Sustainability

Charlotte’s faculty and staff can help promote a culture of sustainability on campus through the Sustainability Ambassadors program, a professional development initiative for employees administered through the Office of Sustainability. The program gives participants an opportunity to learn about the University’s sustainability goals and practices, promote a culture of sustainability on campus and make a […]

Jasmine Oliver, a senior environmental studies major and Levine Scholar dedicated to addressing community‑based challenges through environmental advocacy and research, is among the 2026-27 recipients of the Newman Civic Fellowship. Awarded by Campus Compact, the fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. […]

UNC Charlotte’s Facility Operations Building (FOPS) near North Deck received a solar-powered upgrade this fall. Led by Facilities Management, the building now has 224 solar panels on its roof that will generate clean energy to power the building and contribute to the regional Duke Energy electrical grid. The rooftop solar array is on the south-facing […]

Over the summer, two solar picnic tables were installed behind McEniry Hall next to the pollinator garden beds. Funded by the Charlotte Green Initiative (CGI) student green fund, the tables offer shaded spaces to eat, study, meet outdoors and provide a clean source of energy to charge devices. Each solar picnic table, created by EnerFusion, […]

UNC Charlotte continues to partner with Power Down the Crown, an initiative led by the Charlotte City Council aimed at encouraging Charlotte building owners to increase energy efficiency and collectively work towards Charlotte’s goal of becoming a net-zero-carbon city by 2050. The initiative highlights building energy-efficiency practices across Charlotte and compares building energy use and […]

April marked another impactful Earth Month at UNC Charlotte, as students, faculty and staff participated in a full slate of programs focused on environmental stewardship and community engagement. Student Garden Day brought out 56 volunteers, and Campus Beautification Day engaged 58 volunteers who removed 1,550 pounds of trash and planted 35 trees across campus. The […]

UNC Charlotte received an Outstanding Case Study designation from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education for its submission, “Shared Stewardship: Adopt a Spot at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.” The case study was submitted as part of AASHE’s annual Sustainability Achievement Award program. AASHE recognized 25 case studies this […]

Mike Lizotte, UNC Charlotte’s sustainability officer, has championed environmental stewardship since joining the University in 2013. After more than a decade of leadership, Lizotte recently announced his retirement, effective May 1. “Mike’s leadership has elevated our sustainability efforts to a national level,” said Owen Cooks, associate vice chancellor for facilities management. “He brought a spirit […]

Explore and discuss alternative transportation options in the Charlotte region and on campus at the fall Student Sustainability Summit, from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, in Popp Martin Student Union, Room 200. The summit, sponsored by UNC Charlotte’s Office of Sustainability and the Student Government Association, will feature guest speakers from on and […]

UNC Charlotte received the Bike-Friendly Business of the Year award at the city of Charlotte’s 2025 Bike Charlotte Awards held last month. “UNC Charlotte is proud to be recognized as a bike-friendly business,” said Mike Lizotte, university sustainability officer. “We were nominated by a neighbor who cited our bicycle lanes, greenways and Niner Transit as […]