Appalachian State University - Chancellor Kenneth Peacock

Dear AASHE Conference Participants:

Welcome to the 2008 Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Conference.  Appalachian State University is proud to be a host institution of this important event and looks forward to this collaborative exchange of information and best practices.

A focus on sustainability and renewable energy has been a hallmark of Appalachian since its founding in 1899.  The University’s early predecessor, Watauga Academy, operated a farm to provide food for students and staff, and electricity was generated at a nearby hydro-electric facility.

Since those humble beginnings born from the need to be self sufficient, Appalachian has long fostered energy research related to wind and solar energy, biodiesel and biomass efficiencies, and energy-efficient building technology.  Today, the University models best practices related to sustainability.

• A student-approved Renewable Energy Initiative funds renewable energy projects on campus, including installation of a photovoltaic (PV) system as well as a project that makes biodiesel fuel available to the Town of Boone’s bus transportation system.  A wind turbine for student and faculty research will be installed on campus, capable of generating enough electricity to power 10-15 homes each year.
• Through its Community TIES (Trash into Energy Savings) project, the Energy Center at Appalachian works with county leaders to capture methane produced at county landfills.
• Additionally, Appalachian’s Energy Center is involved in a joint project (North Carolina Small Wind Initiative) with the N.C. State Energy Office, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the U.S. Department of Energy to raise awareness of the benefits and feasibility of wind power in the southern Appalachian region.
• Researchers are partnering with Catawba County to test biodiesel crops near the county’s landfill to determine which crops produce the best oils in the local climate.
• The Sustainability Council, comprised of faculty, staff and student representatives, is writing a plan to reduce the university’s greenhouse gas emissions.
• Belk Library and Information Commons was recently recognized by two leading library magazines—“American Libraries” and “Library Journal”—for its green architecture.

Thank you for your commitment to this important conference.  Your leadership is not only enhancing the world in which we live today, but it is also helping ensure a sustainable environment for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Kenneth E. Peacock

Chancellor