The Center for the Environment facility opened in 1996 and instantly became a model of sustainability as one of the first “green” buildings constructed in the state. Aspiring to lead by example, it has  encouraged others to use environmentally friendly products and practices in the construction of new facilities since its inception.

This structure reflects the spirit of the college’s Environment and Sustainability program. Long before construction began in November 1999, the planning process engaged everyone from donors and the College president to faculty, staff and students. The 21,000-square-foot building emerged as a three-dimensional incarnation of the Center’s sustainable curriculum — an exciting teaching tool, as well as an environmentally friendly sound project.

Located on the edge of the College’s 189-acre ecological preserve, it merges seamlessly with the natural environment. Everything about the facility — from the site design to the environmentally friendly building materials, from energy and water conservation issues to recycling and waste management — is grounded in principles of sustainability. For example, Catawba College students implemented the waste reduction plan, recycling more that 86 percent of the construction waste. This facility represents now and to future generations Catawba College’s commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of the earth’s resources.

In 2021, the Center celebrated its 25th anniversary, inviting serious reflection on the many ways it has brought positive change to our community and our region – efforts that have laid the foundation for the next 25 years.

Renovations on the facility began in 2022 with a planned completion date of 2023.

COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES

• Presidents' Climate Commitment
  Catawba College joined close to 300 other colleges and universities nationwide in supporting the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). It is now known as the President’s Leadership Climate Commitment, and is managed by Second Nature, an organization whose purpose is to “expand higher education’s ability to solve pressing sustainability challenges."
• Facilities Department and Environmental Services
  Share your ideas! The Environmental Services department plans, implements and maintains environmental sustainability, waste reduction and recycling programs for the college community. This includes educating faculty, staff and students in new and innovative ways to promote good ecological practices. 
• Center for the Environment
  Get involved in the Center! The Center works to educate our students and the public about environmental stewardship and sustainability. Opportunities abound for students, faculty and staff, and its many partners and volunteers to participate in programs and activities that promote sustainable solutions in the community, the region and beyond. The Center is strongly involved in area environmental matters and lends its leadership and expertise on issues ranging from air and water quality to land preservation and sustainable development. The sustainable facility serves as a model for green building practices and is an effective teaching tool as well as a nationally recognized example of the sustainable use of the earth's resources.
• Chartwells Dining Service
  Eat mindfully! Chartwells is proud to be Catawba's foodservice management team and knows that campus dining is an important part of your experience as a college student. Chartwells strives to make the campus community's dining experience the best it can be by providing good, nutritious food in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. You can participate in Chartwells’ reusable to-go box program for students, faculty and staff. Tray-less dining helps reduce excess waste. In addition to conventional dishware, Chartwells has compostable, disposable plates and utensils that you can request they use when catering your student club event. Catawba also maintains a relationship with nearby Gallins Family Farm to recycle campus food waste.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Abernethy Village features five residence halls, all of which are fully LEED certified, have energy efficient lighting, Energy Star appliances (washers & refrigerators) and geothermal heating and cooling. As older residence halls are renovated, they are updated with energy efficient designs, fixtures and appliances. 

REPURPOSE

Our Facilities department seeks to repurpose campus owned furnishings that are in good condition wherever possible. Additionally, items that are in good shape but no longer needed by the College are donated to charity (the local Habitat ReStore).  

ELEMENTAL EFFORTS 

LIGHT – HEAT – WATER – EARTH – AIR – METAL

Solar panels are installed on the roof of nine buildings on campus providing energy and solar water heating, and a solar panel array covers a large section of the stadium parking lot, generating energy and providing shade.

LIGHT

Photovoltaic Panels

• Woodson Hall
• Stanback Hall
• Robertson College-Community Center
• Hayes Field House
• Abernethy Physical Education Center
• Corriher-Linn-Black Library
• Williams Music Building
• Center for the Environment

Solar Water Heating

• Woodson Hall
• Stanback Hall
• Barger-Zartman Hall
• Hayes Field House
• Abernethy Physical Education Center -
  • Also features an energy efficient gas and electric heat pump system
• Cannon Student Center
• Center for the Environment -
  • Solar photovoltaic panels power the building exterior water pump system and provide power to charge the Center’s electric vehicle used in the Preserve
  • Low E2 glass glaze

Lighting & Fixtures

• Energy efficient LED fixtures are installed in all campus residence halls and in many of the instructional buildings. 
• The Center for the Environment features Motion sensor lighting, toilet, sinks and hand dryers

WATER

Geothermal heating and cooling

• Abernethy Village: Purcell, Graham, Fuller, Goodman East and Goodman West residence halls
• Center for the Environment
• Williams Music Building
• Hurley Hall
• Salisbury-Rowan Residence Hall
• Woodson Hall
• Stanback Hall
• Hayes Field House
• Runoff water from the geothermal system that heats and cools the Hayes Field House is captured in a 20,000 gallon storage tank and used to irrigate all of the college’s athletic fields -  approximately 30 acres
• Water collected in geothermal storage was used to refill the 210,000-gallon swimming pool in the Abernethy Physical Education Center.
• Low-flush toilets are installed in all residence halls.
• Greenhouse gutters on the Shuford Science Building collect rainwater that can be used to water plants. 

AIR

Our Center for the Environment has championed numerous Clean Air initiatives. The triangular flag that is mounted below the Catawba College flag that flies in front of the Hedrick Administration building is a daily update on the status of our air quality, which is indicated by the color of the flag.

EARTH

• FRED STANBACK JR. ECOLOGICAL PERSERVE
  Our own 189-acre natural wetland habitat, home to native NC wildlife, including ducks,
  herons, foxes, raccoons, turtles, beavers, and salamanders.
• COMPOSTING
  Catawba College partners with nearby Gallins Family Farm to compost campus food waste.
• CAMPUS GARDEN
  Initiated by a group of enthusiastic students, the campus garden serves as an outdoor classroom instructing students in hands-on learning of growing techniques.

METAL

The Catawba College Facilities department maintains a metal recycling dumpster to collect any metal construction debris or other metal materials such as damaged unusable file cabinets, and for disposal of other metal components and items that cannot be repurposed.

• Metal (and glass) vending machines are Energy Star-rated and LEED-certified.

Meet the director, as well as the faculty and staff that are the driving force behind the Center for the Environment's programs and initiatives.