| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.17 |
| Liaison | Emily Vollmer |
| Submission Date | May 16, 2024 |
Virginia Tech
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Emily
Vollmer Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Virginia Tech 2020 Climate Action Commitment Roadshows
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
In late 2019 – prompted by the demands of students and other community members involved in Climate Strikes and resolutions from the Faculty and Staff Senates, Student Government Association, and Graduate Student Assembly – Virginia Tech President Timothy D. Sands and Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer Dr. Dwayne Pinkney established a Climate Action Commitment Working Group comprised of 26 faculty, students, staff, and community members. They selected Professor Emeritus John Randolph to serve as chair of the Climate Action Commitment Working Group and he was ideal for this role having spearheaded the 2009/2013 Climate Action Commitment. In announcing the creation of the Working Group, President Sands stated, “Climate change presents one of the world’s most pressing problems…and Virginia Tech has a duty to respond.”
The Group was charged to assess the university’s progress in implementing the 2009/2013 Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment, compare Virginia Tech’s experience to peer institutions, and develop a new Commitment. While the university has made tremendous strides with advancing sustainability on campus, a decade later it fails to prescribe what climate scientists recognize as necessary actions and also falls short of many peer universities’ recent initiatives.
From January to June 2020, the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment Working Group executed its charge to evaluate the university’s current position and our future role in addressing climate change. During the same period, the global pandemic COVID-19 brought unprecedented hardship and suffering, particularly for the most vulnerable among us. Nevertheless, this unique time is engendering a tremendous spirit of innovation and collaboration. Around the world, people are coming together to address historic challenges. Individuals are becoming bolder and more creative. Every aspect of our lives is being reimagined.
In order to engage a broad range of expertise and perspectives from across the university and wider community and conduct an ambitious work program, the Working Group created 12 Subcommittees having a total of 130 personnel including faculty, staff, students, and members of the local community to investigate and discuss specific issues relevant to the commitment. Most of the subcommittees met weekly from early February through the end of May.
The 12 subcommittees were titled (1) Agriculture, Forestry, and Land Use, (2) Budget and Finance, (3) Buildings Opportunities, (4) Climate Justice, (5) Community Engagement, (6) Energy Opportunities, (7) Greenhouse Gas Inventory, (8) Peer Institutions Comparison, (9) Renewables Opportunities, (10) Structuring Sustainable Choices, (11) Transportation Opportunities, and (12) Waste-Recycling-Composting and Procurement.
The Working Group developed several mechanisms to expand community involvement in the process, including a website and email address for comment and two online surveys. Plans for face-to-face town hall meetings and conference sessions had to be reimagined when the university shut down after spring break. In place of the in-person events, the Working Group hosted 12 Zoom Convening sessions in April, attended by over 220 participants who provided excellent feedback. In anticipation of the Convening sessions, the Working Group and its subcommittees also developed ten creative videos that described the Climate Action Commitment proposals.
The Working Group focused on developing effective strategies the university can advance to achieve meaningful climate action. Throughout the multitude of Working Group, subcommittee, and community Zoom meetings, discussions reflected on the important opportunity for Virginia Tech to reinvent itself, not only in its commitment to climate action, but also in its responsiveness to the needs of the world around us, in the spirit of Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim – That I May Serve.
The working group developed the draft Virginia Tech 2020 Climate Action Commitment including a vision, mission statement, and 15 climate action goals. For each of the 15 goals listed in the revised Climate Action Commitment, the document includes potential pathways to achieve them. At the heart of the revised Climate Action Commitment is the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. The Working Group’s recommendations are bold, aggressive, and comprehensive. Its goals range from necessary upgrades to the campus physical plant to reduce GHG emissions, to integrating those improvements into the educational mission through a Climate Action Living Laboratory, to engaging everyone in creating a culture of sustainability – all to position Virginia Tech as a leader as the clean energy economy evolves in the Commonwealth and around the world.
On July 15, 2020, the Virginia Tech 2020 Climate Action Commitment Working Group Final Report – 2020 was successfully presented by Professor Emeritus John Randolph to Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer Dr. Dwayne Pinkney. The recommendations were placed in a resolution format. The university council recommended approval of the Commission on University Support Resolution 2020-21A, Resolution to Approve the Virginia Tech 2020 Climate Action Commitment on November 2, 2020.
Professor Emeritus John Randolph successfully presented the final report and recommendations to the full Board of Visitors for consideration on November 15, 2020. The next step is to prepare a financial report that will address the costs associated with approving and adopting this resolution. The financial plan and the formal resolution will be presented to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors for review and approval at their next regularly scheduled meeting in March 2021.
To ensure the successful implementation of the Climate Action Commitment following its approval by the Board of Visitors, the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Energy Management, representatives from university finance, and other relevant parties went on a "roadshow," giving presentations on the CAC to a multitude of offices and departments across campus. These presentations gave an overview of the CAC, progress to date in the relevant areas, and highlighted potential areas for collaboration. The conversation was then opened up to be more collaborative and to hear each offices' interests and concerns so that we could move forward with the implementation of the CAC together. You can see from the efforts of the working group that it took our whole campus to write this CAC and it's going to take our whole campus to implement it.
The Group was charged to assess the university’s progress in implementing the 2009/2013 Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment, compare Virginia Tech’s experience to peer institutions, and develop a new Commitment. While the university has made tremendous strides with advancing sustainability on campus, a decade later it fails to prescribe what climate scientists recognize as necessary actions and also falls short of many peer universities’ recent initiatives.
From January to June 2020, the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment Working Group executed its charge to evaluate the university’s current position and our future role in addressing climate change. During the same period, the global pandemic COVID-19 brought unprecedented hardship and suffering, particularly for the most vulnerable among us. Nevertheless, this unique time is engendering a tremendous spirit of innovation and collaboration. Around the world, people are coming together to address historic challenges. Individuals are becoming bolder and more creative. Every aspect of our lives is being reimagined.
In order to engage a broad range of expertise and perspectives from across the university and wider community and conduct an ambitious work program, the Working Group created 12 Subcommittees having a total of 130 personnel including faculty, staff, students, and members of the local community to investigate and discuss specific issues relevant to the commitment. Most of the subcommittees met weekly from early February through the end of May.
The 12 subcommittees were titled (1) Agriculture, Forestry, and Land Use, (2) Budget and Finance, (3) Buildings Opportunities, (4) Climate Justice, (5) Community Engagement, (6) Energy Opportunities, (7) Greenhouse Gas Inventory, (8) Peer Institutions Comparison, (9) Renewables Opportunities, (10) Structuring Sustainable Choices, (11) Transportation Opportunities, and (12) Waste-Recycling-Composting and Procurement.
The Working Group developed several mechanisms to expand community involvement in the process, including a website and email address for comment and two online surveys. Plans for face-to-face town hall meetings and conference sessions had to be reimagined when the university shut down after spring break. In place of the in-person events, the Working Group hosted 12 Zoom Convening sessions in April, attended by over 220 participants who provided excellent feedback. In anticipation of the Convening sessions, the Working Group and its subcommittees also developed ten creative videos that described the Climate Action Commitment proposals.
The Working Group focused on developing effective strategies the university can advance to achieve meaningful climate action. Throughout the multitude of Working Group, subcommittee, and community Zoom meetings, discussions reflected on the important opportunity for Virginia Tech to reinvent itself, not only in its commitment to climate action, but also in its responsiveness to the needs of the world around us, in the spirit of Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim – That I May Serve.
The working group developed the draft Virginia Tech 2020 Climate Action Commitment including a vision, mission statement, and 15 climate action goals. For each of the 15 goals listed in the revised Climate Action Commitment, the document includes potential pathways to achieve them. At the heart of the revised Climate Action Commitment is the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. The Working Group’s recommendations are bold, aggressive, and comprehensive. Its goals range from necessary upgrades to the campus physical plant to reduce GHG emissions, to integrating those improvements into the educational mission through a Climate Action Living Laboratory, to engaging everyone in creating a culture of sustainability – all to position Virginia Tech as a leader as the clean energy economy evolves in the Commonwealth and around the world.
On July 15, 2020, the Virginia Tech 2020 Climate Action Commitment Working Group Final Report – 2020 was successfully presented by Professor Emeritus John Randolph to Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer Dr. Dwayne Pinkney. The recommendations were placed in a resolution format. The university council recommended approval of the Commission on University Support Resolution 2020-21A, Resolution to Approve the Virginia Tech 2020 Climate Action Commitment on November 2, 2020.
Professor Emeritus John Randolph successfully presented the final report and recommendations to the full Board of Visitors for consideration on November 15, 2020. The next step is to prepare a financial report that will address the costs associated with approving and adopting this resolution. The financial plan and the formal resolution will be presented to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors for review and approval at their next regularly scheduled meeting in March 2021.
To ensure the successful implementation of the Climate Action Commitment following its approval by the Board of Visitors, the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Energy Management, representatives from university finance, and other relevant parties went on a "roadshow," giving presentations on the CAC to a multitude of offices and departments across campus. These presentations gave an overview of the CAC, progress to date in the relevant areas, and highlighted potential areas for collaboration. The conversation was then opened up to be more collaborative and to hear each offices' interests and concerns so that we could move forward with the implementation of the CAC together. You can see from the efforts of the working group that it took our whole campus to write this CAC and it's going to take our whole campus to implement it.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Public Engagement
Coordination & Planning
Public Engagement
Coordination & Planning
Optional Fields
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Second Point of Distinction
Green RFP Program
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Since 2010, student-generated campus sustainability projects have spurred over $2.08 million in energy-efficient upgrades across the Virginia Tech campus. Each fall, through the award-winning Green RFP Program, the Office of Sustainability seeks proposals from student groups for campus sustainability projects that support Virginia Tech’s Climate Action Commitment. Submitted proposals are reviewed by the Office of Sustainability and submitted to the university Climate Action, Sustainability, and Energy Committee for consideration. The committee prioritizes the proposals and forwards their recommendations to the Office of Budget and Financial Planning for further review, approval, and funding consideration.
The Green RFP program feeds directly into filling one of our goals of our current Climate Action Commitment. Goal 14 states, Virginia Tech will "develop innovative budgeting and financing mechanisms to generate funding and staffing to achieve Climate Action Commitment goals." It also supports goal 12, to "diminish barriers to sustainable behaviors" because the program is open to all students, regardless of year or major.
One exemplary example of a funded student request is the Math Emporium Renovation Green RFP. As a result of a 2018-19 Green RFP, the Math Emporium underwent some renovations during the 2019-2020 academic year. More than 300 energy-efficient LED light fixtures and HVAC controls modifications were installed in the Math Emporium. $194,000 was allocated toward the improvements. Prior to the new changes, the Math Emporium main floor lights came on at once and stayed on 24/7. Newly installed independent control zones with dimming capabilities will help enhance energy conservation during periods of inactivity. The previous halide lights were replaced with LED lights. Due to these changes, the Math Emporium will save approximately 771,000 kWh of energy and $74,000 annually. More information on these renovations can be found at
https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2020/02/ops-mathemporiumLEDs.html.
Within our reporting period for this submission, 36 proposals have been approved and implemented on our campus. These projects range from adding bike racks and converting parking spaces to carpool-only, to LED lighting changes and occupancy sensor installation, to building a hydroponics system at our food access point and greening campus with tree plantings and pollinator habitat plantings. The full range of proposals is available on our website: https://www.vt.edu/sustainability/engagement/green-rfp.html
The Green RFP program feeds directly into filling one of our goals of our current Climate Action Commitment. Goal 14 states, Virginia Tech will "develop innovative budgeting and financing mechanisms to generate funding and staffing to achieve Climate Action Commitment goals." It also supports goal 12, to "diminish barriers to sustainable behaviors" because the program is open to all students, regardless of year or major.
One exemplary example of a funded student request is the Math Emporium Renovation Green RFP. As a result of a 2018-19 Green RFP, the Math Emporium underwent some renovations during the 2019-2020 academic year. More than 300 energy-efficient LED light fixtures and HVAC controls modifications were installed in the Math Emporium. $194,000 was allocated toward the improvements. Prior to the new changes, the Math Emporium main floor lights came on at once and stayed on 24/7. Newly installed independent control zones with dimming capabilities will help enhance energy conservation during periods of inactivity. The previous halide lights were replaced with LED lights. Due to these changes, the Math Emporium will save approximately 771,000 kWh of energy and $74,000 annually. More information on these renovations can be found at
https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2020/02/ops-mathemporiumLEDs.html.
Within our reporting period for this submission, 36 proposals have been approved and implemented on our campus. These projects range from adding bike racks and converting parking spaces to carpool-only, to LED lighting changes and occupancy sensor installation, to building a hydroponics system at our food access point and greening campus with tree plantings and pollinator habitat plantings. The full range of proposals is available on our website: https://www.vt.edu/sustainability/engagement/green-rfp.html
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Energy
Investment & Finance
Energy
Investment & Finance
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-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Third Point of Distinction
Office of Sustainability Student Internship Program
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
The Office of Sustainability was established within the Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities and acts as a central hub to connect the many sustainability champions and efforts taking place all across campus. The office carries out a wide range of activities from high-level sustainability planning to organizing outreach events or managing 20 student interns during the academic year.
The Office of Sustainability’s vision is to create a sustainability network of student and community leaders throughout Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, and the greater New River Valley. The internship program utilizes campus as a sustainability living-learning laboratory, providing students with experiential learning opportunities to explore real-world problems and lead in the development of innovative solutions. Operations, engagement, academics, and professional development are integrated into impactful projects that benefit students and the local community.
The mission of the Student Intern Program is to provide students with valuable opportunities to create lasting, sustainable change at Virginia Tech while developing their professional skills and expanding their knowledge of the inner workings of the university. The program encourages ownership, creativity, and collaboration to solve some of the toughest sustainability problems the world is facing today. The program blends real-world projects with practical, skills-based professional development workshops to prepare students for an ever-changing career in the sustainability field.
The 20 student interns are split into four teams covering topics of Energy, Waste, Water, and Food on campus. The projects the students complete in their topic area, paired with professional development classes and other trainings, allow students to expand their environmental professional skill sets. Intern teams work on a variety of tasks, including:
- Partner Projects: Team will partner with various departments such as Energy Management, Stormwater Management, Sustainable Dining, and Housing and Resident Life to complete technical projects.
- Education and Outreach: Teams will plan and execute outreach events in partnership with community organizations such as The YMCA, Town of Blacksburg, and Blacksburg Farmers Market.
- University-Wide Campaigns: Teams will assist in executing large-scale campaigns including Earth Week, Sustainability Week, and RecycleMania.
Over the past few years, student interns have completed a multitude of projects across campus. The Energy Team has written an Electric Vehicle Charging Station Master Plan for the university through a partnership with the Office of University Planning and has updated the Bike Parking Master Plan in partnership with the Department of Alternative Transportation. The Waste Team has created and run a Styrofoam recycling program, performed waste audits, and ran campaigns and events to help teach students about how to reduce their waste. The Water Team has partnered with the Town of Christiansburg and Stormwater Management to develop an interactive display at a children’s museum about water in the urban environment while also providing tips on how to reduce your own personal water use. The Food Team has worked on projects to tag items in FoodPro and has partnered with Dining Services to hold tabling events encouraging students to “Choose to Reuse” by getting reusable to go containers and also reminding students to return them after they are done with them.
As mentioned before, professional development is a big part of this program. The internship program has a partnership with Virginia Tech Career Services to take part in a Cooperative Education and Internship Program (CEIP 3084) where they receive professional development with a mentor on a sustainability topic. The class is reflected in the student’s official transcript and they learn valuable skills to give them a head start in their chosen career.
The student internship program through the Office of Sustainability at Virginia Tech allows students to develop sustainable solutions in all areas of campus while forming professional relationships with partners in the community. This program continues to stand out at our university as a strong program with concrete positive outcomes not only for the students professionally and personally, but also for the university as they promote positive environmental, economic, and social change.
More information on the student internship program can be found here:
facilities.vt.edu/sustainability/sustainability-programs/energy-and-sustainability-internship-program.html
The Office of Sustainability’s vision is to create a sustainability network of student and community leaders throughout Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, and the greater New River Valley. The internship program utilizes campus as a sustainability living-learning laboratory, providing students with experiential learning opportunities to explore real-world problems and lead in the development of innovative solutions. Operations, engagement, academics, and professional development are integrated into impactful projects that benefit students and the local community.
The mission of the Student Intern Program is to provide students with valuable opportunities to create lasting, sustainable change at Virginia Tech while developing their professional skills and expanding their knowledge of the inner workings of the university. The program encourages ownership, creativity, and collaboration to solve some of the toughest sustainability problems the world is facing today. The program blends real-world projects with practical, skills-based professional development workshops to prepare students for an ever-changing career in the sustainability field.
The 20 student interns are split into four teams covering topics of Energy, Waste, Water, and Food on campus. The projects the students complete in their topic area, paired with professional development classes and other trainings, allow students to expand their environmental professional skill sets. Intern teams work on a variety of tasks, including:
- Partner Projects: Team will partner with various departments such as Energy Management, Stormwater Management, Sustainable Dining, and Housing and Resident Life to complete technical projects.
- Education and Outreach: Teams will plan and execute outreach events in partnership with community organizations such as The YMCA, Town of Blacksburg, and Blacksburg Farmers Market.
- University-Wide Campaigns: Teams will assist in executing large-scale campaigns including Earth Week, Sustainability Week, and RecycleMania.
Over the past few years, student interns have completed a multitude of projects across campus. The Energy Team has written an Electric Vehicle Charging Station Master Plan for the university through a partnership with the Office of University Planning and has updated the Bike Parking Master Plan in partnership with the Department of Alternative Transportation. The Waste Team has created and run a Styrofoam recycling program, performed waste audits, and ran campaigns and events to help teach students about how to reduce their waste. The Water Team has partnered with the Town of Christiansburg and Stormwater Management to develop an interactive display at a children’s museum about water in the urban environment while also providing tips on how to reduce your own personal water use. The Food Team has worked on projects to tag items in FoodPro and has partnered with Dining Services to hold tabling events encouraging students to “Choose to Reuse” by getting reusable to go containers and also reminding students to return them after they are done with them.
As mentioned before, professional development is a big part of this program. The internship program has a partnership with Virginia Tech Career Services to take part in a Cooperative Education and Internship Program (CEIP 3084) where they receive professional development with a mentor on a sustainability topic. The class is reflected in the student’s official transcript and they learn valuable skills to give them a head start in their chosen career.
The student internship program through the Office of Sustainability at Virginia Tech allows students to develop sustainable solutions in all areas of campus while forming professional relationships with partners in the community. This program continues to stand out at our university as a strong program with concrete positive outcomes not only for the students professionally and personally, but also for the university as they promote positive environmental, economic, and social change.
More information on the student internship program can be found here:
facilities.vt.edu/sustainability/sustainability-programs/energy-and-sustainability-internship-program.html
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Public Engagement
Coordination & Planning
Public Engagement
Coordination & Planning
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):
EN-1: Student Educators Program
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.