Sustainability

As temperatures rise, the campus and surrounding communities are more vulnerable to the effects of unhealthy air quality. The annual Clean Commute Challenge, an initiative spearheaded by N.C. Air Awareness, aims to combat this issue. 

The program, administered by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, provides individuals and organizations with tools to help reduce pollution and exposure to harmful levels of ozone and particulate matter.

A tree planting, the spring Campus Cleanup and an Earth Day Festival are just some of the activities planned by UNC Charlotte’s Sustainability Office to encourage the University community be become more aware of and involved in environmental issues.

UNC Charlotte was honored with 2016 Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.

Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. There are 296 campuses across the United States with this recognition.

Toward the end of the academic year, as students prepared to depart residence halls for home, the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling implemented operation “Move Out.”

Tyler Sytsma recently joined UNC Charlotte as the University sustainability coordinator. A member of the Facilities Management Department, Sytsma will handle various projects that involve offices/departments across campus.

A network of people from varied walks of life will gather in Charlotte and other U.S. and U.K. cities Wednesday, June 8, through Friday, June 10, to delve into transportation, connections with the natural world, the value of human well-being and security and social and physical mobility.

These topics and more comprise the fourth annual conference of the Integrated Network for Social Sustainability (INSS). With a theme of “Communities and Connections,” the conference is open to the public at no charge, but registrations are requested.

Through the combined efforts of more than 75 volunteers, several truckloads of trash and recyclables were disposed safely via the recent spring campus cleanup.

“Campus cleanup provides us with the perfect opportunity to put the University’s commitment to being stewards of the environment into action” said Tyler Sytsma, University sustainability coordinator.

Each semester, the Facilities Management Office coordinates the campus cleanup, and employees receive release time to volunteer. Roughly 150 pounds of trash and recyclables were collected during this semester’s event.

Michael Lizotte, University sustainability officer, was appointed a technical advisor by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

A nonprofit membership organization, AASHE empowers higher education faculty, administrators, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables its more than 900 members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders.

UNC Charlotte is ranked 24th among the best government green motor fleets in the United States, according to the website 100 Best Fleets, which recognizes peak-performing fleet operations in North America.

Chris Facente, automotive supervisor in the Facilities Management Department, said creating a sustainable motor fleet supports the University’s commitment to be an excellent steward of the environment and saves money on fuel costs.

UNC Charlotte has been selected to host the United States leg of a competition for one of the world’s most prestigious awards in water-related research. The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is presented to one high school student annually for research in water and sustainability issues. In an effort led by the Center for STEM Education, UNC Charlotte bested proposals from universities across the country to host the competition through 2018.