Achievements in Sustainability
Awards and Recognition
- Sustainability Campus Index top ranking performer (AASHE, 2021)
- Sustainability Campus Index top ranking performer (AASHE, 2020)
- Members of the ABQ 2030 district
- Numerous sustainability-related national awards and recognition among sustainability and other entities (i.e. Campus Race to Zero Waste, AASHE, and PNM utility providers)
STARS Rating
In November 2019, CNM earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, is a transparent, self-reporting, framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.
CNM achieved Bronze in 2014 with 41.33 points, Silver in 2016 with 46.37 points, and Silver in 2019 with 55.91 points. CNM has made significant progress across all categories since 2014, moving the institution within 10 points of receiving Gold.
Visit the STARS site for the complete report.
CNM Sustainability in the News
- CNM Officially Kicks off "Campus Race to Zero Waste" Campaign
- Students Learn About Acequias While Protecting Water Quality
- ‘Water in the Desert’ Series Concludes with Exploration of Acequias and Lecture on Rainworks Project
- CNM’s ‘Water in the Desert Series’ Offers Activities and Lectures
Sustainability Presentations
- "Geography of Your Drinking Water: Bottle vs Tap" presentation by Molly Blumhoefer
- "Kirtland Air Force Base Fuel Spill Cleanup" by Dennis McQuillan and Diane Agnew of the NM Environment Department
- "Animas River Mine Water Spill Briefing Report" by Dennis McQuillan and Diane Agnew of the NM Environment Department
Building Green
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has been a guiding principle in CNM construction and renovation projects at CNM. Projects (buildings, building elements, and campuses) may be registered under specific certifications such as New Construction & Major Renovations, and Interior Design & Construction. The dates listed below are when the building became LEED Certified, rather than when construction was completed. Take a Self-Guided LEED Tour of the Student Resource Center on CNM's Main Campus.
New Construction
- 2011: Rio Rancho Campus (RR), LEED Gold
- 2012: The Student Resource Center (SRC), LEED Silver
- 2016: Westside I Building (WSI) , LEED Silver
- 2021: Education Collaborative (EC), LEED Silver
- 2021: Marketplace @ CNM, LEED Silver
Major Renovations
- 2013: Jeannette Stromberg Hall (JS), LEED Gold
- 2014: Tom Wiley Hall (TW), LEED Silver
- 2016: Robert P. Matteucci Hall (RPM) , LEED Gold
- 2016: Laboratory (L) Building, LEED Gold
- 2017: Ted F. Martinez (TM) Building, LEED Silver
- 2019: Smith Brasher Hall (SB) Building, LEED Gold
- 2019: Richard Barr (RB) Building, LEED Gold
- 2021: Max Salazar Hall (MS), LEED Platinum
Interior Design & Construction
- 2013: Advanced Technology Center (ATC), LEED Gold
- 2017: South Valley I (SVI), LEED Silver