A Climate Action Plan developed for Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) by HMC Architects—along with students and staff—was honored with a 2019 California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC) Energy and Sustainability Best Practice Award. The award, “Planning Communications, and Partnerships: Use of Collaborative Planning to Create a Climate Action Plan” was presented at the 2019 CHESC conference on July 10 at UC Santa Barbara.  In attendance to accept the award were HMC’s Vice President of Sustainability Eera Babtiwale, LEED AP BD+C, and Mt. SAC’s Chisa Uyeki.

The CAP sets standards and recommendations for moving the campus towards carbon neutrality and sustainability at every level of the institution toward the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Mt. SAC chose to develop the detailed and strategic framework for measuring, planning and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and related climatic impacts, and enlisted HMC to direct its development. To develop the plan, HMC sustainability experts engaged members of the campus through two conferences, an eco-charette, multiple flex day sessions, expert- and peer-review in-person sessions and document review, consultant contributions and direct work with the Associated Students Environmental Senate and members of the Environmental Action Group for a Livable Earth (EAGLE) club.

CHESC highlights cutting-edge research, as well as case studies with proven successes in curriculum development, operational programs, and community partnerships. To learn more about CHESC and see the full list of award winners, visit CHESC’s website.