Sustainability | Catawba College

Sustainability | Catawba College
Sustainable Catawba
Catawba College cares about sustainability. Our students do, too.
We believe that the small actions taken by each one of us day after day add up to make a big difference. We also believe we can do things together which make an impact that one person alone can’t achieve. We believe all of it matters!
Our community seeks to inspire and encourage one another in our sustainability efforts. Come join us!
Not sure where to start? We have a few tips for you, ways you can connect with others to do even more, and information on what we as Catawba are doing together.
Our Sustainability Recognitions & Successes
Bring Your Own (Water) Bottle
Fill and refill your reusable bottle throughout your day! Look for our
water bottle filling stations
, they’re available in many of our campus buildings:
View Locations
Borrow a Bike
You can check out a bicycle to use on and around campus at no cost. It’s a great way to make a trip to nearby stores and restaurants or just to the far side of campus without adding to your carbon footprint.
Bike Share Program
Recycle It!
Recycling bins are conveniently located outside of residence halls, throughout campus, and in our academic buildings and offices. Read more about what can and can't be recycled and more!
Recycling at Catawba
Get Involved!
As a student, you can get involved in sustainability efforts on campus in many ways! One way is by participating in a student group that promotes sustainability. You can also support our college initiatives by the mindful choices you make on campus. Consider these options!
STUDENT GROUPS:
Environment Catawba Outreach (E.C.O.)
- Join ECO, the campus environment club! ECO strives to educate and encourage our Catawba community and our local region to be good stewards of our planet by promoting environmentally sound habits and techniques. ECO works closely with the Center for the Environment and other clubs on campus to raise environmental awareness and plan events and community service opportunities. Membership is open to all students.
Student Government Association (SGA)
- As a Catawba student, the SGA represents you! It endorses a number of student-led sustainability initiatives and is a great starting place to bring your ideas about implementing a new project or program.
American Chemical Society (ACS), Student Affiliates
- Catawba College's Chapter of the American Chemical Society is for undergraduate chemical science majors. Members participate in a wide range of programs and activities that enhance their college experience and prepare them for successful careers. ACS also works toward fostering an environment where green chemistry and responsible environmental stewardship is natural and engrained in the lives of our student members. By recognizing the importance that these principles play in chemistry, ACS can be confident that our chemistry stewards are taking their part in improving peoples’ lives through the communication and dissemination of scientific knowledge and ensuring the well-being of the planet.
National ACS Goals
Tri-Beta National Biology Honor Society
Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is a society for students, particularly undergraduates, dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and to extending boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. Membership is open for students who show great interest in biology and demonstrate superior academic achievement. The Tau Eta Chapter of TriBeta at Catawba encourages sustainability by conducting volunteer activities in our community.  Get involved in one of TriBeta’s frequent creek cleanups at Memorial Park in Salisbury and
use the OSCAR
, a trash collection device that the group adopted and uses to collect floating litter in a tributary of the Yadkin River.
Living and Learning
Opening in Fall 2022, Catawba Hall residence hall is our new sustainable living learning community, offering space for ten students in their junior or senior year who are majoring in ENV. It’s a unique opportunity for these students to become ambassadors for sustainability, to help design and maintain Catawba Hall’s eco-design, and to be involved regularly in initiatives to create a hub of sustainable activity that can be translated throughout our residential campus community. For more information contact Housing and Residence Life!
Graduate in Sustainable Style
The caps and gowns worn by our seniors at graduation are biodegradable. The fabric comes from wood pulp sourced exclusively from renewable managed forests. The gown zipper tape and teeth are made from 100% recycled PET. Even the plastic packaging it comes in contains material designed to facilitate the decomposition process.
COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
Presidents' Climate Commitment
Catawba College joined close to 300 other colleges and universities nationwide in supporting the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). It is now known as the President’s Leadership Climate Commitment, and is managed by Second Nature, an organization whose purpose is to “expand higher education’s ability to solve pressing sustainability challenges."
Facilities Department and Environmental Services
Share your ideas! The Environmental Services department plans, implements and maintains environmental sustainability, waste reduction and recycling programs for the college community. This includes educating faculty, staff and students in new and innovative ways to promote good ecological practices.
Center for the Environment
Get involved in the Center! The Center works to educate our students and the public about environmental stewardship and sustainability. Opportunities abound for students, faculty and staff, and its many partners and volunteers to participate in programs and activities that promote sustainable solutions in the community, the region and beyond. The Center is strongly involved in area environmental matters and lends its leadership and expertise on issues ranging from air and water quality to land preservation and sustainable development. The sustainable facility serves as a model for green building practices and is an effective teaching tool as well as a nationally recognized example of the sustainable use of the earth's resources.
Chartwells Dining Service
Eat mindfully! Chartwells is proud to be Catawba's foodservice management team and knows that campus dining is an important part of your experience as a college student. Chartwells strives to make the campus community's dining experience the best it can be by providing good, nutritious food in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. You can participate in Chartwells’ reusable to-go box program for students, faculty and staff. Tray-less dining helps reduce excess waste. In addition to conventional dishware, Chartwells has compostable, disposable plates and utensils that you can request they use when catering your student club event. Catawba also maintains a relationship with nearby Gallins Family Farm to recycle campus food waste.
Bike Share Program
Catawba's Bike Share program allows students, faculty, and staff to check out bicycles on campus.
CatawbaGO
Free sustainable EV rides for Catawba Students, Faculty, and Staff with ID
EV Chargers
There are three EV chargers available on campus, each with two charging ports. This means up to six electric vehicles can be charged at the same time.
A charging station is located at Hedrick Building Circle and has two ports available for use. Two charging stations are located by the Beach Volleyball courts and are available for public use.
Office Space Composting Program
In our continual effort towards zero-waste at Catawba College, faculty and staff help us divert as much waste as possible from our local landfills by depositing food waste from their meals into compost receptacles.
Commencement
Catawba College graduates help make the world a better place by wearing sustainable caps and gowns made from fabrics sourced from renewable managed resources.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Abernethy Village features five residence halls, all of which are fully LEED certified, have energy efficient lighting, Energy Star appliances (washers & refrigerators) and geothermal heating and cooling. As older residence halls are renovated, they are updated with energy efficient designs, fixtures and appliances.
REPURPOSE
Our Facilities department seeks to repurpose campus owned furnishings that are in good condition wherever possible. Additionally, items that are in good shape but no longer needed by the College are donated to charity (the local Habitat ReStore).
ELEMENTAL EFFORTS
LIGHT – HEAT – WATER – EARTH – AIR – METAL
Solar panels are installed on the roof of nine buildings on campus providing energy and solar water heating, and a solar panel array covers a large section of the stadium parking lot, generating energy and providing shade.
LIGHT
Photovoltaic Panels
Woodson Hall
Stanback Hall
Robertson College-Community Center
Hayes Field House
Abernethy Physical Education Center
Corriher-Linn-Black Library
Williams Music Building
Center for the Environment
Solar Water Heating
Woodson Hall
Stanback Hall
Barger-Zartman Hall
Hayes Field House
Abernethy Physical Education Center -
Also features an energy efficient gas and electric heat pump system
Cannon Student Center
Center for the Environment -
Solar photovoltaic panels power the building exterior water pump system and provide power to charge the Center’s electric vehicle used in the Preserve
Low E2 glass glaze
Lighting & Fixtures
Energy efficient LED fixtures are installed in all campus residence halls and in many of the instructional buildings.
The Center for the Environment features Motion sensor lighting, toilet, sinks and hand dryers
WATER
Geothermal heating and cooling
Abernethy Village: Purcell, Graham, Fuller, Goodman East and Goodman West residence halls
Center for the Environment
Williams Music Building
Hurley Hall
Salisbury-Rowan Residence Hall
Woodson Hall
Stanback Hall
Hayes Field House
Runoff water from the geothermal system that heats and cools the Hayes Field House is captured in a 20,000 gallon storage tank and used to irrigate all of the college’s athletic fields -  approximately 30 acres
Water collected in geothermal storage was used to refill the 210,000-gallon swimming pool in the Abernethy Physical Education Center.
Low-flush toilets are installed in all residence halls.
Greenhouse gutters on the Shuford Science Building collect rainwater that can be used to water plants.
AIR
Our Center for the Environment has championed numerous Clean Air initiatives. The triangular flag that is mounted below the Catawba College flag that flies in front of the Hedrick Administration building is a daily update on the status of our air quality, which is indicated by the color of the flag.
EARTH
FRED STANBACK JR. ECOLOGICAL PERSERVE
Our own 189-acre natural wetland habitat, home to native NC wildlife, including ducks,
herons, foxes, raccoons, turtles, beavers, and salamanders.
COMPOSTING
Catawba College partners with nearby Gallins Family Farm to compost campus food waste.
CAMPUS GARDEN
Initiated by a group of enthusiastic students, the campus garden serves as an outdoor classroom instructing students in hands-on learning of growing techniques.
METAL
The Catawba College Facilities department maintains a metal recycling dumpster to collect any metal construction debris or other metal materials such as damaged unusable file cabinets, and for disposal of other metal components and items that cannot be repurposed.
Metal (and glass
) vending machines are Energy Star-rated and LEED-certified.
Learn how you can turn your love of preserving our planet & its resources into a rewarding, meaningful career by majoring in Environment and Sustainability at Catawba College.
Catawba College's Center for the Environment educates our students and the public about environmental stewardship and sustainability by hosting programs and activities that promote sustainable solutions in the community, the region and beyond.
Initiatives & Successes
Carbon Neutrality
Catawba College is among the list of elite environmental colleges as the 13th nationwide and first certified institution in the Southeast to reach full carbon neutrality seven years ahead of its 2030 climate commitment. Second Nature, a non-profit organization working to accelerate climate action in and through higher education, confirmed Catawba College became the 13th college nationwide and first institute of higher learning in the Southeast to meet the group’s high standards for determining carbon neutrality.
Watch Video
Q: What does it mean to be carbon neutral?
A:
“Carbon Neutral” means operating with zero net greenhouse gas emissions.
Q: What are greenhouse gases?
A:
Greenhouse gases” are the six greenhouse gases covered under the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).  Greenhouse gas emissions tend to be stated in metric tons of equivalent emissions of carbon dioxide for simplicity.
Q: How is carbon neutrality achieved?
A:
To achieve carbon neutrality, an entity either (i) produces no emissions in its operations, or (ii) balances the carbon emissions it does produce with actions that reduce an equivalent amount of carbon emissions somewhere else.
Q: How does Catawba College measure carbon emissions?
A:
Catawba College tracks carbon emissions in accordance with the guidelines established by the
Greenhouse Gas Protocol
and
Second Nature
’s
Carbon Commitment
. These guidelines require measurement of Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions.
These emissions are defined by Second Nature as follows:
Scope 1: Direct Emissions
– Scope 1 emissions are those that are physically produced on campus (e.g., on-campus power production, campus vehicle fleets, refrigerant leaks). These sources are “owned or directly controlled” by your institution.
Scope 2: Indirect Emissions
– Scope 2 emissions are mostly associated with purchased utilities required for campus operation. They are indirect emissions resulting from activities that take place within the organizational boundaries of the institution, but that occur at sources owned or controlled by another entity, such as emissions caused indirectly by the College’s purchases of electricity. These are emissions from coal, natural gas, and other generating sources that supply power to Catawba College through the electric grid.
Scope 3: Induced Emissions
– Scope 3 includes emissions from sources that are not owned or controlled by the campus, but that are central to campus operations or activities (e.g., non-fleet transportation, employee/student commuting, air travel paid for by your institution). Source:
Q: Can you describe Catawba’s Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions?
A:
Catawba’s emissions generally consist of the following:
Scope 1: Direct Emissions
– Catawba’s Scope 1 emissions come from the use of natural gas for heating, water heating and cooking, the campus vehicle fleet, refrigerant leaks, and some nitrogen fertilizer use.
Scope 2: Indirect Emissions
– Catawba’s Scope 2 emissions come from our electricity provider’s use of coal and natural gas to produce the electricity the College purchases from the power grid.
Scope 3: Induced Emissions
– Catawba’s Scope 3 emissions come from all required Second Nature categories, including emissions from employee and student commuting, study abroad air travel, and directly financed travel. The College chose to report on emissions related to solid waste and wastewater treatment and removal, purchased paper, estimated losses from electricity in transmission and distribution, and upstream emissions from energy-related actives.  Although some emissions reporting protocols include emissions related to production of food and supplies other than paper, Catawba does not currently include these categories in its Scope 3 emissions.
Q: What has Catawba done to lower its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions?
A:
Over the last three decades,
Catawba College has implemented a series of energy efficiency and renewable energy project that have lowered its Scope 1 direct emissions and its Scope 2 indirect emissions.  These include:
Installation of geothermal heating and cooling system for many of the College’s buildings that consists of 16 wells across campus.
Installation of 837 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels that provide solar power.
Installation of 76 solar thermal modules capable of producing 3,169,200 BTUs of hot water per day.
Construction of 20,000 square feet of LEED-certified building space.
Numerous energy efficiency projects including LED lighting and other improvements.
Q: What are carbon offsets?
A:
Carbon offsets are projects that reduce or eliminate carbon emissions at another site. Entities can purchase the rights to emissions reductions created by an offset project.
Q: What are Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)?
A:
Developers of renewable energy projects can sell the carbon-free aspects of their generated electricity as credits, which are called Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).  Buyers of RECs can use these credits to offset the electricity they use that was produced by carbon-intensive methods such as coal or natural gas.
Q: Where has Catawba College obtained RECs?
A:
Catawba College has purchased Renewable Energy Credits from two North Carolina Solar Farms. These Renewable Energy Credits come from the 3 MW
Scotland Neck Solar Installation
in Halifax County and the 5 MW
Chocowinity Solar Project
in Beaufort County.
Q: How are Catawba College’s Offsets and RECs certified?
A:
Catawba College’s North Carolina RECs are certified through
Green-e
, a globally trusted certification body through the Center for Resource Solutions. The
Buncombe County Landfill Gas Project
is a third-party verified carbon offset project on the Climate Action Reserve.
Q: What is Catawba College’s gross emissions footprint?
A:
Catawba College’s total gross emissions footprint is 5,407 Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MTCDE) with the following breakdown:
Gross Scope 1: 1,083 MTCDE
Gross Scope 2: 2,480 MTCDE
Gross Scope 3: 1,844 MTCDE
Q: How do Catawba College’s gross emissions compare to other North Carolina schools?
A:
Catawba College’s gross emissions fall below its in-state peers on a per full-time equivalent student (FTES) basis:
Catawba College: 4.8 MTCDE per FTES
Duke University: 10.5 MTCDE per FTES
UNC Chapel Hill 11.9 MTCDE per FTES
Gold STARS Rating For Sustainability Achievement
Catawba College earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability work from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
STARS Report
Geoexchange Project
Geoexchange Project
Spring 2024
We’re adding a closed-loop geoexchange system to the College in our Chapel Circle green space.
Our geoexchange system will provide efficient, clean energy to heat and cool the library. This new system will reduce at least 265 MMBTU of fossil gas and 145,724 kWh of purchased electrical energy usage each year. The carbon emissions associated with these savings equal 51 metric tons, or 11.3 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year.
More about the Geoexchange Project
The Green Living Experience
The Green Living Experience
Beginning Fall 2025, rising second and third-year students with a GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible to apply for a new type of residential living experience,
The Green Living Experience at Catawba Hall
. The Center for the Environment and Office of Student Affairs will support students' journeys in learning about, and practicing, living more sustainable lifestyles through a residential experience.
Solar Shelters
Solar Shelters
Catawba College is the first customer in the world for Spotlight Solar’s Haven Solar Shelters.
The North Carolina made Havens use bifacial solar panels to create electricity that is stored in batteries under the table top and lights that come on automatically in the evenings. Each one has sixteen different power options providing up to 605 watts of electricity, including
four wireless charging pads, four 120V outlets, four USB A outlets,
and
four USB C outlets.
Two fully operational Havens are installed in Stanback Plaza, and three more are coming soon at the Library, Shuford Science Building, and near the Beach Volleyball courts.
By the Numbers
837
kW of on-campus
solar installations
200
tons of food waste
composted since 2015
net greenhouse
gas emissions
Photovoltaic panels use solar energy to serve the campus or send power back to the grid.
Solar thermal collectors use solar energy to generate heat, which is then used for hot water.
View Solar Installations
Virtual Sustainability Tour
See how Catawba College is reducing its carbon footprint across campus, from photovoltaic panels and geothermal heating and cooling, to sustainable efforts in lighting, dining, and more.
Take the Tour
A Leading Sustainability College in the Southeast
We look at sustainability holistically and our roles in the environment. We provide our students with the skills and knowledge to change the world. Sustainability is not just an academic program at Catawba College, but a way of life.
Partners in Sustainability
Green Power Partner
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Catawba College as a Green Power Partner. By using green power, Catawba is reducing its carbon footprint and supporting the transition to a clean energy future. Catawba College has 837 kilowatts of on-campus solar facilities, which produce a portion of its electricity. The College also has purchased Renewable Energy Credits from two North Carolina Solar Farms to cover the remainder of its power usage.
View List
Plastics Reduction Partner
Catawba College is a Plastics Reduction Partner in the The National Wildlife Federation's certification program for colleges and universities taking action to reduce and remove single-use plastics on campus. taking the first step toward certification.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
Read about how Catawba is making news in the area of sustainability:
All Environment & Sustainability News
Catawba College Receives 2024 Gold AASHE STARS Recognition
Catawba College received a Gold STARS rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. They are one of only three higher education institutions in North Carolina with an active Gold ranking.
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Academics
Catawba Impact
Environment & Sustainability
Catawba College Partners with Waterkeeper Alliance for Student Internship Opportunity
Catawba College is partnering with the Waterkeeper’s Alliance to offer Catawba College students a unique internship opportunity. Based in New Bern, NC, The Waterkeeper Alliance Summer Boot Camp is a 10-day (paid) field internship program for a small (5-6 students) cohort of Catawba College students who are passionate about clean water rights, justice, and advocacy. To qualify for the internship, students must be enrolled for Fall ‘24 courses (any major) and must attend the entire 10-day period from May 7th to May 17, 2023.
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Academics
Biology
Chemistry & Biochemistry
Environment & Sustainability
Students
Catawba College is the First to Add Solar Shelters
Catawba College is advancing their efforts to be a model for sustainability by adding five new Haven solar shelters to their Salisbury campus. Two of the Havens arrived on campus last week, which marks the first commercial delivery of the solar shelters in the United States and re-confirms the College’s commitment to a thriving, sustainable future.
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Environment & Sustainability
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Staff
Students
Student Life
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