Sustainability
Sustainable Campus
Sustainable Campus BlogSustainability Initiative
RECENT NEWS: Pellissippi State recognized as ‘Green Achiever’ for sustainability work
sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty: /səˌsteɪ nəˈbɪl ɪ ti/ noun 1. the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance.
The Sustainable Campus Initiative engages students, faculty, and staff to boost our environmental awareness. From recycling, reusing, and reducing our use of Earth’s resources, to creating community partnerships and building energy-efficient campuses, there’s something every member of the Pellissippi State community can do to contribute to the sustainability of our living planet.
In 2010, Pellissippi State Community College earned a Governor's Environmental Stewardship Award in recognition of its commitment to recycling and conservation and joined the list of colleges and universities whose presidents have signed a Climate Commitment statement.
Starting Fall 2011, a $10 sustainable Spring and Fall semester campus fee, initiated and supported by students, was implemented. Funding from the fee is allocated by the Sustainable Campus Committee for various "green" initiatives, ranging from building plans to energy efficient operations, landscaping, purchasing "green" energy blocks, recycling, waste reduction, and educational programs and events.
Campus sustainability takes a village of students, faculty, and staff! Put your empty cans, bottles, and paper in the recycling containers. Bring your refillable water bottle and use the water bottle filling stations to refill it. Car pool or ride your bike. Join the “Students for a Sustainable Campus” club. The Club’s purpose is to make a difference of real worth in the community by initiating, promoting, and providing continuity for sustainability practices at Pellissippi State.
To learn more about Pellissippi State’s sustainability efforts and to get involved, email Sustainable Campus Coordinator Karen Lively or call her at 865-539-7364.
On-Campus Sustainability Measures
- recycling of paper, plastic, aluminum, cardboard, and newspaper
- plentiful parking for bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles
- shower and changing facilities for people who ride their bikes to school
- convenient reserved parking for carpool vehicles
- charging stations for alternative fuel vehicles
- purchasing a 2,000 Mwh of “green block” renewable energy to feed into the power grid which is expected to continue on an annual basis.
- variety of classroom and online training courses meet the needs of Tennessee's growing "green" industry
- water bottle refilling stations (one on every floor of every building on every campus) provide access to free, cold, filtered water on campus and, so far, have saved over 30,000 plastic bottles from going to the landfill
- 2,000 refillable water bottle give-always in Fall 2012 with 2,000 more expected Fall 2013
- two-phase changing of traditional lighting to low-energy LED lighting in Clayton Performing Arts Center saves energy (consumption savings of 622 watts anytime we use it)
- hybrid vehicles in Pellissippi State fleet for staff and faculty business use
- hiring a full-time person to facilitate recycling and sustainable campus initiatives
- automatic light switches in class rooms and offices
- automatic faucets and towel dispensers in bathrooms
- two Dyson dryers installed to determine, with a current study, their usefulness in college restrooms for reducing paper towel usage and its high associated carbon footprint
- walking trails and the Student Recreation Center to encourage healthy lifestyles
- educational efforts through the “Meatless Monday” campaign, environmental film series, green bag lunch series, and social media and campus outreach
- “green” events and lectures
- creating a formal sustainability proposal application to be open to all students, staff, and faculty with submissions accepted twice a year
