News

Recent News:

UNC Asheville Student Spotlight: MountainExpress Article on student Joe Franco, Thinking Green: All hands on deck

 

UNC Asheville: Moving Forward with Microgrids

Visit our UNC Asheville story page above to learn more about the collaborative microgrid project: an innovative new solar vehicle prototype.

 

UNC Asheville celebrates another year on Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges

UNC Asheville is again a featured university in The Princeton Review’s “Guide to Green Colleges,” with a “Green Rating” of 46 out of 50. The guide recognized the presence of the University’s Sustainability Council, sustainability-focused academics, organic and local food featured in campus dining, and alternative transportation options.

 

UNC Asheville named a Bronze Bicycle Friendly University

 

UNC Asheville Honored as Bicycle Friendly University by Industry Leader

The League of American Bicyclists has awarded a 2022 Bronze-level designation to UNC Asheville. View local news links above.

 

Renu Energy Installs Solar Array at UNC Asheville

Renu Energy finished installing a 64-panel solar array in May to power the UNC Asheville Reuter Center, an educational facility on campus that is home of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, an award-winning, internationally-acclaimed learning community. The installation is estimated to provide 37,000 kWh for the university’s grid infrastructure.

 

Six Colleges and Universities Awarded Pro Bono Consulting to Support their Campus Climate Efforts

At UNC Asheville, the Pro Bono Consulting services will be used to refine our Climate Action Plan. We look forward to applying the resulting increased understanding of climate risk and resiliency as our institution grows and evolves.

 

Bee City USA celebrate 10th anniversary

UNC Asheville and other WNC organizations look back on 10 years of pollinator protection

 

Some UNC Asheville students step up to clean their campus

Several students sorted through 24-hours worth of trash Tuesday afternoon. The landfill-bound materials were collected Monday, which was also America Recycles Day.

 

UNCA Students do their part to help school, community, planet

Students in the plant ecology class at UNC Asheville are creating floating islands that will go into a campus stormwater pond, providing a wildlife habitat and purifying runoff water.

 

UNC Asheville ranks among top universities for waste reduction

UNC Asheville was ranked as the top university in the food organics category in the National Wildlife Federation’s 2021 Campus Race to Zero Waste Competition

 

75 colleges call on Biden team to lower carbon emissions

With many higher education institutions setting the tone on climate change and sustainability, their leaders are hopeful that the nation can follow their lead.

 

UNC Asheville commits to going carbon neutral by 2050 in its fight against climate change

As it continues to lead the way in the campus fight to address and mitigate climate change, UNC Asheville has committed to going carbon neutral by 2050. In a socially distanced and masked Greenfest festival March 30, UNCA Chancellor Nancy Cable signed the Carbon Commitment.

 

UNC Asheville target carbon neutrality by 2050

The University of North Carolina at Asheville has committed to going carbon neutral by 2050. As  part of the institution’s Greenfest festival – which included social distancing and masks – UNCA’s Chancellor Nancy Cable signed the Carbon Commitment.

 

Track and Field Team Champions Sustainable Efforts within Athletics

A new partnership between the UNC Asheville track and field team and the Office of Sustainability looks to promote sustainable behaviors within the athletic department.

 

UNC Asheville LEEDs in Sustainability for the Spring

UNC Asheville’s on-campus apartments, the Woods, earned a LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, and a celebration of this effort will take place at Greenfest this month.

 

Asheville Fire Department Holds Training Burn at UNC Asheville

The prescribed burn, to be carried out by the Asheville Fire Department is part of an effort to bring native plants back to life on the college campus, rid the 2-acre area of invasive species and help students with hands-on ecology studies.

News Archives:

Student blog post: Climate Action During a Pandemic 

UNC Asheville student, Lindsey Nystrom, outlines her continued work towards the signing of the Carbon Commitment.

Sustainability at UNC Asheville 

A summary of sustainability related programming at UNC Asheville.

The economic value of sustainable design

The renovation of Rhoades Hall, a 1950’s academic building at UNC Asheville, serves as a case study for the economic value of sustainable design and it received an LEED Gold certification.

Green Coat & Small Plates Tackle WNC Hunger & Food Waste

Hear what UNC Asheville is doing to tackle food waste

McCullough Fellows: Working locally for global impact

McCullough Fellows work closely with faculty and community partners to conduct real-world research in the areas of land use and conservation; urban planning; sustainable agriculture; and resilience and environmental sustainability.

Bringing the Outdoors into the Classroom with NC’s Environmental Education Certification

By increasing environmental literacy and stewardship among children and adults, the Environmental Education Certification is another way for educators to invest in the future of North Carolina’s environment.

WNC leaders fight food waste

Local leaders trying to keep perfectly good meals out of the trash meet at the UNC Asheville to discuss food waste solutions

UNCA gardens encourage sustainability and agriculture

“Our food is for students who are passing by to take as long as they follow sustainable harvesting guidelines,” Monteiro said. “Leaving some on the tree, not taking everything that you see.”

UNC Asheville becomes first in UNC system to divest from fossil fuels

On June 21, the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees made state history by voting to divest a portion of its $50 million endowment from fossil fuels, becoming the first university in the UNC system to do so.

5th Annual Farm-to-Table Dinner on the Quad

Gathered around the table in the heart of our beautiful campus, we honor and celebrate the land that sustains us, the gardens and businesses that feed us, and our collective efforts to insure that our wider community is engaged and nourished. Special guest Mko’Mosé.

Global Climate Strike comes to Vance Memorial in Downtown Asheville

UNCA freshman Skye Roberts and UNCA senior Caelum McCallpose with their self made climate strike signs.

Fifth Annual Farm-to-Table Dinner Brought UNC Asheville A New Feeling of Home

UNC Asheville hosted its fifth annual Farm-to-Table Dinner on the Quad event on September 23, 2019, leaving everyone with a satisfied stomach and a new idea the meaning of “home.”

UNC Asheville Commits to Environmental, Social and Governance Criteria for Portion of Endowment

Following a multi-year effort initiated by UNC Asheville student leaders, the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees today approved using Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria for a portion of its endowment that will be divested from fossil fuel investments.

Making the grade: WNC’s college dining programs get high scores for sustainability

Western North Carolina schools are among those taking important steps toward going green, especially in their food service operations.

UNC Asheville receives Bee and Tree Campus USA recognition of environmental efforts

UNC Asheville’s dedication to environmental sustainability has been given dual recognition in 2018 as both Bee Campus USA and Tree Campus USA.

UNC Asheville Featured in “The Princeton Review’s Guide To 399 Green Colleges: 2018 Edition”

UNC Asheville scores a “green rating” of 90 out of 99, with the guide noting the university’s sustainability committee and sustainability officer, sustainability-focused degrees, and transportation alternatives such as bike share, car share, shuttles and transit passes.

Michael Twitty, Culinary Historian to Deliver Greenfest Keynote Lecture Sept. 6 at UNC Asheville

Michael Twitty, culinary historian, Judaic studies teacher and creator of the blog Afroculinariawill deliver UNC Asheville’s Fall 2018 Greenfest Keynote Lecture, 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6 in Lipinsky Auditorium. His talk, Culinary Justice: Defining a Theory of Gastronomic Sovereignty, is free and open to everyone.

UNCA Serves Up Farm-to-Table Goodness

UNCA, with special guest Michael Twitty, seeks to create a fall harvest ritual around food and farming on campus; to recognize and celebrate efforts in sustainability of student gardeners, faculty, staff and community collaborators; and to advance and accelerate working together in future years

UNC Asheville celebrates sustainability with Greenfest

Greenfest is a semi-annual series held on the campus of UNC Asheville in March and September that celebrates sustainability, students and community.

UNCA aims to help bee population with Pollinator Seed Library

Folks can help save bees and get some pretty flowers for their garden just by going to UNC Asheville.The liberal arts university launched their Pollinator Seed Library at Ramsey Library.

$7,500 Grant from Walnut Cove Members Association to Address Campus Food Security

Access to healthy, tasty food on campus will be Pitts’ goal as project manager for the $7,500 grant awarded to UNC Asheville by the Walnut Cove Members Association. Donna Bailey and Liz Saylor of the Walnut Cove Members Association presented the check to UNC Asheville students and staff on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018.

UNCA gets ‘greener’ through campus service day

Despite grey skies and spitting rain, more than 75 volunteers got their hands dirty on Wednesday during UNC Asheville’s “Campus Service Day.”

“Green University of the Year”

UNC Asheville was honored with the “Green University of the Year” award by our own Wenoca Group of the NC Sierra Club on December 7, 2016!

Sustainability at Ramsey Library

Not only is our library a great resource on our campus but it is also home to some of the sustainability initiatives on UNCA’s campus. Read the full article to learn more about what Ramsey library is doing!

UNC Asheville is a Certified Bee Campus

We have recently been awarded designation as a Bee Campus by Bee City USA. We are also pleased to announce that our Bee Hotel project here on campus has been thriving!

Construction of ‘Bee Hotel’ celebrated on campus of UNC Asheville

On this Earth Day, people at UNC Asheville celebrated plans for a project called the Bee Hotel.

AsheFILL it UP!

Want to learn more about how you can help reduce the use of disposable cups on campus? Have a look at our cool video!

UNC Asheville Greenfest teaches gardening, composting

Learning how to go green and help the environment: that’s the goal of UNCA Asheville’s Greenfest

LEED® Gold Certification for Rhoades Hall

UNC Asheville’s Rhoades Hall, which was renovated during the summer of 2012 and is part of Rhoades Robinson Hall, has earned an LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This certification is the first for the campus.