The 2011 Campus Sustainability Report was presented to Chancellor Thorp and the UNC community on November 15th, at the Campus Sustainability and America Recycles Day event. This comprehensive assessment of sustainable policies, practices and programs on UNC’s campus reveals the university’s adoption of sustainability as a core value and strategic planning tool. UNC aspires to be a living laboratory of sustainability both in and out of the classroom. Key findings demonstrating how the campus is moving towards this goal include:
- Energy saving measures avoided $64 million in costs since 2003, while potable water use fell 40 percent.
- Greenhouse gas emissions are down 20 percent since 2008.
- A new student-managed “green energy” revolving fund and a new University-financed fund are providing more stable funding streams for energy conservation and efficiency.
- The new Education Center at UNC’s North Carolina Botanical Garden is the first public LEED Platinum building in the state. Three LEED laboratory buildings are under construction.
- More than 200 courses offer sustainability-related content, and more than 300 faculty conduct sustainability research.
- Expanded recycling programs and a growing number of “green certified” events are reducing the campus waste stream.
- Ever more food is obtained from local sources and labeled with the name of the farmer. New digital signage conveys the nutritional content of food offerings and potential allergens.
- UNC students contribute more than one million service hours annually in communities throughout the state.
The full 2011 Campus Sustainability Report is available online through the Sustainability website. To receive a hard copy, request one online. To show your commitment to sustainability, start by taking the Carolina Green Pledge.
