Appalachian State UniversityPromoting 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 HeightsASU Strategic Plan 2008-2012

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, affordabilityand 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.

6A Multi-Faceted Course of Action

1. Organizational Commitments2. Student Engagement &

Leadership3. Operational Initiatives4. Curriculum Programs5. Research Advances6. Community Outreach7. Financial / Funding

Opportunities

Organizational Commitments 7

Office of Sustainability (2009)President’s Climate Commitment (2008)

Pledging Climate Neutrality50+ 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 communityNumerous “Green” student organizations2011 Alternative Spring Break trips go Carbon NeutralStudent Government has Cabinet-level Environmental Affairs Officer

Operational Initiatives 9

Aggressive Energy and Water use ReductionsInnovative Project Financing: $5 Million Energy Performance ContractLEED Policy for new buildingsSuccessful recycling, reuse and composting campaign (40% of solid waste stream)No hazardous chemicals in housekeeping and landscaping operationsErected largest wind turbine in North Carolina, Co-funded with studentsNumerous innovative transportation initiatives

Curriculum Programs 10

Multiple Focused Degree ProgramsSustainable 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 DecathlonSustainable 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 GovernmentWatauga county landfill gas projectGreen Business SeminarsNo 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 seriesEarth Week 2011 Festivities

A great time to visit!

Financial / Funding Opportunities 14

Wide-ranging savings and efficiency savingSustainability is perhaps the richest Grant award area

Government Agencies are strongly supporting SustainabilityCurrent 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 Initiatives15

1. AASHE STARS Measurement PlatformA systemic commitment to these broad goalsTransparently adopted into Institutional Data

2. Climate Neutrality 2050 (51% reduction by 2025)

Will require total community commitmentEnergy, 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 2013-2017Our 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 YouDr. Lorin Baumhover

Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor

baumhoverla@appstate.edu

sustain

sustain.appstate.edu