Glossary of Terms
CAMPUS AS FOREST
An initiative that views the Catawba College campus as an integrated natural ecosystem, fostering environmental stewardship, biodiversity, outdoor learning opportunities, and the use of regenerative design practices.
SECOND NATURE
Organization dedicated to climate action in, and through, higher education. Leading the charge through Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments.
LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
International sustainable building certification program created as a philosophy and advocacy tool to promote the measurement of sustainability in the built environment.
LIVING-LEARNING LABORATORY
An approach that integrates academic learning with practical, hands-on experiences within the campus built environment, landscape, and other campus systems and facilities.
PASSIVE HOUSE
International building certification that focuses design and building envelope to reduce energy consumption.
EMBODIED CARBON
Represents the millions of tons of carbon emissions released during the lifecycle of building materials, including extraction, manufacturing, transport, construction, and disposal. Concrete, steel, and insulation are all examples of materials that contribute to embodied carbon emissions.
CARBON OFFSETS
Reduction in Green House Gas emissions in another location that is used to compensate for emissions that occur on campus.
OPERATIONAL CARBON NEUTRALITY
A state of operation where the institution does not produce any carbon-based emissions from functions under its direct operational control.
NET ZERO
When a building balances the amount of energy consumed on site with the amount of energy produced on site.
AASHE STARS
Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System. STARS® is intended to engage and recognize the full spectrum of higher education institutions, from community colleges to research universities. It encompasses long-term sustainability goals for already high-achieving institutions, as well as entry points of recognition for institutions that are taking first steps toward sustainability.
STUDENT-READY CAMPUS
An institutional approach that prioritizes the readiness and responsiveness of the campus environment to meet diverse student needs and support their success.
IRA – INFLATION REDUCTION ACT
A tax incentive program signed into law in August of 2022 that represents the United States largest investment in green technology. This program extends to both public and private entities.
EUI: ENERGY USE INTENSITY
The amount energy your facility uses each year.
REGENERATIVE DESIGN
Regenerative design is an approach in which human and natural systems are designed to co-exist and co-evolve over time. The value of a regenerative design approach is in its potential to regenerate planetary health and deliver positive outcomes for both people and planet.
MULTIDISCIPLINARITY
Multidisciplinarity applies to studying a subject from multiple different disciplines at the same time. Perspectives from the different disciplines create a broader understanding of a subject.
INTERDISCIPLINARITY
In interdisciplinary thinking and working, you take an extra step: you try to integrate perspectives or insights from different perspectives through interaction, in order to better understand a complex phenomenon. Integration can take place, for instance, at the level of methods, tools, concepts, theories, or insights.
TRANSDISCIPLINARITY
Transdisciplinarity involves not only students or academics, but also other (societal) partners in researching a complex question.
WEST INNES STREET CORRIDOR
A collaborative development initiative aimed at revitalizing the area surrounding Catawba College to enhance connectivity, safety, and community engagement.
WELL-BEING, EQUITY, AND BELONGING (WEB)
A comprehensive approach to ensuring the holistic belonging for all members of the Catawba College community.