​Sustainability is plays an intergral role in the operations of the Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserves. VESR is equiped with a photovoltaic system in which helps to provide power for the reserve. Sage dorm also has an indirect solar hot water system which harnesses the suns energy to heat water for the dorm facility. The newest addition to SNARL, the Page Center, boasts a ground source heat pump and is classified as a zero-net energy building. The reserve also has an extensive recycling system in conjunction with the Sierra Conservation Project. 

These projects not only fit under the reserve's mission of sustainability but help the UC system reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2025. Many of these projects are made possible with the help of UC Santa Barbara's The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF). The Green Initiative Fund provides funding for project which reduce the University's impact on the environment and allocates funds to projects that increase the amount of renewable energy such as the new solar water heater project at SNARL.