| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.23 |
| Liaison | Josh Lasky |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2020 |
George Washington University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Meghan
Chapple Director & Senior Advisor Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Captial Partners Solar Project
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
As an institution of higher education in the heart of the nation’s capital, GW has a unique contribution to make to address these challenges. GW is committed to developing, piloting and demonstrating models for urban sustainability and resilience. The university provides a test bed, a safe space for learning and inquiry, and opportunities to amplify what we learn and accomplish.
In 2017, GW celebrated its first full year of receiving half its electricity from three solar farms in North Carolina. At the time the project was announced in June of 2014, this solar contract was the largest ever signed by a U.S. institution and one that provided a groundbreaking new business model for other institutions seeking to expand their renewable energy options. The story of this remarkable achievement is a textbook example of how a university can provide a test bed and proving ground for innovative solutions to major global issues.
In 2017, GW celebrated its first full year of receiving half its electricity from three solar farms in North Carolina. At the time the project was announced in June of 2014, this solar contract was the largest ever signed by a U.S. institution and one that provided a groundbreaking new business model for other institutions seeking to expand their renewable energy options. The story of this remarkable achievement is a textbook example of how a university can provide a test bed and proving ground for innovative solutions to major global issues.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Air & Climate
Energy
Air & Climate
Energy
Optional Fields
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
OP-2, OP-5, and OP-6
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Second Point of Distinction
Sustainability Minor
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
The undergraduate academic Minor in Sustainability is a flagship program of the university — GW’s first interdisciplinary minor, which boasts more than 200 students enrolled. The program challenges students to explore pressing sustainability issues and to think about how to develop solutions at the local, regional and global level. Team-taught by faculty from five different schools within the university, the minor introduces students to the concepts, principles and issues that inform the sustainability paradigm. It integrates classroom instruction, community-based learning and research to prepare students to apply a sustainability perspective to their future endeavors and to make meaningful contributions as they enter the professional world.
The university also offers a suite of four sustainability courses. More than 1,000 students have taken the interdisciplinary, team-taught course Introduction to Sustainability since it was first offered in 2012. In total, students can choose from 781 sustainability-related courses throughout the university at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The university also offers a suite of four sustainability courses. More than 1,000 students have taken the interdisciplinary, team-taught course Introduction to Sustainability since it was first offered in 2012. In total, students can choose from 781 sustainability-related courses throughout the university at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Curriculum
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
AC-3
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Third Point of Distinction
Duke Energy Innovation Fund
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Many of the 200+ GW faculty pursuing sustainability research are affiliated with one or more of the university’s 11 institutes and centers engaged in sustainability-related inquiry. Each of these institutes and centers provides the architecture for faculty to collaborate in a particular area, from battling antibiotic resistance to engaging in corporate responsibility, energy management and issues of social equity, among others. With the launch of the Capital Partners Solar Project in 2014, GW expanded its partnership with the solar developer Duke Energy Renewables to create a fund to promote and encourage interdisciplinary research on energy innovations. With support from the fund, faculty from law, engineering, business and the sciences are collaborating on projects addressing renewable energy, the future of the grid and greenhouse gas capture. The Provost’s office also helps faculty across the university develop and submit proposals to additional funders for interdisciplinary sustainability research.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Research
Air & Climate
Energy
Air & Climate
Energy
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
AC-7, AC-10
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/meet-inaugural-duke-energy-renewables-innovation-fund-awardees
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.