The University of Auckland has made it into the 2014 Green Gown Awards, which recognise excellence in sustainability and environmental performance improvement.
It is a finalist in the continuous Improvement -- Institutional Change category.
The University's sustainability and environment manager, Dr Lesley Stone, said the institution was "excited".
"Despite tripling our student numbers and doubling our gross floor area in the past 30 years, the university has had considerable success in minimising our environmental footprint," she said.
"We have continued to improve the efficiency with which we use resources, and to minimise our wastes and emissions."