News

When most people hear “sustainability,” they think of protecting our planet by recycling, planting trees, and cleaning up trash. Or maybe they think of reducing their consumption of a certain item to reduce waste. Sustainability means more than protecting our planet, and it does not always mean making sacrifices to be “sustainable”. Sustainability means protecting […]

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. Oliver investigates how environmental systems, food access and community well-being intersect. Her undergraduate research examines how food assistance policies are communicated and understood, and her […]

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 […]

UNC Charlotte’s Office of Sustainability recently won a case study competition hosted by the Campus Race to Zero Waste. The winning case study, which won in the “zero waste” category, highlighted UNC Charlotte’s successful zero waste stadium initiative. The case study focuses on the collaboration and people-power behind the efforts to achieve an 84% diversion […]

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, features a […]

UNC Charlotte has established a School of Energy, the University’s latest major step in becoming a national leader for grid modernization, energy research and workforce development. Housed in the William States Lee College of Engineering, the school will be the first in the nation to focus solely on the interdisciplinary challenges created by the race […]

Welcome back! As the fall semester begins and you settle back into the school year, learn about ways you can get involved with sustainability on campus as a UNC Charlotte employee. From attending an event, becoming a Sustainability Ambassador, and opting for alternative transportation, there are many options to choose from! Become a sustainability ambassador […]

Welcome back, Niners! As you prepare to return to campus, or are coming to campus for the first time, there are lots of ways you can make green choices and help keep UNC Charlotte sustainable.  Green Shopping List If you are living on campus, think about the items you are (and aren’t) packing up in […]

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 performance […]

UNC Charlotte’s William States Lee College of Engineering, an energy-innovation leader for nearly two decades, steadily built its research capability, partnerships and workforce to support one of America’s most urgent infrastructure challenges: the modernization of the national electric grid. In 2008, the college’s early work in power systems and energy infrastructure accelerated with the launch of […]