Special Issue: Niner Nation Celebrates Earth Month
Meet a Niner
An energy engineer in facilities management, Josue Hurtado supports energy management usage around campus. Learn more about his role and how the campus community can help achieve the University’s sustainability goals.
Celebrate Earth Month with UNC Charlotte
April is Earth Month, and UNC Charlotte’s Office of Sustainability has published a list of campus and community events to celebrate. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in Charlotte traditions such as the Earth Day Festival, the Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale and Student Garden Day.
Green Buildings at UNC Charlotte
Construction of new buildings is essential to UNC Charlotte’s rapid growth, but the long-term sustainability of the campus depends on the quality of those buildings.
Hosted on the new recycling website, the Waste Wizard is a search tool based on an item or material. Simply enter an item or material name into the search engine, and the Waste Wizard will show you campus-based options for disposal!
Sustainability at UNC Charlotte
- 11 certified green buildings, 72% of construction since 2009
- 59% decrease in water intensity since 2002
- 35% decrease in energy intensity since 2002
- 22% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions since 2009
- 77% of departments offer sustainability-inclusive courses
- 80% of departments are conducting sustainability research
- Two Green Restaurant-certified dining halls
- Zero Waste Stadium program recycles or composts 83% of waste
Earth Month Tips (Things You Can Do)
- Get your hands (or gloves) dirty for a good cause at the University’s first Campus Beautification Day April 17.
- Recycle right with the new Waste Wizard tool!
- Expand your transportation toolbox with apps for Niner Transit, CATS and Lime E-scooters and bikes.
- Polish your sustainability knowledge by taking advantage of Charlotte’s membership in AASHE and USGBC.
- Propose a project on campus that supports environmental, social or economic sustainability using funds from the Charlotte Student Green Fund.
Upcoming Earth Month Events
- 4/3: Earth Day Festival, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Belk Plaza
- 4/4: Toby Creek Restoration tour, noon
- 4/4: “The Ants and the Grasshopper” film screening and panel discussion, 5 to 7 p.m., CCHS, Room 376
- 4/12: Student Garden Day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., various locations on campus
- 4/17: Campus Beautification Day, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Northeast Recreation Fields
- 4/18: Campus Waste Management and Recycling tour, noon
- 4/18: “The Smell of Money” film screening and panel discussion, 5 to 7 p.m., Atkins Library, Halton Room
- 4/22: Party for the Planet, 5 to 7:30 p.m., Belk Plaza
- 4/24: Wear, Care, Repair: A Clothes Mending Workshop, 1 to 3 p.m., Atkins Library, Makerspace
- 4/25: Botanical Gardens tour, noon
- 4/25: Select films from “WILD HOPE,” and panel discussion, 5 to 7 p.m., CHHS, Room 376
- 4/26: Sustainability Scavenger Hunt, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Popp Martin Student Union and campuswide