History

1990

  • ECU implements recycling on campus

1999

  • EO 156 signed by NC Governor

2003

  • ECU Creates baselines for water and energy consumption

2005

  • SB 662 becomes law

2006

  • PACE Final Report

2007

  • SB 668 becomes law
  • ECU Dining Services implements a trayless dining program

2008

  • SB 1946 becomes law

2009

  • UNC System adopts Sustainability Policy

2010

  • ECU forms Sustainability Committee
  • Croatan Dining Hall is certified LEED Silver
  • ECU installs first permeable pavement project

2011

  • HB 1292 becomes law
  • ECU hires first Energy Manager
  • ECU completes first GHG Inventory (only Scopes 1 and 2 of emissions sources)

2012

  • ECU creates a campus fruit and vegetable garden at Rivers Building

2013

  • ECU names first Chief Sustainability Officer
  • ECU appoints representatives to UNC Sustainability Alliance

2014

  • ECU CRW creates a Green Travel Guide for club sports teams
  • ECU becomes a designated Bicycle Friendly University (Silver level)

2015

  • Sustainability incorporated into ECU Strategic Plan: Capture Your Horizon

2016

  • ECU hires first University Sustainability Manager
  • ECU becomes a designated Tree Campus USA
  • ECU implements Rain Bird smart irrigation system on campus
  • ECU supports development of the Greenville Community Garden
  • ECU completes 1st comprehensive GHG Emissions Inventory (all three scopes of emissions sources)
  • ECU completes first Energy Performance Contract, upgrading over 30,000 light fixtures to LEDs

2017

  • ECU earns AASHE STARS Bronze Rating with its first report submission
  • ECU completes 2nd comprehensive GHG Emissions Inventory
  • ECU retains Tree Campus USA designation for 2nd year in a row
  • ECU starts first sustainability planning process in collaboration with GreenerU

2018

  • ECU publishes first 5-year Sustainability Plan
  • Governor Cooper signs Executive Order No. 80
  • ECU implements a campus bike share program
  • ECU completes 3rd comprehensive GHG Inventory
  • ECU holds first “Buy Green Expo” for campus purchasers
  • ECU retains Tree Campus USA designation for 3rd year in a row
  • ECU renews status as a designated Bicycle Friendly University (Silver level)

2019

  • ECU completes 4th comprehensive GHG Emissions Inventory
  • ECU installs 2 bee hives on Health Sciences Campus
  • ECU completes 4th comprehensive GHG Inventory
  • ECU retains Tree Campus USA designation for 4th year in a row
  • ECU becomes the 77th University to earn the designation of Bee Campus USA

2020

  • ECU completes 5th comprehensive GHG Emissions Inventory
  • ECU improves AASHE STARS to a Silver Rating with its second report submission
  • ECU retains Tree Campus USA designation for 5th year in a row
  • ECU retains Bee Campus USA designation for 2nd year in a row
  • ECU Sustainability Manager, Chad Carwein, receives the Chancellor’s Centennial Award for Excellence in Leadership
  • ECU Sustainability Program earns Clean Air Carolina’s Blue Sky Award for Partner of the Year
  • Covid-19 leads to remote education and all events cancelled on campus starting in March and running through the end of the calendar year

2021

  • ECU completes 6th comprehensive GHG Emissions Inventory
  • ECU retains Tree Campus USA designation for 6th year in a row
  • ECU retains Bee Campus USA designation for 3rd year in a row
  • Covid-19 pandemic continues, but classes return to a hybrid format in spring 2021 and fall 2022

2022

  • ECU completes 7th comprehensive GHG Emissions Inventory
  • ECU retains Tree Campus USA designation for 7th year in a row
  • ECU renews status as a designated Bicycle Friendly University (Bronze level)
  • ECU retains Bee Campus USA designation for 4th year in a row
  • Covid-19 pandemic starts to decline and operations begin to return to normal with about half of employees returning to in-person work
  • Sustainability Student Organizations win several awards:
    • Greatest Strides Award – SustainabiliBEES
    • Pirate Service Award (100+ Volunteer Hours) – ECO Pirates and ReLeaf
    • Outstanding Student Organization of the Year – ECO Pirates
    • Outstanding Officer of the Year – Robert Malpass, ReLeaf
    • Collaboration of the Year – “Tree Planting and Butterfly Release” by ReLeaf and SustainabiliBEES

2023

  • ECU completes 8th comprehensive GHG Emissions Inventory – Scope 1 and 2 Reductions are 33%
  • ECU maintains AASHE STARS Silver Rating with its third report submission
  • ECU retains Tree Campus USA designation for 3rd year in a row
  • ECU retains Bee Campus USA designation for 5th year in a row
  • Covid-19 is no longer a global pandemic, campus operations are back to as normal as it gets now with approximately 25% of classes and employees still taking place and working remotely for some period of time each week
  • Sustainability Student Organization Awards:  Outstanding New Organization of the Year – Pirate Swap
  • ECU Sustainability Manager, Chad Carwein, earns the Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award
  • ECU Sustainability Program hires new Sustainability Outreach Specialist, Kim Fox, in June