Virginia Tech
PAE-1: Sustainability Coordination

Energy and Sustainability Committee Charge: To review and provide advice to the University Administration on broad policy issues relating to the university's energy supply and use, and resource conservation. The Energy and Sustainability Committee is part of our university governance structure. The Committee reports to the Commission on University Support which further reports to the University Council. The university governance structure is shown at: http://www.governance.vt.edu/governance_instructions/structure.html

Mr. Fred Selby, Chair of the Energy & Sustainability Committee, Energy Manager Dr. Sherwood Wilson, Vice President for Administrative Services or designee Mr. Dwight Shelton, Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer or designee Vacant, Associate Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer or designee Mr. Jason Soileau, Assistant Vice President, Office of University Planning Mr. Denny Cochrane, Sustainability Program Mgr, Office of Energy & Sustainability Ms. Frances Keene, Chief of Operations, Student Affairs Mr. Bruce Ferguson, University Planning, Design, and Construction, Facilities Services Mr. Rob Lowe, Environmental Engineer, Environmental Health & Safety Services Dr. John Randolph, Urban Affairs and Planning Department, Faculty Senate Dr. Nancy McGehee, Hospitality and Tourism Department, Faculty Senate Dr. Georg Reichard, Building Construction, Faculty Senate Ms. Althea Aschmann, University Libraries, Faculty Senate Ms. Becky Saylors, University Controller, Staff Senate Mr. Tom Tucker, Facilities Information Systems, Staff Senate Dr. Paul Winistorfer, Dean, College of Natural Resources and Environment Mr. James Dale, Geosciences, Graduate Student Assembly Mr. Michael Painter, Biological Sciences, Graduate Student Assembly Ms. Catherine Goggins, Applied Economic Mgmt, Undergraduate SGA Mr. Drew Gallagher, Environmental Policy & Planning, Undergraduate SGA Constitution and By-laws, specifically By-laws, Section V, paragraph G “Energy and Sustainability Committee” available at: http://www.governance.vt.edu/uc_constitution_and_by-laws.html

The Office of Sustainability was established immediately following the approval of "The Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment Resolution" by the Board of Visitors on June 1, 2009. The office initially reported directly to the Associate Vice President for and Chief Facilities Officer who, in turn, reports to the Vice President for Administrative Services. The Office of Sustainability has been renamed the Office of Energy and Sustainability (OES) to more accurately reflect the significant role energy has to our overall sustainability mission, and to align the name with the "Energy and Sustainability Committee" of our university governance system. In addition, OES has been realigned with the Facilities Services Department and now reports to the Assistant Vice President, Office of University Planning. The office has five primary missions: (1) Coordinate programs for campus sustainability; (2) Oversee the implementation of the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan; (3) Monitor annual electricity and other energy use and greenhouse gas emissions; (4) Work with faculty and departments; and (5) Manage a campus-wide student internship program, and foster an undergraduate research program that utilizes the campus as a learning laboratory. Number of staff in office (in FTE): 3 - The Office of Energy and Sustainability includes the Director of Transportation Planning and Sustainability, the Sustainability Program Manager, and the Campus Sustainability Planner, and one part-time Graduate Assistant position.

The Sustainability Program Manager is primarily responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan (VTCAC&SP). Develops and maintains the quarterly “Status Report” spreadsheet that tracks the progress of over 80 actions and measures identified for implementation in the Immediate Phase (2009-2012) of the VTCAC&SP. Develops and maintains the Office of Energy and Sustainability website. Plans and coordinates a myriad of campus sustainability programs, participates in academic instructional opportunities at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and supports student requests for sustainability information and research. Responsible for gathering and submitting data for the “Annual Report on Campus Sustainability at Virginia Tech.” Serves as an Ex-Officio member of the Energy and Sustainability Committee. Serves as the university’s primary contact to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), and spearheads our university’s submission for AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking and Rating Assessment System (STARS). Promotes and participates in university sustainability outreach programs and serves as the principle sustainability contact to the media and outside organizations.