Each year, Earth Day, which was April 22 this year, offers a moment for reflection and action. At Ventura College, we don’t just mark the occasion with celebration; we strive to live out the values of sustainability every day. As president of this vibrant institution, I’m proud to share how our college community continues to lead by example in our efforts to build a greener, more sustainable future.
Since adopting our first comprehensive sustainability plan in 2016, Ventura College has made strides across campus. That plan set a foundation of ambitious goals to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and water use, and inspire climate-conscious habits in our students and staff. While Earth Day reminds the world to take stock of our planet’s health once a year, our commitment is year-round.
In waste management, Ventura College has diverted approximately 40 tons of metal and 60 tons of lawn waste from landfills, installed 11 recycling bins across campus, and implemented roughly 20 water hydration stations to cut down on single-use plastic. We’ve also given old staff computers a second life by converting them into loaner laptops for students and transitioning many departments into paperless or nearly paperless operations.
To conserve water, we’ve installed low-flow devices in 70% of campus lavatories, upgraded landscaping using drought-tolerant strategies, and introduced smart irrigation controllers to reduce waste and improve efficiency, a critical step in a drought-prone state like California.
We’ve pushed forward with energy efficiency upgrades, replacing all exterior lighting and many classroom fixtures with LED systems. In 2016, we installed a peak shaving battery and a 2,500 kWh photovoltaic array to reduce grid dependency. These improvements not only reduce our carbon footprint but result in long-term cost savings that benefit our students.
In the area of sustainable transportation, Ventura College has added EV charging stations, bike racks, and partnered with VCTC to provide free bus rides through the College Ride program, making sustainable commuting more accessible.
Our campus outreach efforts and social campaigns include annual Earth Day events and student-led club activities focused on environmental awareness. These events are more than symbolic, they are platforms for educating and empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. Even our food services have taken a sustainable turn, with food trucks offering more plant-based options and adopting biodegradable packaging.
Looking ahead, our Earth Day goals stretch far into the future. We’re preparing to finalize a new solar project and install approximately 150 vehicle charging stations. A campuswide planning initiative will help guide our next sustainability roadmap, supported by a new advisory workgroup dedicated to this cause. All future campus construction, including student housing, will prioritize sustainability from day one.
Of course, this journey is not without its challenges. Aging infrastructure, limited state and local funding, and a lack of dedicated staffing mean that sustainability efforts are often managed under “other duties as assigned.” These challenges are our calls to action, not reasons to pause.
While we are proud of the progress we've made, we know the road to true sustainability is long and we’re just getting started. Ventura College remains deeply committed to leading by example, embracing innovative solutions, and embedding sustainability into every corner of our operations and culture.
However, meaningful change doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes all of us—students, faculty, staff, and community members—working together and making conscious choices every day. Whether it’s reducing energy use, rethinking our commute, or simply refilling a reusable water bottle, individual actions, when multiplied across our campus and beyond, create lasting impact.
Let’s re-commit to being part of that change, because at Ventura College, sustainability isn’t just a goal, it’s a shared responsibility and a collective promise to future generations. Let’s keep moving forward, together.
Dr. Claudia Lourido-Habib is the president of Ventura College.