Green Week: USC’s largest solar project approaches finale

USC’s progress towards renewable energy has made substantial advancements with the installation of over 1,000 solar panels atop the Carole Little Building.

The panels span 36,352 square feet and, once interconnected, will produce more than 600 kW of clean energy, meeting roughly 10% of the building’s overall energy demands. It will be USC’s most extensive solar installation, generating nearly 1 million kilowatt-hours of energy every year.

“It took over 60 crane lifts across three days to elevate the 1,042 panels onto the two roofs,” noted Zelinda Welch, USC’s director of energy and sustainability. “We are in the process of connecting the panels, and I’m eager for them to begin generating clean energy.”

In 2020, solar panels were fitted across the roof of the Galen Center. Solar arrays are also present at the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island; the Vista, Windsor, Stardust, and Seven Gables housing complexes; and at the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Human-Centered Computation Hall. The university additionally plans to install panels at the new baseball stadium and the Bloom Football Performance Center, which is currently under development.

“These renewable energy projects illustrate USC’s dedication to setting an example in sustainability and advancing towards our Assignment: Earth Climate Neutrality objectives,” remarked Mick Dalrymple, USC’s chief sustainability officer. “The Carole Little Building solar installation is the latest in a long series of sustainability-focused accomplishments since the launch of Assignment: Earth in 2022.”

USC’s strategy to combat climate change and foster a sustainable campus and world is encapsulated in Assignment: Earth. A primary aim is to achieve zero waste by 2028. To facilitate this, approximately 1,200 three-stream waste bins have been deployed across over 50 buildings. A reduction in landfill waste and an enhancement in composting allowed USC to attain 57% waste diversion in the past fiscal year, marking a 3% increase.

The 2025
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USC Sustainability Survey, conducted by over 8,000 students, faculty, and staff, revealed that 73% either “agree” or “strongly agree” that the university fosters a culture promoting sustainability.

Acknowledgments for USC’s sustainability initiatives

USC has garnered several recent accolades for its sustainability initiatives. For the second consecutive year, all Keck Medicine of USC hospitals were honored by Practice Greenhealth for their leadership in sustainability within health care, while the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was LA Green Business certified due to its ongoing zero waste efforts. USC Hospitality achieved the highest rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) 2.2 for Food/Dining in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s 2025 Sustainable Campus Index.

To enhance cooperation among students, faculty, and operational specialists in tackling sustainability challenges, USC has recently introduced Exploring Sustainability through Campus Living Labs. Among various initiatives, it paired students from the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy with USC Hospitality to launch the Choose to Reuse program, debuting at USC Dining facilities this autumn.

Also set to launch later this year, USC Surplus Sales will provide the university community with the chance to acquire lightly used equipment, furniture, and other items at reasonable prices, all while diverting goods from the local landfill.

“We are making significant strides, but there remains much to accomplish,” Dalrymple stated. “We are continually seeking innovative methods to embed sustainability as the standard practice in everything we undertake at USC. From organizing zero waste events to reporting water leaks to making procurement of office supplies and travel arrangements more sustainable, we invite everyone to participate.”

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