North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University – Brittany Neale – 2014

Goals

Brittany Neale worked to increase sustainability engagement as an EDF Climate Corps fellow at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), a historically black campus in Greensboro, NC. The University’s Strategic Energy Plan calls for a 30 percent reduction in gross square foot energy consumption by 2015, and to this end, N.C. A&T had already invested in large-scale energy efficiency efforts, including an energy performance contracting project with large projected savings. The university brought on Brittany because it needed to bolster faculty, staff and student engagement around these energy investments and its sustainability efforts.

Solutions

Working with the Director of the Energy Services and Sustainability Department, Neale developed strategic outreach efforts and programs. Neale built a social media presence by creating N.C. A&T’s Sustainability Facebook and Twitter accounts, bringing together the University’s wide range of sustainability-related disciplines. She facilitated a sustainability presence during New Student Orientation, introduced a sustainability pledge and initiated a rotating Student Sustainability Spotlight feature to both publicize ongoing research and recognize exemplary student efforts. Neale also compiled business cases for the University Chancellor and greater administration regarding the implementation of an energy-saving mobile bus tracking system as well as the signing of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Additionally, she spearheaded the completion of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System program administered through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and assisted with Green Revolving Fund execution research. She also laid out recommendations and rolled out plans for future programs and initiatives to prioritize campus sustainability engagement.

Potential Impact

Neale’s projects will inform sustainability strategy at N.C. A&T moving forward. Her work on the business case and the ACUPCC will help the university head towards its sustainability goals for 2015. In addition, Neale’s recommendations and plans for future programs can be consulted for several years to come.