Top 10 Campus Sustainability Projects Of 2018
Many people and projects advanced campus sustainability in 2018. Here are a few from the past year.
NC State Named To Princeton Review’s Top 50 Green Colleges List
In October, The Princeton Review ranked NC State 42nd on its 2018 “Top 50 Green Colleges” list. With a score of 96 out of 99 possible points, the university has been named a Green College by The Princeton Review since 2012 but this is the first time NC State has made the top 50.
NC State’s Grounds Services launched a sustainable landscaping program at Gregg Museum of Art and Design. The program integrates electric equipment, chemical alternatives and other sustainable practices.
Campus Bee Hotels Open For Business
NC State’s new bee hotels are providing vital habitat for North Carolina’s native bees thanks to a student and staff member who designed and built three for campus.
Bike And Scooter Share Expands
Through a partnership witLime, campus now has hundreds of bikes and scooters available for zero emission transit to, from and around campus.
Projects Improve Water Management, Quality
The Facilities Division designed and installed multiple stormwater projects for the area surrounding the Brickyard in order to manage and mitigate flooding in a sustainable way. In November, students in EcoVillage partnered with Facilities to install a rainwater cistern in a campus park. This project will reduce the amount of potable water used in landscaping.
Energy Use Declines 31 Percent Since 2002
Whether it’s through comprehensive building energy audits and improvements or ceramic window film that reduces solar heat gain, NC State is innovating to save energy. This year also marked the first campus building with 100 percent LED lighting, and more than $200,000 in energy costs was avoided on campus over winter break.
Gregg Museum Earns LEED Gold Rating
The Gregg Museum of Art and Design became the thirteenth university construction or renovation project to earn LEED certification since 2011 after NC State began pursuing a minimum LEED Silver certification for all construction and renovation projects over 20,000 square feet.
University Addresses Food, Housing Insecurity Among Students
After a year-long research effort to determine food and housing insecurity among NC State students, the university launched Pack Essentials. This program provides support for students facing these challenges.
Sustainability Partners Launches
This program takes the NC State community behind-the-scenes on tours of sustainability-related features on campus and in the local community. Plus, workshops are offered to educate about sustainability.
Compostable Coca-Cola Cups Added
In Talley Student Union and the On The Oval restaurant, Coca-Cola cups, straws and lids can now be composted. The new compostable materials were integrated by NC State Dining in January 2018. Also, several students and student organizations started pilot projects for in-room composting at campus residence halls and apartments. One was started by a student with a grant from the NC State Sustainability Fund.
Have ideas for new projects and initiatives in 2019? Let us know, apply for a sustainability grant, or get involved with an existing sustainability program.
This post was originally published in Sustainability News.
