainability measures.

Strategy

We aim to further demonstrate proactive, impactful stewardship by integrating sustainable practices and attitudes into all aspects of campus and alumni life, including facilities, operations, scholarship, education, citizenship, and devotion.

2022/2023 Priorities

  1. Develop actions, targets, and metrics.
  2. Measure and report progress via STARS.
  3. Facilitate intersectional initiatives.

Questions or ideas?

Email us at sustainability@byu.edu.

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Meet Our Team


Sustainability Office

Bremen Leak, Associate Director, Sustainability & Continuity

July 13, 2022 11:02 AM
Bremen Leak, Associate Director, Sustainability & Continuity
Bremen leads strategic planning for sustainability and resiliency at BYU. An experienced program manager, he has worked previously for Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, and the Natural Resource Governance Institute. He grew up in Kansas City, Mo., and studied at BYU and the University of Oxford.

Carr Krueger, University Sustainability Officer

July 13, 2022 10:57 AM
Carr Krueger, University Sustainability Officer
Carr serves as the executive leader of BYU’s auxiliaries and programs, including the Sustainability Office. Prior to joining BYU, he and his wife raised their family in the Seattle area while leading two large consulting firms. A graduate of BYU and Cornell University, he has served on many BYU alumni boards and associations.

Heather Phipps, Lead Sustainability Coordinator

July 11, 2022 12:02 PM
Heather Phipps, Lead Sustainability Coordinator
Heather is an environmental science and sustainability major with hands-on experience in GIS mapping, climate action planning, and community organizing. She also serves on the BYU Sustainability Working Group. A Seattle native, she loves hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and houseplants.

Flynn Moore, Sustainability Coordinator

September 13, 2022 06:37 PM
Flynn Moore, Sustainability Coordinator
Flynn is an environmental science major from Houston. He brings solar industry experience, a love of the outdoors, and an interest in clean energy. He also speaks Spanish and studies entrepreneurship at the BYU Marriott School of Business.

Lucy Harper, Sustainability Coordinator

February 19, 2023 07:23 PM
Lucy is a biodiversity and conservation major from the Seattle area. She splits her working time between the Sustainability Office and a local hydroponic farm. She has a passion for sustainable agriculture, cooking, and kayaking, and a new obsession with cross country skiing.

Sustainability Working Group

  • Ben Abbott, Plant & Wildlife Sciences
  • Matt Giles, Buildings, Grounds & Transportation
  • Carr Krueger (chair), Auxiliaries & Programs
  • Bremen Leak, Sustainability & Continuity
  • Heather Phipps, Plant & Wildlife Sciences (student representative)
  • Keely Song, Dance
  • Andrew South, Civil & Construction Engineering
  • Branden Wilson, Risk Management & Environmental Health
  • Eva Witesman, Public Management

Former members of the Working Group include Jaron Hansen, Chemistry; Rollin Hotchkiss, Civil & Environmental Engineering; and Chip Oscarson, Undergraduate Education.