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Sustainability

NC State Stewards cap successful second year

May 12, 2015
NC State Stewards led Plant Walk tours in April to explore interesting campus plants. Check out the virtual tour
NC State Stewards led Plant Walk tours in April to explore interesting campus plants. Check out the virtual tour
NC State Stewards led Plant Walk tours in April to explore interesting campus plants. Check out the virtual tour

As the NC State Stewards think and do, NC State’s campus is becoming more sustainable.

Launched in 2013 as a student sustainability ambassador program supported by the University Sustainability Office, the NC State Stewards promote sustainability on campus through projects and peer-to-peer education. Among the activities and accomplishments of this year’s 26 Stewards are:

  • Receiving a nearly $30,000 grant to develop and install an outdoor solar charging station and student lounge near Tucker Hall. Funded by the campus Sustainability Fund, the station will allow students to charge electronic devices using renewable energy.
  • Facilitating residence hall energy competitions during Energy Action Month (October) that saved more than $9,000 in avoided energy costs at the Tri-Towers as well as at Wolf Ridge Student Apartments.
  • Continuing efforts to reduce use of single-use plastic bags on campus through the plastic bag recycling program, which has collected more than 6,000 bags.
  • Creating a series of themed virtual tours of unique plants located on campus. Those tours were brought to life every Friday during Earth Month (April) when the Stewards led guided “Plant Walks” on campus.
  • Conducting a series of DIY workshops at the Crafts Center, where various crafts were developed from discarded material.
  • Educating about sustainability through presentations, participation at major campus events, and the creation of educational events including displays about environmental politics, water, composting and environmental justice.
  • Placing 4th in NC State’s Shack-A-Thon with a shack that was co-sponsored by the Stewards, WISE and the Goodnight Scholars and built from repurposed pallets, plywood, carpet tiles and scrap pieces of wood.

These efforts will only build: 11 additional students have been selected to join the Stewards program in the 2015-2016 academic year. Plus, a handful of first-year students will be accepted during a recruitment period in September. Learn more at go.ncsu.edu/ncstatestewards