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The Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan Receive Full Support from the Board of Visitors

On April 25, 2008, Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger charged the Committee on Energy and Sustainability to develop a draft climate commitment and sustainability plan that is specific to our university, and to utilize the university governance system to review and act on the commitment by the end of the 2009 Spring Semester. Professor John Randolph, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning and Chair of the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan Subcommittee, spearheaded the effort to prepare the documentation, and to gain approval by the Committee on Energy and Sustainability and the Commission on University Support. The University Council recommended approval of the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment Resolution on April 22, 2009 (Earth Day). On June 1, 2009, the Board of Visitors unanimously approved The Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment Resolution and endorsed the accompanying Sustainability Plan. President Steger commended Professor Randolph and the many students, faculty and staff who championed this effort. The complete University Relations announcement may be viewed here.

University's Board of Visitors Goes Paperless

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors has taken steps to improve its sustainability quotient. The June 1, 2009 BOV meeting was the first paperless meeting for its members and administrative participants. Using laptops and drawing from documents in a new board of visitors "portal", administrators and board members shared and reviewed information without paper. Prior to this meeting, board members and administrators were equipped with three inch notebooks and myriad documents for review. For additional details see here.

Office of Sustainability Established

The Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment Resolution contains 14 points that outlines clear, measurable and realistic goals. Point #5 is the establishment of an Office of Sustainability that will, among other things, coordinate programs for campus sustainability, oversee the implementation of the VTCAC Resolution and accompanying sustainability plan, monitor energy usage and GHG emissions, and manage a campus wide student internship and undergraduate research program. The Facilities Services Department has established the Office of Sustainability which includes the Sustainability Program Manager, the Energy Manager, and a Graduate Assistant.

Virginia Tech Receives the 2009 Governor's Environmental Excellence "Bronze" Award

Virginia Tech received the 2009 Governor's Environmental Excellence "Bronze Medal" in the Environmental Project (Government) category for hosting the Campus Tree Tour 2008 tree planting event in Blacksburg on October 21, 2008. The award was presented on April 1, 2009 during the 20th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium Banquet held on the campus of Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. The Honorable L. Preston Bryant Jr., the Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources, presented a total of 23 awards. Receiving the award for Virginia Tech was Mr. Michael Coleman, Associate Vice President for Facilities Services. (Click Image to Enlarge)

From left to right are Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant, Jr., Virginia Tech Sustainability Program Manger Denny Cochrane, Virginia Tech’s Associate Vice President for Facilities Services Mike Coleman, Virginia’s Director of Environmental Quality David Paylor, and Virginia’s Director of Conservation and Recreation Joe Maroon.

Campus Tree Tour 2008 a Huge Success!

Virginia Tech was chosen as one of nine universities in the nation to be a part of the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota’s Campus Tree Tour 2008. On Tuesday, October 21, during Sustainability Week 2008, a total of 100 trees were planted in various locations on Virginia Tech’s campus. Over 200 volunteers participated to include students, faculty, staff, alums, Blacksburg residents, friends, and the Hokie Bird.

The tree-planting Kick-Off Ceremony was held near the southeast corner of The Inn at Virginia Tech, Skelton Conference Center and the Holtzman Alumni Center, overlooking the pond.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all those who came out and helped make this a huge success. Well done!

For more information about the Campus Tree Tour 2008 read the Virginia Tech Campus Tree Press Release
and visit:
http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCampus USA/campusTrees.cfm

Sustainability and Energy Conservation

Michael Coleman, Associate Vice President for Facilities Services, provides an update to the Staff Senate on "Sustainability and Energy Conservation" and the results of the recent adjustments of campus thermostats.

Virginia Tech receives a B- overall rating for the Campus Sustainability Report Card 2009

The Sustainability Endowments Institute (SEI) released their “Campus Sustainability Report Card 2009” on September 24, 2008 and Virginia Tech received an overall “B-“rating. We achieved our goal of raising our overall rating by one full letter grade. Highlights of Virginia Tech's rating may be viewed here. To learn more about the process and to review our responses to the SEI surveys Click Here..

Four hybrid vehicles added to VT's rental fleet

In June 2008 Fleet Services added four Chevrolet Malibu hybrid vehicles to its rental fleet. Faculty and staff may test drive them July 1 - 3. Learn more.

Over 2,600,000 lbs recycled in 2007

Virginia Tech Recycling reports a total of 2,664,000 lbs of material recycled in 2007. The total includes 2,162 lbs of aluminum, 102,497 lbs of glass, and 15,720 lbs of mixed paper. See Recycling's program results page for details.

Ten years and counting

Virginia Tech's efforts to become sustainable have evolved over the past decade. Learn more about our initiatives.

1991	Recycling program created
2000	Alternative Transportation program created
2003	Green Building Initiatives began US Green Building Council membership
2005	Advisory Council for Environmental Sustainability (ACES) membership College of Architecture & Urban Studies (CAUS) wins Architecture and Dwelling Contest in Solar Decathlon. Energy and Sustainability Committee created Building Commissioning Program created
2006	New Design and Construction Standards (PDF) approved Campus Energy and Water Policy (PDF) approved
2007	First LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Registered Project Participation in SCUP (Society for College and University Planning) Campus Sustainability Week October 22, 2007