Sustainable Initiatives and Environmental Research at ... · (EPA) achieve its mission to protect human health and the environment. EPA works with colleges and universities to promote

Sustainable Initiatives and

Environmental Research at Institutions

of Higher Learning

In the Southeast

EPA Academic Institutions Programs- Region 4

Fall 2014

Rollins College

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Sewanee, the University of the South

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Millsaps College

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Spelman College

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Davidson College

Centre College

Alcorn State University

Alabama A&M

University

Flo

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Univ

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Fort Valley State University

Kentucky State University

North Carolina A&T University

South

Caro

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Tennessee State University

Tuskegee University A

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Un

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Clemson University

University of Florida University of Georgia

University of Tennessee

University of Kentucky

Un

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of N

orth

Caro

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Georgia Southern University

Florida International University

Geo

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Alab

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Claflin University

Oran

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Mississippi Valley State

University

Meharry Medical College

Ben

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Benedict College

Pearl River Community College

Mississippi Gulf Coast Com

munity College

Georgia State University

Atlanta Metropolitan State College

Broward College

Beth

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iversity

Emo

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iversity Savannah State University

Heather McTeer Toney Region 4 Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proud to present the

Sustainable Initiatives and Environmental Research at Institutions of the Higher

Learning in the Southeast report. This report provides a look at sustainability

initiatives at colleges and universities in the southeast. Colleges and universities

have always been key partners in helping the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) achieve its mission to protect human health and the environment. EPA works

with colleges and universities to promote research, explore solutions, and help

produce the next generation of environmental leaders.

Many colleges and universities in the southeast recognize the importance of

sustainability and are working to incorporate sustainable practices and principals

into campus life. Institutions are undertaking initiatives such as building more

sustainable buildings, setting up recycling and composting programs, purchasing

food for dining halls from local farms, and adding electric or hybrid vehicles to their

fleet. Most importantly, institutions are supporting student involvement by adding

sustainability topics into their curriculum and creating environmental and resource

management degree programs.

Sustainable Initiatives and Environmental Research at

Institutions of Higher Learning in the Southeast

Contents

Introduction

Scope of this Report ………………………………………………………………………….…1

Importance of Sustainability…………………………………………………………………….2

Sustainability in Collegiate Athletics……………………………………………………….3,4,5

Colleges and Universities

Alabama A&M University………………………………………………………………………..6

Alcorn State University…………………………………………………………………………..7

Atlanta Metropolitan State College……………………………………………………………..8

Auburn University………………………………………………………………………………...9

Bennett College……………………………………………………………………………...….10

Bethune-Cookman University………………………………………………………………….11

Birmingham-Southern College… ……………………………………………………………..12

Broward College……………………………………...………………………………………....13

Clark Atlanta University………………………………………………………………………...14

Clemson University……………………………………………………………………………..15

Davidson College…………………………………………………………………………….…16

Emory University…………………………………………………………………………….….17

Florida A&M University……………………………………………….………………….…….18

Florida International University…………………………………………………………….….19

Furman University……………………………………………………….…………….………..20

Georgia Southern University………………………………..….…………………….………..21

Georgia State University……………………………………………………..……….………..22

Mississippi State University………………………………………………………..…………..23

Morehouse College…………………………………………………………….…………........24

North Carolina A&T State University……………………..……………….………………….25

Spelman College……………………………………………………….………...…………….26

University of Georgia.…………………………………………………………………………..27

University of Tennessee…………………………………………………………………….…28

Conclusion..…………………………………………………………………………….………….…..29

Colleges and Universities Included in this Report…………………….….…………………30

Memorandum of Understanding in Region 4……….……………………………….…..……….31

Resources and Acknowledgments………………………………………….……………………..32



Scope of this Report

Information in this report primarily comes from institutions that have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with EPA Region 4. The MOUs are designed to encourage schools to support environmental awareness, expand academic awareness and broaden their academic offerings in science and environmental-policy-orientated courses. The MOUs focus on environmental matters that include areas such as water conservation, energy conservation, recycling, green building construction, and green renovation. In addition, the MOUs include environmental outreach to communities the institutions serve.

This report covers colleges and universities in the southeastern United States (EPA Region 4), with a particular focus on sustainable initiatives and environmental research. EPA Region 4 is comprised of the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

This report is not a complete summary of all sustainability initiatives at every school in the southeast. Rather, it is a snapshot of initiatives that illustrate environmental leadership at schools in the southeast. Future versions of this report will include more comprehensive information and will look at schools across the country.



www.epa.gov Page 1

\Environmental Research

Importance of Sustainability

The concept of sustainability comes from the recognition that everything we use depends on our natural environment and resources, and that these resources are being depleted. Society must become more sustainable to protect our natural environment and make our communities safe for ourselves and future generations. There are many environmental issues facing society today, including climate change, water and air pollution, toxics and ecosystem degradation. These issues have the potential to cause greater negative impacts. For example climate change can disrupt agriculture, increase communities, harm human health, and destroy ecosystems. The term “climate change” refers to the buildup of manmade gases (i.e., greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere that trap the sun’s heat and cause changes in weather patterns. Colleges and universities play a key role in creating sustainability today, by performing research, acting as sustainable role models, and training leaders for the future.

College campuses are the perfect place to implement and teach about sustainable projects; as they are where our future workforce and leaders come from. By encouraging these projects, colleges and universities will produce a

generation primed to solve today’s pressing environmental issues. At the same time, college campuses, with infrastructure that include housing, building, and transportation, are well-suited to test new technologies and behavioral approaches to sustainability.

Given the unique challenges these institutions face, greening the campus might not seem like a high priority for administrators focused on graduation rates, funding, and endowments. However, there are many reasons to “go green.” Sustainability initiatives can attract attention and funding, which help underfunded colleges and universities remain competitive. Sustainable initiatives can also significantly reduce operating costs while creating a safer, more positive campus. In addition, a commitment to sustainability can increase an institution’s appeal to prospective students. Sustainability initiatives and curriculum can interest students in technical fields related to environmental issues, thus helping students prepare for a job market that has an increasing focus on green practices. In other words, a focus on sustainability today can help prepare tomorrow’s environmental leaders.







www.epa.gov Page 2

Collegiate Sports Sustainability

Engage Fans and Alumni ● Expand Sponsorships

Save Resources ● Gain Recognition

www.Collegiatesportssustainability.org

Sustainability is the new norm for colleges and universities. Sustainability in collegiate

sports is about ensuring the health and well-being of students, the efficient use of

natural resources, community involvement and stewardship, and ensuring the economic

vitality of the university in its totality. The students, alumni, public, and even some

sponsors are now expecting collegiate sports to embrace sustainability—it is the moral

imperative that should not be ignored. Adopting sustainable strategies will be the key to

ensuring a competitive economic and social advantage for colleges and universities in

the coming years.

Colleges and universities across the country have been at the forefront of adopting

many sustainable practices. Many campuses have been leaders in demonstrating how

to integrate economic vitality, environmental stewardship, health, wellness and social

responsibility successfully in student life and college curricula. What has been a more

difficult journey for many colleges and universities is bridging the gap between the

campus activities and collegiate sports.

The annual Collegiate Sports Sustainability Summit (CS3) offers attendees the chance

to network, learn, and exchange ideas with peers from around the country on ways in

which athletic and sports programs can join the campus movement to make

investments into programs and activities that are socially, economically, and

environmentally responsible. The Summit is organized through a partnership between

the U.S. EPA, Keep America Beautiful, College & University Recycling Coalition, Green



www.epa.gov Page 3

http://www.collegiatesportssustainability.org/

Sports Alliance, Coca-Cola Recycling, Georgia World Congress Center, RecycleMania,

and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. CS3

focuses on bringing together collegiate athletic departments, recreational sports,

sustainability departments, and facility operations to better integrate sustainability into

sports events and operations.

This integration can ignite students, alumni and fans around a common purpose.

The statistics are that 61% of the public follow sports with a passion while only 13%

follow science. So this is our opportunity—to harness the passion for sports and engage

and activate fans and participants to be stewards for health, wellness,

social responsibility, and environmental protection. As the only national gathering

focused on collegiate sports sustainability, we are creating an open, equal platform

for inter-departmental collaboration. The agenda is thoughtfully designed to bring

together collegiate athletics staff, campus recreational managers, sustainability

professionals, and recycling/facility managers together to identify ways to achieve

common campus sustainability goals through sports and athletics, save money, foster

better inter-departmental relationships, and increase recognition for institutional efforts.

The Summit features engaging speakers with real world experience in how to achieve

economic and environmental results by going green in collegiate sports. The agenda

also emphasizes opportunities to share and network through roundtables and informal

meetings in a relaxed setting.

“The 2014 Collegiate Sports Sustainability Summit [was] such a great success.

Not only did I take away many fantastic ideas and tons of great information, but

I also left with new contacts at other universities that I will lean on in the future

for even more inspiration on how we can continue to improve our sustainability

initiatives. I left the Summit feeling inspired, excited and ready to put these

ideas in motion at the University of Florida.”

Allison Vitt, Outreach & Communications Coordinator

University of Florida, Office of Sustainability



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http://www.nirsa.org/wcm/partner/CS3-2014/Agenda/wcm/_Grow/Institutes/Sustainability/_2014/Agenda.aspx?hkey=238352ba-9e2d-4ec9-814d-99bf1543b76e

http://www.nirsa.org/wcm/partner/CS3-2014/Speakers/wcm/_Grow/Institutes/Sustainability/_2014/Speakers.aspx?hkey=6397ad3e-3199-4ea2-8b0b-b8704f85ae9e

Gene Smith, Athletic Director, The Ohio State University at

the Athletic Directors Workshop during the 2013 Collegiate

Sports Sustainability Summit.

CS3 was started in 2011 and was initially designed to

attract institutions from the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast

Conferences (SEC-ACC). The first Summit attracted mainly

collegiate facilities/recycling staff. The second Summit

welcomed more conferences and attracted sustainability,

recycling, and a few athletic staff to the Summit. At the

second summit the attendance doubled!

The Summit has doubled in size every year since its inception in 2011. This impressive

growth speaks to the power of the Summit’s purpose—the need for a forum for colleges

and universities to come together and to develop the required inter-departmental

relationships needed to integrate sustainability into collegiate sports. The 2013 Summit

had representatives from over 40 colleges and universities, and 15 athletic department

staff in attendance from athletic programs across the country. Attendees represented

the SEC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, PAC 12, Ivies, Sunbelt, Division I, II, III colleges and

universities. The 2014 Summit continued on the attendance of previous years and grew

to its largest size.

For 2014, CS3 was very proud to welcome our newest partner, NIRSA, to our efforts.

With NIRSA’s partnership, the CS3 is able to complete the connections that will

successfully integrate sustainability into collegiate sports. As Mick Deluca, NIRSA Past

President and 2013 CS3 speaker said, “The Collegiate Sports Sustainability Summit

provided an excellent opportunity to learn, share, and network as well as expand the

discussion of the valuable platform of sports in a collegiate environment. Sharing ideas

among athletic, recreation, and sustainability colleagues helps create partnerships and

collaborations that take advantage of the unique external window of collegiate sports as

well as the internal activation through recreation, campus sports, and student

engagement.”



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Community Awareness The College of Agriculture, Life, and Natural Sciences at Alabama A&M University partnered with Huntsville City’s Public Transportation Division to promote public transit ridership as an environmentally friendly alternative. On Earth Day, April 22, 2014, faculty, staff, and students were encouraged to ride the Huntsville Shuttle Bus. Huntsville’s parking and Public Transit Director agreed to sponsor a free bus ride for any Alabama A&M student, faculty member, or staff member. The surrounding community participated and benefitted from this program as well. They were able to avoid high gas prices as well as alleviate traffic congestion on the roads. The College of Agriculture, Life, and Natural Sciences along with the City of Huntsville’s Public Transportation Division helped to raise awareness among the campus as well as the surrounding community on environmentally conscious practices.

Air Quality Preservation By using public transportation, students, faculty and staff, and the community were able to facilitate the improvement of air quality in the area. The shuttle service managed to reduce the number of cars on the highway, and therefore reduced total carbon emissions within the City of Huntsville.



Alabama A&M University

Fun Fact: “Huntsville’s

parking and

Public Transit

Director agreed

to sponsor a free

bus ride for any

Alabama A&M

student or faculty

member on Earth

Day 2014.”

Location: Huntsville, Alabama

www.epa.gov Page 6

Water Conservation Methods Alcorn State University, a Land Grant University and the oldest Historically Black University, serves the surrounding community of small, local farmers by providing training in sustainable water management. Alcorn’s Mississippi River Research Center (MRRC) in close collaboration with the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture Production (ASAP) group delivers irrigation training methods. The Alliance for Sustainable Agricultural production schedules monthly field days bringing experts from federal, state, and local agencies along with personnel from universities and colleges.

Student Involvement A freshman Alcorn student that is majoring in agronomy who is from Holmes county worked over the weekends in the ASAP farm receiving hands on training in sustainable agriculture in spring of 2014. Minority students majoring in agriculture, forestry, and environmental studies have received field, laboratory, computer, and outreach training in sustainable water management and environmental sciences.



Alcorn State University

Fun Fact: “Students of MRRC

presented preliminary

results at 71st professional

Agricultural Workers

Conference in Tuskegee

University, Alabama in

December 2013 reaching

third place in the graduate

poster competition.”

Location: Lorman, Mississippi

www.epa.gov Page 7

Community Engagement


(AMSC), in close collaboration with the

City of East Point (City) will help

revitalize efforts of the city’s brown fields

to increase the economic health and

value of its community. AMSC biology,

chemistry, mathematics faculty, and

internship undergraduate students will

conduct research to sample and test soil

and water on targeted lots and spaces

in the City of East Point. This data will

provide valuable information to aid in

decision-making in the city’s

revitalization plan.

Student Engagement Students are given an active role in

helping the redevelopment of the City.

Focusing on one main project, students

are involved in soil testing and the

testing of surface sediment for volatile

organic compounds.


business and science faculty and

student majors, respectively, will also

help the City of East Point strengthen its

economic sustainability by providing

business plans to promote business

growth, financial strength, and greening

of businesses to be more energy

efficient. Communication of City

services, events, and processes is

critical to a sustainable community.




Fun Fact: “Approximately 2.3 million

square feet of office,

warehouse, and distribution

space is located within the City

of East Point’s commercial and

industrial areas. Together, the

City of East Point and AMSC

plan on revitalizing the area to

support the economy and

growth of the surrounding

community.”

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

www.epa.gov Page 8

Water Conservation Auburn University recently installed wireless monitoring for campus utilities in most building locations. This system allows the Utilities & Energy department to remotely monitor consumption levels for water, electricity, and gas. The system automatically sends an alarm to registered users for unusually high consumption levels. In the first year of use, the monitoring system identified 48 separate incidents of high water consumption that, once remedied, saved over 4.75 million gallons of water and $33,000 in expenditures.

Student Engagement Students in the Mechanical Engineering program work with Auburn University’s Utilities & Energy Department to investigate building operations and suggest projects to improve energy efficiency, comfort levels, and to make the buildings easier and safer to maintain. To date, 4 cohorts of Senior Design classes have examined 5 campus buildings by studying building operations, identifying building issues, conducting

interviews with building occupants, taking air measurements, and performing preliminary troubleshooting exercises. At the end of the two

semesters, the students make a presentation of their findings. Suggestions for changes in building mechanics and/or operations are then evaluated by facilities staff for possible implementation. One successful project enabled the upgrade of air handling controls resulting in over $40,000 in energy savings.

Community Engagement The Risk Management team at Auburn University has worked in community outreach since 2006. Through these efforts, they provide consultation to regional universities, the Alabama

Cooperative Extension System, and the Federal Government. One such consultation created a chemical waste policy for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division for a lab in Afghanistan that was used to trace Improvised Explosive Device manufacturing.



Auburn University Location: Auburn, Alabama

Aubur\

n, Alabama

ki Fun Fact: “Auburn University

saved over 4.75

million gallons of

water and $33,000

by monitoring and

lowering high water

consumption.”

www.epa.gov Page 9

Community Engagement

Bennett College, an all-women’s HBCU,

has entered into partnerships to help

support its statement of sustainability.

The college has developed a pledge to

create a green environment where

students can work with, learn from, and

support local green businesses. One of

Bennett’s

partners is the

North Carolina

League of

Conservation

Voters, a group

that works to

incorporate

environmental

considerations

into North Carolina state laws and

policies. Another Bennett partner is the

North Carolina-based Dogwood

Alliance, which raises awareness about

the negative impacts of deforestation.

The college also offers environmentally

preferable food services, including food

from local producers and the purchase

of sustainably-grown farm and ranch

products from local and regional

minority-owned and women-owned

businesses. To reduce energy and

water use, Bennett Dining Services uses

the Ecolab Apex dishwashing system,

which uses less energy, water, and

less toxic detergent than typical

dishwashers.

Future Plans

In January 2012, Bennett College

entered into a Memorandum of

Understanding with the Environmental

Protection Agency to collaborate on

green campus initiatives that promote

awareness of environmental issues.

One of Bennett’s goals is to

expand its science and policy-

oriented course offerings to

include environmental and

sustainability classes and

programs. Bennett is also

considering plans to create a

center on campus dedicated to

environmental justice and

sustainable entrepreneurship.

EPA will also provide water and

energy conservation assistance, green

building renovation and construction

support, and community outreach tools.

Regarding green building, Bennett

College’s goal is to make their buildings

more environmentally friendly while

maintaining their historical integrity.



Bennett College

Fun Fact: “Bennett Dining Services

uses Ecolab Apex

dishwashers which

reduce energy and

water consumption and

also use less toxic

detergents.”

Location: Greensboro, North Carolina

www.epa.gov Page 10

Green Building

Under the direction of the new

president, Dr. Edison O. Jackson,

Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU)

is working diligently to become known

as an institution that values the

environment and practices

sustainability. The institution has just

hired its first sustainability officer, Mr.

Graham Gilchrist, who is the Associate

Vice President for Capital Projects and

Sustainability, and is undergoing a

master planning process which has

sustainability at its core. This is a

significant undertaking as the campus

has a number of buildings that were built

in the early to mid-1900s. Renovations

and new buildings on campus, including

a new dormitory, student union and

administration building, are all being

designed to significantly

minimize the university’s

ecological footprint. The

first of these building, a

newly upgraded

Harrison-Rhodes Arts

and Humanities Building,

is fully equipped with

LED lighting. Newer

buildings designs include

green roofing systems,

automatic lighting

systems, and energy

efficient HVAC.

Sustainability Education

Academically, the institution offers both

an undergraduate and graduate degree

in Integrated Environmental Science.

Researchers in this department work in

a variety of areas including sustainable

coastal ecosystems, sustainability and

public health and measuring

sustainability. The newly designed

general education

curriculum has all

students taking an

environmental science to

satisfy their science

requirement. Moreover,

B-CU is developing

environmental science as

a thematic approach to

training STEM majors in

each of the disciplines

offered in the School of

Science, Engineering

and Mathematics.



Bethune-Cookman University

Fun Fact: “Bethune-Cookman is

developing environmental

science as a way to train STEM

majors in each discipline

offered in the School of

Science, Engineering, and

Mathematics.”

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida

www.epa.gov Page 11

Student Engagement For more than a century, North Birmingham, Alabama where Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) is located has been the site of heavy industry including pig iron production, steel manufacturing, and coke production. The resulting air pollution has contaminated soils with lead, arsenic, and toxic organic compounds. At certain concentrations these pollutants are known to cause respiratory disease and cancer. U.S. EPA Region 4 made North Birmingham a top priority for study and decontamination, and designated the area as an EPA Superfund site. Through Cooperative Education Grant with EPA Region 4, students have conducted a 2-year study of the industrial valley of Birmingham known as the Jones Valley. The project incorporated student/faculty research, faculty interdisciplinary collaboration, and campus-wide discussion to address the challenges of sustainability and environmental justice. This research was applied through curricula and also through translating policy into action. Four different courses were adapted for students to undertake analysis of the scientific, health-related, cultural, sociological and economic impacts of soil contaminants in the region.

Environmental Justice Through BSC’s Sociology courses, students developed a North Birmingham community survey in conjunction with neighborhood associations and groups.

Academically, students applied coursework concepts on class, race, ethnicity, and gender to see the intersections with urban poverty and economic restructuring. The residents of North Birmingham will receive an analysis of neighborhood attitudes addressing their concerns over safety and long-term health

issues. Students developed and conducted onsite ethnographic video interviews with community residents. The interviews serve as a new community archive with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) as part of their ongoing Environmental Justice work.



Birmingham-Southern College

Fun Fact: “BSC students attended

the 2014 Southern

Sociological Society

Annual Meeting in

Charlotte, North Carolina

where they presented

their findings on

Environmental Justice.”

Location: Birmingham, Alabama

www.epa.gov Page 12

Sustainable Landscaping

Broward College (BC), a hispanic

serving institution in Fort Lauderdale,

strives to involve everyone on campus

in sustainable programs. In recent

years, the BC facilities team put in place

many sustainable practices in their

maintenance and landscaping activities.

The BC South Campus facilities team

was one of eight programs nationwide to

receive a 2011 Maintenance Solutions

Achievement Award, which is an award

program

sponsored by

Maintenance

Solutions

magazine. The

BC landscape

team educates

faculty, staff, and

students on

campus as well

as the local community on using native,

drought-resistant, non-invasive plant

species in gardens and landscaping

projects. Using these practices saves

the college money by reducing upkeep

costs, while providing natural habitats

for wildlife.

Community Commitment

The BC community also demonstrates

their commitment to sustainability

through making pledges. In 2008, the

BC president signed the Talloires

Declaration, which holds institutions

accountable for responding to climate

change and other negative

environmental impacts.

BC students are also

encouraged to sign the

BC Sustainability Pledge

“to explore and take into

account the social,

economic, and ecological

consequences of [his or

her] decisions” and to “use the

knowledge [he or she gains] at Broward

College to improve the sustainability of

the community.” The pledge also lists

simple steps students can take to

support a greener lifestyle. The pledge

allows students to define social and

environmental responsibility for

themselves and encourages students to

use the lessons learned in class to

support sustainability after graduation.



Broward College

Fun Fact: “Broward College South

Campus received the 2011

Maintenance Solutions

Achievement Award for its

commitment to sustainable

landscaping.”

Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

www.epa.gov Page 13

Sustainability Plan Clark Atlanta University has committed to a 20 percent reduction of energy consumption across the campus within five years; they plan on doubling the campus recycling efforts by 2015. To further reduce emissions they are motivating the University community to walk, bike, carpool or use public transit to get to and from campus. Clark Atlanta is also Promoting LEED-certified buildings, landscapes. They are ensuring that sustainability issues remain an integral part of CAU's academic curriculum and the CAU experience.

Air Quality Preservation In an effort to encourage the use of alternative transportation as a means of travel to and from the campus, as well as between AUC college campuses during the academic year, CAU participates in the Woodruff Library Atlanta University Center Shuttle Service. The campus shuttle system is operated free-of-charge to riders and provides access to key parts of the campuses, city mass transit and the surrounding community.

Community Engagement Clark Atlanta University (CAU),

the Atlanta University Center-Vine City EcoDistrict planning process designed to engage a broad array of local stakeholders in establishing environmental goals and implementing infrastructure improvement projects that meet and advance those goals falling into: Equitable Development, Health & Well Being, Community Identity, Access & Mobility, Energy, Water, Habitat & Ecosystem Function, and

Materials Management. The EcoDistrict process is particularly prescient in light of the extensive development underway including a billion dollar Atlanta Falcons stadium, Westside expansion of the Atlanta Beltline, Proctor Creek Greenway, Martin Luther King, Jr. Corridor and redevelopment of the surrounding Vine City and English Avenue communities.



Clark Atlanta University

Fun Fact: “CAU has signed

an MOU with

Planet Forward,

an organization

that engages

young people

and innovators in

search of solutions

to the biggest

environmental

challenges.”


www.epa.gov Page 14

Sustainable Agriculture

Clemson University’s commitment to

sustainability manifests itself in

numerous campus-

wide initiatives. The

Student Organic

Garden is a

revenue-generating

farm that doubles

as an active

laboratory,

integrating

sustainable

gardening,

composting, and bio-fuel projects. More

than 80 tons of food waste was used to

make compost for their Student Organic

Garden.

Renewable Energy &

Carbon Emission

Reduction

The Clemson

Experimental Forest is

not only utilized by

students in structured

field work in forestry,

wildlife, and biology, but also sequesters

approximately 20,000 tons of carbon per

year, potentially helping to offset

Clemson’s carbon footprint. In terms of

energy conservation, Clemson had the

first LEED-certified public building in

South Carolina and in 2008, adopted a

Sustainable Energy Policy, pledging to

reduce overall energy consumption by

20% by 2020. One source of

renewable energy used by

Clemson is the black soldier fly

larvae in the Biosystems

Engineering Laboratory. The

larvae are fed campus food

waste, dehydrated, and

processed into usable biodiesel.

Clemson University’s ultimate

goal is to be essentially carbon

neutral, a Net Zero Campus,

by 2030.

Student Engagement

Students are involved in nearly every

aspect of Clemson University’s

Sustainability Plan. With a

Sustainability Minor,

Creative Inquiry classes, and

the Sustainability Cafe, we

can extend the network of

people involved in

sustainability research and

advocacy and build the

social capital needed to

address the most pressing issues of the

21st century.



Clemson University

Fun Fact: “At the Biosystems

Engineering

Laboratory, students

are able to convert

black fly larvae into

usable biodiesel.”

Location: Clemson, South Carolina

www.epa.gov Page 15

Sustainable Agriculture

Davidson College, a liberal arts college

located in North Carolina, houses

sustainability efforts which ripple

throughout facilities, academics, dining

services, athletics, and more. Created in

2012, The Farm at Davidson College

was developed for the sole purpose of

providing vegetables, fruit, herbs and

more to Dining Services on the

Davidson College campus in an

organic and sustainable way.

Accompanying the farm itself is a

new “digital environment” developed

by Davidson. This digital

environment, comprised of a

website and an app, will further

facilitate broader discussion,

education, and collaboration around

food and sustainability issues.

Sustainability in Sports

The Next Play Venture Tournament is a

national competition for student-led

business plans that aim to make the

sports industry more sustainable and

provide solutions that utilize sports to

drive engagement in sustainability

issues. Hosted by Davidson, teams of

students compete for the $35,000 prize

money and in-kind

support with

proposals to improve

facilities, products,

and non-profit

organizations. Within

the college itself,

student athletes

created the Student

Athlete Sustainability

Council to address

sustainability

concerns in the

sports industry. In

collaboration with

campus staff and the Office of

Sustainability, students are working

towards “zero-waste” sporting events on

campus. For example, in 2013, 51% of

waste from a football game (including

tailgating) was diverted from landfill and

in 2014, 90% of waste from a basketball

game was either recycled or composted.

Davidson continues to use sports as a

lens through which to discuss and find

solutions for sustainability issues.



Davidson College

Fun Fact: “Davidson College

helped lower

greenhouse gas

emissions by

diverting 90% of

waste from a

home basketball

game away from

landfill through

recycling and

composting.”

Location: Davidson, North Carolina

5

www.epa.gov Page 16

Water Conservation

Emory has taken a leading role in the

region’s water conservation efforts. A

water reclamation facility is currently

under construction that will collect non-

potable water and use it for toilet filling

and in the hydroponic greenhouse,

saving 100 million gallons of potable

water annually. Low-flow shower heads

and dual-flush toilets

installed in

bathrooms on

campus will also

help save the supply

of potable water.

Sustainable

Agriculture

Emory University is working with

Emory Dining and Emory Hospital Food

Service to work towards achieving food

provision goals that 75% of all the food

served on campus and in Emory

hospitals be either locally grown or

sustainably grown. Through the creation

of a university farmers market, farmers

and retailers are able to feature locally

grown and sustainably produced foods.

Emory Dining, in collaboration with

Georgia Organics, also created a farmer

liaison position to support closer ties

with Georgia's sustainable farmers and

build connections for Emory Dining

purchases.

Green Building and Green

Space Protection

In 2001, Emory adopted the U.S. Green

Building Council’s LEED standards as a

guiding principal in all new major

construction projects. Currently all

construction projects must at a minimum

meet LEED Silver Certification. Emory

holds the distinction of having

one of the largest inventories by

square footage of LEED-certified

building space among campuses

in America. As of March 2014,

twenty-five buildings on campus

have attained LEED certification

ranging from Certified to Gold

levels, including the first certified

Gold LEED-EB (existing building) in the

country. In terms of green space,

beginning in 2003, Emory policy has

required that campus land suffer no net

loss of forest canopy, ensuring every

time a tree is removed, trees be

replanted to maintain the same forest

canopy.



Emory University

Fun Fact: “Emory has one of the

largest inventories of

LEED-certified building

space among

campuses in

America.”


www.epa.gov Page 17

Energy Conservation Florida A&M University (FAMU) is actively engaged in becoming a more sustainable campus. Currently in the midst of a Siemens performance contract, FAMU will save approximately $1.2 million in annual energy savings. The 2009 $2.4 million Phase 1 project successfully introduced the energy efficiency and financial benefits of performance contracting to the FAMU. Much broader in scope than Phase 1, the $12.2 million Phase 2 performance contract aims to partially decentralize the obsolete central steam plant heating system. The 18-month project, which began in May 2012, includes a multitude of facility infrastructure improvements including the steam system infrastructure renovation, an advanced solar-thermal heating system for the swimming pool, central chilled water and steam plant improvements, building automation

Improvements, ventilation and dehumidification improvements for the library. Energy savings will be dramatic. For example, natural gas consumption will be reduced 42.6 percent, which

represents an annual equivalent savings of $706,204. Electricity consumption will be reduced 12.1 percent, creating some $563,909 in equivalent cost savings on top of reductions and savings that came from implementing Phase 1.

Environmental Research FAMU hosts the Spheromak Turbulence Experiment, a fusion energy research collaboration between Florida A&M, West Virginia, and Auburn Universities with the goal of emulating the way our Sun produces energy in a man-made environment. The ultimate benefit to humanity will be a means to produce reliable affordable

electricity without the emission of greenhouse gases, dependence on foreign fossil fuels, and the high levels of radioactive waste produced by nuclear fission reactors currently in operation around the globe. The College of Agriculture and Food Sciences also conducts agricultural sustainability research and training in water quality, phytoremediation, agroforestry systems, bio agricultural, biopharmaceutical crops and multiple cropping systems.

Florida A&M University Location: Tallahassee, Florida



Fun Fact: “FAMU’s Center

for Plasma

Science hosts the

Spheromak

Turbulence

Experiment, a

research

collaboration

focused on

producing

reliable and

affordable

energy.”

www.epa.gov Page 18

Green Building

Florida International University (FIU), a

Hispanic-Serving Institution in Miami,

include the three pillars of sustainability:

environment, social equality, and

economy. In 2007, FIU adopted a policy

which mandates that all

new facilities are to be built

to a minimum standard of

LEED Silver. The campus

currently has 5 LEED

certified buildings with 2

more expected to open

within the next year. This

dedication to sustainability

did not go unnoticed, as, for

the sixth consecutive year,

FIU scored the highest in

the Florida State University System for

energy performance. Even with the

continual addition of new buildings, FIU

has been able to reduce energy usage

per square foot through energy

reduction projects and education of the

community on energy conservation

practices.

Student Engagement

In addition to FIU’s commitment to

green building, its students are heavily

encouraged to support and advocate for

campus-wide sustainability. FIU

Sustainability Committee annually

awards $10,000 to student

sustainability projects such as Kill-A-

Watt, an energy conservation

competition in the FIU Housing, a

student-run bike shop, and much more.

Sustainable Research

FIU’s curriculum also supports

sustainable practices and

education. Degrees such as the

newly launched Masters in

Environmental Policy and

Management from the School of

Environment, Arts, and Society

(SEAS) equip students with the

science and management skills

needed to be effective leaders

in areas critical to sustainability. SEAS

houses many other research programs

focused on creating a more sustainable

environment including the Florida

Coastal Everglades Long-Term

Ecological Research Program and the

Global Water for Sustainability Program.

Location: Miami, Florida

Fun Fact: “The FIU

Sustainability

Committee

awards $10,000

annually to

student-run

sustainability

projects.”

Florida International University



www.epa.gov Page 19

Sustainability Center

Located in South Carolina, Furman

University consistently maintains a

strong focus on sustainability. The

campus has served as

a model for operational

sustainability with

numerous projects

related to green

building, solar power,

geothermal systems,

energy efficiency projects, urban

farming, composting, water resource

efficiency, and responsible landscaping.

In fact, a recent audit of the university’s

comprehensive sustainability master

plan showed that 73 projects have been

completed, 46 initiatives are on-going,

and 21 strategies are slated for review.

The heart of the campus’s sustainable

education and research is the David E.

Shi Center for Sustainability, whose

mission “is to promote interdisciplinary

study in support of sustainability on

campus and in the community”. The

Center has supported more than 125

students for sustainability projects,

research, and service. Student-faculty

research teams are engaged in wide-

ranging projects such as

rain gardens, geothermal

units, and greywater

recycling systems.

Community Outreach

One of Furman’s greatest successes

regarding sustainability is the

Community Conservation Corps (CCC).

Through the CCC,

students work with

Habitat for Humanity to

complete home

weatherization for low-

income homeowners. By

installing insulation, duct

sealing, pipe insulation, and HVAC units

at no cost to the homeowner, average

utility bills can be lowered 20-35%.

Not only do

residents save

money on energy

bills, but coal and

gas emissions

from power plants

and wasted

energy are

reduced through these home

weatherizations. Student volunteers

track program impact, analyzing and

reporting on carbon credits for the

annual greenhouse gas inventory and

are able to complete 15-20

weatherization’s a year.



Furman University

Fun Fact: “Home weatherization’s

done by Furman students

lowered homeowners’

utility bills by 20-35%.”

Location: Greenville, South Carolina

www.epa.gov Page 20

Air Quality Preservation Students and faculty of Renewable Energy and Engines Laboratories conduct research on a variety of alternative fuels produced in the southeast. These fuels include biodiesels from cotton seed, peanuts, and poultry fat. Georgia Southern University focuses on research to investigate sustainability of bio fuels, reduce harmful emissions, while increasing efficiency through the implementation of new advanced combustion and emission technologies.

Student Engagement Sustainability continues to be a major part of Georgia Southern University’s student life. At the Center for Sustainability, founded in 2008, students and faculty alike can partake in many sustainability driven projects, such as creating greenhouses out of recycled plastic, participating in local farmer’s market, attending sustainability seminars, and participating in No Impact Week. The Center for Sustainability’s mission includes “increasing education and awareness of sustainability issues, providing incentives for faculty, staff and students to incorporate sustainability in research, teaching and service to form partnerships with the local community to improve sustainability standards and to implement the best practices in sustainability on campus.”

Renewable Energy In 2014, the Department of Electrical Engineering received grant money from the Center for Sustainability for a sustainability project. According to the

EE department “The goal of the project was to retrofit approximately 23 electric golf carts on campus with solar panels in order to allow the carts to charge throughout the day, thus reducing the

energy demanded from traditional “wall plug” charging. If the initial golf cart charging experiment is successful, the Department will initiate future phases where additional charging devices are added to the golf carts, such as: kinetic charging, piezoelectric sound charging, friction charging, regenerative brakes and regenerative shock absorber charging. The ultimate goal is to create a fully self-sustaining golf cart that no longer requires “wall plug” charging.”



Georgia Southern University

Fun Fact: “Georgia Southern saved

more than $350,000 over

a five year period by

installing LED bulbs.”

Location: Statesboro, Georgia

ki

www.epa.gov Page 21

Waste Management “Georgia State University is committed to increasing its current waste diversion by 15% by 2017.” Between January 2013 and April 2014, GSU diverted waste materials from landfills through recycling a total of 262.35 tons of mixed paper, plastic and aluminum. In 2014 the university was one of six institutions of higher education selected to receive the Coca-Cola Bin Grant. GSU has plans to increase recycling in its residence halls. GSU’s new, catchy recycling theme: “All BLUE, All In, ONE Bin”, emphasizes their transition to a single stream recycling program aimed at capturing even more recyclables on campus.

Energy Conservation Georgia State is a participant in the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (BBC). They plan to reduce energy and water use by 20% from their 2009 levels by 2020.GSU has enlisted four of their buildings in the challenge and has been energy and water audited as part of the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge. “Last year, Georgia State University passed a three dollar /student/semester Sustainability fee to promote sustainability initiatives on campus, including energy and water conservation.”

Community Engagement Georgia State University is currently collaborating with the City of Atlanta’s Sustainability Office as well as Central Atlanta Progress on a sustainable restaurants initiative. Last year, Dr. Timothy Hawthorne’s Global Information Systems class collaborated with the GSU Office of Sustainability to create an interactive map featuring all of the

sustainable elements one would find while walking through campus. This is currently expanding to include all of the ‘sustainable’ restaurants within walking distance to campus. Data on sustainable operations and food options will be collected from over 150 restaurants in the downtown area. Some criteria include recycling, water conservation efforts, local food, etc.



Georgia State University Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Fun Fact: “GSU dining

halls

composted

211,434 lbs of

organic

waste last

year!”

www.epa.gov Page 22

Sustainability Policy and Goal In 2012, Mississippi State University’s

Executive Committee passed the

“Sustainability, Facilities Operation,

Grounds, Materials, and Transportation”

policy. This policy sets standards and

requirements for all building

development, grounds management,

transportation systems, and materials

for the university. The goal of MSU’s

Office of Sustainability is to develop an

environmentally, socially, and

economically responsible foundation

that guides and tempers all campus

development, teaching, research,

outreach, and operational activity.

Sustainability Initiatives Sustainability and recycling initiatives currently being implemented across the MSU campus include:

Presidents Climate Commitment

Climate Action Plan

Green Fund

Earth Day/Week Programs

ECO Paw

MSU Bully Bike Rental Program

Campus-wide, Toner, E-waste, Batteries, and Used Oil Recycling Programs

Sustainability for Students At MSU, opportunities also exist for students to pursue their social and academic interests in sustainability-focused forums and programs:

Students for a Sustainable Campus

Environmental Economics & Management Major

Environment and Sustainability Minor and Sustainability Learning Community

Environment & Sustainability Certificate

Student Centric Farm

Environmental Research

MSU, a land grant institution, has a long

and respected tradition of supporting

environmental research. An example is

the extensive research MSU conducts to

advance sustainable water resources

concepts, such as applications to

improve water conservation and

management, and innovative nutrient

reduction measures to reduce nutrient

pollution and mitigate Gulf of Mexico

hypoxia.

Mississippi State University

Location: Starkville, Mississippi

ki



www.epa.gov Page 23

Sustainable Engagement By focusing on people, both on campus and in the surrounding community, Morehouse encourages sustainable actions beyond campus boundaries and supports future sustainability. Leadership in sustainability includes helping develop next generation of environmental leaders through education and training. It also means reaching out to the local community to increase the understanding of sustainability and help build more sustainable communities. This helps create future generations of individuals who care about keeping the environments health. Morehouse encourages faculty in all departments to include energy-related topics in their course offerings. This ensures that all students, not just those directly studying sustainability, are exposed to sustainability concepts.

Sustainable Energy Morehouse College received a $3 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to support the school’s development of the Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE), which will focus on biofuels research. The initiative also includes a weatherization project that involves faculty research on behavioral and financial impact of weatherization as well as a component for students to help residents retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient. Weatherization can include insulating walls and doors, and sealing cracks to reduce outside air from entering the building. The ISE is part of the Morehouse-Wide Initiative for Sustainable Energy, which is a project that will create a curriculum to prepare students for leadership positions in the field of sustainable energy.



Morehouse College

Fun Fact: “Morehouse College’s effort to

reduce waste, the Chivers Dining Hall

composed 17.58 tons of food waste in

the first seven months of 2011.”


www.epa.gov Page 24

Location: Greensboro, North Carolina

Energy Reduction From 2003 through 2013, North Carolina A&T State University reduced its energy use by 21%, or 102 billion BTUs. In fiscal 2011-12 alone, a 32.5 billion BTUs reduction in energy helped NC A&T avoid $386,274 in costs. The university is well on its way toward meeting the goal of reducing energy use by 30% by 2015. Energy efficiency measures in place include:

A comprehensive energy auditing process

to identify improvement areas,

Development of a retro-commissioning

process for existing buildings,

Energy efficient lighting retrofits, and

Development of green network strategies.

Looking forward, N.C. A&T will continue to foster a culture of conservation “by improving our understanding of how we use energy so we can continue to make informed decisions and invest in our buildings with energy efficient technology. By purposefully integrating our energy data collection tools to specific facility energy opportunities, along with educating and promoting employee energy awareness, we will strive to continuously drive behavioral change within the University.”

Green Energy The NSF CREST Bioenergy Center conducts fundamental research toward the development of advanced thermochemical biomass conversion technology for the efficient, economic production of liquid transportation fuels and hydrogen. The center’s goal is to make biomass a more viable source of renewable energy by developing the basic science and technology that will make energy conversions more efficient and costs more affordable.

Degree Programs

N.C. A&T’s interdisciplinary doctoral program in Energy and Environmental Sciences includes three concentrations: atmospheric sciences; energy, environmental science, economics; and sustainable bioproducts. The program prepares students for positions in research and consulting in industry, government and service organizations and for teaching and research positions in colleges and universities.

North Carolina A&T State University



www.epa.gov Page 25

Sustainable Green Buildings

Green buildings are built, renovated, or

operated in more environmentally

friendly manner than conventional

buildings, requiring less energy, water,

and other resources to operate.

However, green buildings go much

further. They are typically designed to

achieve a healthier and safer indoor

space with better air quality by using

less toxic materials. Green building are

often built using fewer resources with

smaller environmental impacts, like

materials that have renewable content

or are purchased from locals sources.

Green buildings are also designed with

the community in mind, taking issues

such as transportation and water quality

into consideration

Before beginning construction or

renovation. There are third-party

certifications for green buildings.

Perhaps the best known is Leadership

in Energy and Environmental Design

(LEED), which awards bronze- to

platinum-level certifications. In 2010,

Spellman University constructed a

LEED-certified building on campus.

Spelman’s Green residence hall, called

the Suites, includes green features such

as water efficiency, and less toxic

materials used in adhesives, sealants,

paints, and carpet. Twenty percent of

building materials were manufactured

locally.



Spelman College Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Fun Fact: “75% of Spelman’s

residence hall

construction waste was

sent for recycling.”

www.epa.gov Page 26

Sustainable Research The University of Georgia research enhances understanding of natural and social systems, while reducing the consumption of natural resources, mitigating the impact of human practices on natural systems, and developing new strategies for a sustainable future. UGA conducts sustainability related research with more than 660 faculty members. UGA was acknowledged by a Gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) in 2014.

Sustainable Food Management The UGA Sustainable Food Systems initiative is an interdisciplinary group of faculty and students researching sustainable agriculture and food system policies to provide science based information for farmers, consumers and policy makers on ways to provide safe, nutritious, and economically viable food without damaging the ecosystems.

Energy Conservation The Bioenergy Systems Research Institute encourages integrative applied research in bioenergy to recognize the entire lifecycle and environmental impact of biomass production educate and train the next generation of alternative Energy, scientists, engineers, and involve the public

and private stakeholders in the development and dissemination of next generation bioenergy technologies.

Community Climate outreach

The Georgia Climate & Society Initiative envisions improving UGA’s understanding of the complex processes and the overall effects of climate variability and change on natural, managed, human-built, and societal systems. Also helping the University develop user-inspired effective and appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies.



University of Georgia Location: Athens, Georgia

Fun Fact: “UGA Campus Kitchen is

preventing senior hunger

in the Athens community

by delivering 12,925

meals and donating

16,648 pounds of food to

local agencies in 2013.”

www.epa.gov Page 27

Student Engagement At UT sustainability is not just a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but more so an opportunity to engage students, faculty/staff and community to better the campus and surrounding community of Knoxville. With this in mind UT utilizes a living laboratory approach when working on various operational, research or outreach projects throughout the year. One such avenue students are involved is via the Student Environmental Initiatives Fee (Green Fee) as they vote on various projects and enact them with guidance from Facilities Services. Further involvement is evident via the over 20 environmental related clubs and organizations on campus and each year service projects related to sustainability record over 2,500 hours of service, lending more weight to the volunteer spirit on and off campus.

Sustainability Research and Education Sustainability research at UT is fostered within the Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment (ISSE); however this institute is not stand alone as ISSE works with various other offices, including the Office of Sustainability. In addition to the continuous research efforts, UT was the

1st to offer a Sustainability Major in the Southeast at an institution of this size. Currently there is a working group, whose main focus is to grow sustainability across the curriculum, develop an online sustainability graduate degree and organize the sustainability symposium.

Community Engagement UT campus boundaries are not set to the over 600 acres UT owns and manages, but also to the greater community of Knoxville and eastern TN. One groundbreaking example is from the Office of the Provost, which runs the Smart Communities Initiative. This program is loosely modeled after the University of Oregon’s Sustainable Cities Program and places faculty in a working group to support the local communities of our region, based on the current and future needs brought forth by each city or town. Students are able to gain real world experience by working on projects ranging from urban planning

to stream restoration and this program carries over from semester to semester to ensure continuous relations with each city or town.

Sustainability in Sports UT Recycling has continued to grow and since its inception back in 2002 there has been amazing programs to reduce the amount of waste that is brought to the landfill. Currently the focus is to achieve zero waste status for the 8th largest stadium in

the world, Neyland Stadium and is projected to reach this goal at the beginning of the next academic year.



University of Tennessee Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

www.epa.gov Page 28

Conclusion

Colleges and universities in the

southeast are making great strides

in creating more sustainable

campuses and curricula focused

on environmental awareness and

action. However, schools that are

leaders in sustainability are

starting to need to expand their

work and serve as models for their

communities. Schools that have

not yet started on the sustainability

journey should work to join others

in their environmental

advancements.

Lack of resources is often seen as

a barrier to sustainability.

However, many initiatives will

ultimately save institutions money.

To strengthen the ability to

integrate green practices on

campus, it is important for

academic institutions across the

southeast to find opportunities to

receive grants and participate in

support programs.

For the colleges and universities

with sustainability programs

already established, it is

necessary to promote successes

in sustainability initiatives. Not only

does this public outreach attract

potential sponsors, funding, and

new students, but it also provides

a chance for other universities to

be inspired and identify similar

projects for their campuses.

There are many ways that

academic institutions can get

involved, and resources to get

started and improve existing

programs are listed on page (32).

Making your institution more

sustainable does not have to be

an intimidating task. The first step

to sustainability can be small, but

it’s an important step to take.



www.epa.gov Page 29

Alabama A&M University: Huntsville, Alabama

Alcorn State University (Dr. Jairo Diaz): Lorman, Mississippi

Atlanta Metropolitan State College: Atlanta, Georgia

Auburn University: Auburn, Alabama

Bennett College: Greensboro, North Carolina

Bethune-Cookman University: Daytona Beach, Florida

Birmingham-Southern College: Birmingham, Alabama

Broward College: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Clark Atlanta University: Atlanta, Georgia

Clemson University: Clemson, South Carolina

Davidson College: Davidson, North Carolina

Emory University: Atlanta, Georgia

Florida A&M University: Tallahassee, Florida

Florida International University: Miami, Florida

Furman University: Greenville, South Carolina

Georgia Southern University: Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia State University: Atlanta, Georgia

Mississippi State University: Starkville, Mississippi

Morehouse College: Atlanta, Georgia

North Carolina A&T State University: Greensboro, North Carolina

Spelman College: Atlanta, Georgia

University of Georgia: Athens, Georgia

University of Tennessee: Knoxville, Tennessee



Colleges and Universities Included in this

Report

www.epa.gov Page 30

Ten Sustainability Colleges and Universities in Partnership with the Associated Colleges Ten Center of Excellence for of the South Watershed Management Rollins College- FL Alabama A&M University Rhodes College-TN Florida A&M University Sewanee University-TN Auburn University Furman University-SC Clemson University Millsaps College-MS University of Florida Morehouse College-GA University of Tennessee Spelman College-GA University of Georgia Birmingham-Southern College-AL University of Kentucky Davidson College-NC University of North Carolina Centre College-KY Mississippi State University

Nine 1890 Land-Grant Universities Eleven STEM and Sustainability Alcorn State University Spelman College Alabama A&M University Aiken Technical College Florida A&M University Alabama State University Fort Valley State University Claflin University Kentucky State University Clark Atlanta University NC A&T State University Georgia Perimeter College (5campuses) SC State University Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Tennessee State University Tuskegee University

Ten Research, Sustainability and STEM Four Other NC A&T State University Georgia State University Tennessee State University Emory University South Carolina State University Bethune-Cookman University Florida A&M University Atlanta Metropolitan State College Tuskegee University Clemson University Georgia Southern University Kentucky State University Florida International University Savannah State University

Six Sustainability, STEM and EJ Mississippi Valley State University Meharry Medical College Bennett College Benedict College Pearl River Community College Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Jackson Co. Campus)

EPA Region 4 Memorandum of Understanding with Colleges and

Universities in the Southeast



www.epa.gov Page 31

Resources

The American College and University

Presidents’ Climate commitment is an effort

to address global climate change issues at

colleges and universities.

The Association for the Advancement of

Sustainability in Higher Education provides

administrators, faculty, staff, and students,

as well as the business that serve them with

knowledge resources for building a

sustainable institution.

The Building Green at Minority-Serving

Institutions Initiative is a partnership

between the United Negro College Fund

Building Green Network, the Hispanic

Association of Colleges and Universities,

the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the

American Indian higher Education

Consortium, and Second Nature Campus

Green Builder, Funded by the Kresge

Foundation. The initiative offers Building

Green Learning Institutes, Technical

Assistance Workshops, and a mini-grant

program.

The Climate Neutral Campus Report

provides college sustainability case studies

and reports.

Collegiate Sports Sustainability brings

together collegiate athletics staff, campus

recreational managers, sustainability

professionals, and recycling/facility

managers together to identify ways to

achieve common campus sustainability.

Green for All provides information on the

Importance of engaging low-income and

minority communities in the green economy.

You can also find information here on the

College Ambassadors Program.

Second Nature focuses on creating a

sustainable society through transforming

higher education. Their site also features a

blog, Advancing Education for

Sustainability, with helpful information and

current events in the world of sustainability

in higher education.

The Sustainable Campus offers information

on what sustainability means for colleges

and universities as well as resources to help

implement sustainability programs on

campus.

The Energy Action Coalition is an alliance of

50 youth-led environmental and justice

groups working together to build the youth

clean energy climate movement.

ENERGY STAR for Higher Education offers

energy management strategies and other

information for achieving a sustainable

campus.

Acknowledgments

Regional Academic Senior Advisor and

Coordinator

Caroline Robinson

Collegiate Sports Sustainability Summit

Organizer and Pollution Prevention

Coordinator, LEED GA

Suganthi Simon

Tribal Technical Assistance Specialist

Rosemarie Nelson

Summer 2014 Student Interns

Tracy Knight

Roberto Pastrana



www.epa.gov Page 32

US EPA Region 4

Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center (SNAFC)

61 Forsyth Street SW

Atlanta, GA 30303-8960

800-241-1754



http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-epa-region-4-southeast

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