Appalachian State University Promoting Campus Sustainability Dr. Lorin Baumhover Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor March 7, 2011 sustain sustain.appstate.edu

…from our Strategic Plan… 2 “We have genuine respect for the natural environment and a commitment to principles of sustainability.” Reach Greater Heights ASU Strategic Plan

Appalachian State University 3 A Master’s Comprehensive University  Part of the 16-campus University of North Carolina System  17,000 Students : 16/1 Student/faculty ratio  140 undergraduate and graduate degrees Highly ranked in overall value, affordability and student satisfaction.

Earth, a planet in peril

An Educational Imperative 5 Our students inherit the world we leave behind. Our faculty and staff members are all educators, whether in the classroom or the physical plant. Our students will graduate with a holistic understanding of sustainability and its simple and leading edge solutions. In turn, Our students will be leaders in the sustainability revolution, guiding the most important effort of our time.

6 A Multi-Faceted Course of Action 1. Organizational Commitments 2. Student Engagement & Leadership 3. Operational Initiatives 4. Curriculum Programs 5. Research Advances 6. Community Outreach 7. Financial / Funding Opportunities

Organizational Commitments 7 Office of Sustainability (2009) President’s Climate Commitment (2008)  Pledging Climate Neutrality 50+ Member Cross-Campus Sustainability Council  Faculty, Staff, Students, Community Sustainability Values Strategic Plan (2008) and Campus Master Plan (2010) Transparent assessment and reporting  AASHE STARS (2009)

Student Engagement & Leadership 8 Student-Led Renewable Energy Initiative “Recycle at the Rock” football game recycling “Living Green” residential learning community Numerous “Green” student organizations 2011 Alternative Spring Break trips go Carbon Neutral Student Government has Cabinet-level Environmental Affairs Officer

Operational Initiatives 9 Aggressive Energy and Water use Reductions Innovative Project Financing: $5 Million Energy Performance Contract LEED Policy for new buildings Successful recycling, reuse and composting campaign (40% of solid waste stream) No hazardous chemicals in housekeeping and landscaping operations Erected largest wind turbine in North Carolina, Co-funded with students Numerous innovative transportation initiatives

Curriculum Programs 10 Multiple Focused Degree Programs  Sustainable Development (BA, MA)  Appropriate Technology (BS, MS)  Environmental Science (MS)  Sustainable Business (MBA) Rich offerings of sustainability-related courses throughout our seven colleges.  e.g. : Environmental Psychology, Sustainable Building Methods, Sustainability in the Arts, … Developing “Green Sections” program allowing students to select into sustainability-focused courses and sections.

Research Advances (1) 11 Research Institute of Environment, Energy and Economics (2008) 11-time winner of EPA student grant awards One of 20 global universities participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2011 Solar Decathlon Sustainable Agriculture at the Goodnight Family Sustainable Development Farm

Research Advances (2) 12 Active Research Activities: Energy : Wind-turbine testing, biodiesel, algae-based fuels, landfill gas, gasification, bio-char, waste-to-energy digestion, … Environment : AppalAIR air quality monitoring, biofuels emissions, Natural resources effect on quality-of- life, … Economics : Policy analysis, cost/benefit of renewable energy, climate change impacts,…

Community Outreach 13 Participation in local Government Watauga county landfill gas project Green Business Seminars No cost solar and wind site assessment. Year-end salvage / community sale. “Wind in Schools” program Local Food Initiative w/ local farmers Annual Renewable Energy workshop series Earth Week 2011 Festivities  A great time to visit!

Financial / Funding Opportunities 14 Wide-ranging savings and efficiency saving Sustainability is perhaps the richest Grant award area  Government Agencies are strongly supporting Sustainability  Current Partners: DOE, EPA, NC Energy Office Sustainability is one of 5 key foci for Appalachian Capital Campaign to our donor community. Currently working with Fortune 500 companies for potential sustainability-oriented partnerships.

4 Overarching, Transformative Initiatives AASHE STARS Measurement Platform A systemic commitment to these broad goals Transparently adopted into Institutional Data 2. Climate Neutrality 2050 (51% reduction by 2025) Will require total community commitment Energy, Transportation, Waste, Chemical Usage, … 3. Quality Enhancement Plan (Proposed) “Through the Lens of Sustainability” Links Curriculum and Research Initiatives with on-campus sustainability efforts 4. Strategic Planning Our principle guiding document.

A Glimpse at Headlines of the Future 16 Appalachian unveils the building-of-the future to a enthusiastic audience. Appalachian achieves Climate Neutrality 10 years ahead of plan. Local food initiative opens profitable new market for Dining Hall. Appalachian’s Electric Vehicle Fleet gets its power from the sun. Over 1,000 Spring 2015 graduates receive “Green Degree” designation. Sustainability giving tops University fundraising efforts. New Solar Array will meet 20% of campus electricity needs. Innovative “Sustainability in the Arts” program reaches new audiences. Sustainability purchasing policies point University toward zero-waste. Fans and Athletes work together as the Mountaineers go Carbon Neutral. “Green Appal Corps” student group leads the way to the future. Earth Week Features 50+ diverse sustainability events! Appalachian named as one of “America’s 10 Greenest Colleges”.

A Leadership Opportunity 17 Appalachian is recognized as a leader in campus sustainability.  Princeton Review : 2010 : 98 out of possible 99. For decades our degree programs and our mountain setting have attracted faculty, staff and students with an orientation for sustainability. Appalachian will lead by example, leveraging these strengths, as our students and the world increasingly demand a more sustainable future. Through this effort, Appalachian will enhance the world we live in, and position it’s graduates to be the sustainable leaders of tomorrow.

Thank You Dr. Lorin Baumhover Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor sustain sustain.appstate.edu