North Carolina State University’s Office of Sustainability honored for outreach efforts during the SmartCommute Challenge.
The annual GoTriangle Commuter Awards, and results of the SmartCommute Challenge, were recently announced at RTP Headquarters in The Research Triangle Park. North Carolina State University’s Office of Sustainability was honored at the ceremony with a Commute Challenger Award for outreach efforts relating to the six-week SmartCommute Challenge.
Signatories of the SmartCommute pledge committed to try a commute alternative – teleworking, carpooling, vanpooling, taking the bus, biking or walking – at least once between April 15 and May 30, 2009. Over 11,000 pledges for 2009 resulted in 77,321 gallons of gas saved, which is enough gas to fill up 100 hybrid-electric cars 65 times! The Challenge had 113 employers participating and this helped to reduce 773 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
The Office of Sustainability plays an important role in educating tomorrow’s leaders, working with university administrators to move campus towards a more sustainable future, including, but not limited to, sustainable development of campus land, activities and academics, as well as, transit accessibility issues. The team works closely with the Transportation Department by encouraging students, faculty and staff to try alternative commuting and, therefore, reducing their carbon footprint.
Accepting the award on behalf of the Office of Sustainability were David Dean (Outreach Coordinator), Lindsay Batchelor (Program Coordinator) and Mande Swisher (Student Intern).
Mr. Dean said, “We are honored to receive this award in just our first year of existence as a department. There are so many great organizations involved in the SmartCommute Challenge that deserve this recognition. We will continue to work hard at reducing NC State University’s greenhouse gas emissions through programs such as this, but need the help of everyone on campus and our community partners to accomplish our goals.”