NC State Named Top 5 Green School

North Carolina State University has been named one of the Top 5 Greenest Schools in the Southeast by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. The March issue hits newsstands this week and recognizes NC State for its aggressive commitment to a more sustainable future.

Backed by achievements in energy, transportation and programming, NC State’s balanced approach to sustainability helped garner the number 4 ranking.

NC State’s alternative transportation options are specifically lauded. These include free commuting options like the “GoPass” that is available to all faculty, staff and students for use on the regional bus system, as well as “WolfWheels,” a bike-rental program launching on March 29.

“WolfWheels is an excellent example of what can happen when students and staff work together to create smart solutions for some of our most challenging issues,” Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business Charles Leffler says. “The program will provide our campus with a commuting option that is both healthy for the user and low-impact on the environment.”

NC State also scored high for infrastructure improvements, such as the work to retrofit Cates Steam Plant into a co-generation facility. The combined heat and power plant is expected to provide 11 megawatts of power and reduce NC State’s greenhouse gases by roughly 13 percent. Other recent improvements, such as retrofitting Bragaw Residence Hall into the largest residence hall in the country with LED lighting throughout, showed NC State’s green commitment.

NC State’s comprehensive approach to sustainability also includes diverse course offerings, such as the interdisciplinary agroecology minor as well as environmental policy offerings.

Read the full article, here: www.blueridgeoutdoors.com