The $1M gift enables the Carolina community to make sustainable, research-based projects a reality.

The Council will support the transition to Sustainable Carolina, a new comprehensive initiative to move Carolina’s sustainability efforts forward, including the Three Zeros Environmental Initiative.

In his new role, Mike Piehler will provide leadership and coordination of broad sustainability efforts on campus, develop a consistent plan to reach short- and long-term goals and serve as chair of the University’s Sustainability Council.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks second in the United States in the 2020 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which measure sustainability among institutions of higher education.

The commission, led by Mike Piehler, will align sustainability efforts across the University and support the work of the Three Zeros Environmental Initiative.

How does Carolina set sustainability goals for campus? The University has developed a Three Zeros Roadmap, which serves as a guide for faculty, staff and students to help identify high-potential projects and programs, evaluate and report results, and achieve campus sustainability goals.

When the University closes for winter break, typically for nine to 11 days, the departure of students and staff provides opportunities for energy savings in buildings that will remain unoccupied during the break.

Carolina will become the first university in the ACC to feature the recyclable cup. The aluminum cups contain an average of more than 70% recycled content thanks to their high recycling rate.

UNC-Chapel Hill was named one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters by the National Center for Transit Research, making it one of 39 colleges and universities across the nation and one of four in North Carolina to receive recognition for its Commuter Alternative Program (CAP).

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked No. 21 globally and No. 3 nationally in this year’s Universitas Indonesia GreenMetric World University Ranking. The annual GreenMetric Ranking ranks campus sustainability worldwide.