Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 71.75
Liaison Cindy Shea
Submission Date July 24, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Cindy Shea
Director, Sustainability Office
Campus Enterprises
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Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):

The UNC Sustainability Office's website is the central sustainability website for the University. All information about sustainable initiatives throughout the University is consolidated on this website. There are interactive online and PDF maps of sustainable features; information on high performance buildings, infrastructure, and business practices related to energy, water, waste management, transportation, and purchasing; academic information including sustainability-related course offerings and research; contacts for sustainability-related student organizations; and suggestions for adopting more sustainable behaviors. The site also provides a calendar of sustainability-related events on UNC's campus and in the surrounding community.

The "Carolina Green" website is a "directory of all things sustainable at UNC Chapel Hill," including student government initiatives, academic departments, guidance for green events, and a wide range of campus programs and departments. http://carolinagreen.unc.edu/


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The University's Sustainability Office maintains an online newsletter via the Sustainability Listserv. "Sustainability Update" contains information about upcoming events and workshops (at campus, local, regional, and national levels), jobs and internships, sustainability news from around campus and across the state, and a sustainable tip of the week. As of January 2016, there are over 3100 subscribers.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:

The UNC Sustainability Office publishes regularly to Facebook and Twitter accounts. These social media platforms reach students, faculty, and staff, and enable the campus community to engage in sustainability-related information and events. The campus community is encouraged to like, post, and retweet messages and event notifications posted by the Sustainability Office.
https://twitter.com/Sustainable_UNC


The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
Does the institution have regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat?:
No

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

Capstone Research Projects are conducted by teams of undergraduate students in their junior or senior years, either on campus or at one of the Institute for the Environment field sites in North Carolina and abroad. Topics for the projects are selected from recommendations by Community Advisory Boards and other clients and focus on a significant sustainability issue requiring broad, interdisciplinary research. The projects are a learning experience for students, a chance for them to conduct team-based research typical of professional practice, and the Institute's way of using the expertise of Carolina to help find solutions to the issues facing communities. Capstone reports are presented in an open session at the end of the semester and posted on the Institute for the Environment’s website.


The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes

A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

The addition to Carrington Hall at the School of Nursing contains signage on sustainable building features including water-efficient plumbing fixtures, the green roof, the CO2 sensor in the auditorium, local and renewable materials, and materials that do not off gas so improve indoor air quality. The building also sports a LEED plaque from the US Green Building Council.

Dozens of buildings across campus contain signage on the water savings associated with dual flush toilets and waterfree urinals. The School of Government building contains signage related to water-efficient plumbing fixtures, recycling bins, and energy-efficient hand dryers. Three new lab buildings, with variable air volume fume hoods, have magnets on the hoods that alert users to close the sash when the hood is not in use.

A flat-screen in the lobby of the Koury Oral Health Sciences Building displays information about the LEED Gold certified building including the sky-lit atrium and day lighting design, condensate recovery system for reusing water, green roof, and other high performance building features.

A Lucid dashboard in the Morrison Residence Hall displays real-time energy consumption.


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

"The two main dining halls on campus, Lenoir Hall and Rams Head Dining Hall, have signs providing information about composting of food wastes, local food options, and recycling.

Digital menus increase awareness about local and third-party certified purchasing. The Sustainability Living Learning Community and Carolina Dining Services also created display banners in dining halls communicating waste reduction goals.

A compost, recycling, and trash shadow box display provides examples of what students should discard, recycle, or compost at the front-of-house composting station."


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:

Permanent signage has been installed at several green roofs, infiltration beds, and permeable pavement parking lots. The signs provide schematics of the relevant stormwater management strategy and explain why managing stormwater is important.


The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

The Sustainability Walking Tour is a 2.3-mile loop that highlights many of the sustainable features on UNC’s campus. The downloadable map, and brochures that describe buildings on the tour, are available on the Sustainability Office website.


The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:

The Commuter Alternatives Program (CAP) guide, published by the Department of Transportation and Parking, highlights the benefits of the program as well as providing information on availability, and how to use, alternative methods of transportation such as car/vanpooling and public transportation. Maps of Chapel Hill Transit bus lines that serve campus are included. In addition, the Transportation at UNC webpage (move.unc.edu), also maintained by the Department of Department of Transportation and Parking, highlights the limited parking availability on campus and provides information about alternate modes such as park and ride, public transit, campus shuttle, bicycling, and walking. Brochures can be obtained online, at the DPS building on campus, or by calling in a request.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
Yes

A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

The Department of Department of Transportation and Parking maintains a Bicycle Resource website, which includes information about bike registration, a bike rack map, interactive map for ride planning, bicycle equipment and maintenance, and safety.


The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

The Sustainability Office developed a "Virtual Green Residence Hall Room" interactive website for students to learn about sustainable products and behaviors. The virtual room includes detailed information related to items commonly found in a residence hall room, along with links to specific information and further resources.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:

Campus Sustainability Report - Every two years, UNC's Sustainability Office publishes a Campus Sustainability Report, which showcases the University’s initiatives and achievements. The 2013 Report highlights progress in many areas: water management; climate change and energy conservation; food, health, and wellness; education and curriculum; affordability and diversity; innovation and entrepreneurship; research; engagement; student organizations; and many more. The report is available in print and online.


The website URL for these materials or publications:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.