Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Howard University to Develop Five-Year Sustainability Plan

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/22/22

Howard University in Washington, D.C., recently announced that it will be partnering with VEIC and CustomerFirst Renewables to develop a five-year campus Sustainability Plan. The university and its partners will engage with students, faculty and staff to seek input in creating a robust, future-oriented plan, according to a news release.

The new Sustainability Plan will create sustainability goals that align with the pre-existing Howard Forward strategic plan. Initiatives are set to include sustainability-focused research opportunities, creating partnerships in the larger community, and operational improvements to boost the use of renewable energy and water reuse. The plan will also include support for campus finances via procedural guidance and restructured funding models.

“We’re excited to embark on the development of a five-year, campus-wide Sustainability Plan for Howard with the VEIC team,” said Alfonzye “Chip” Chisholm, Director for the Office of Sustainability at Howard University, in a news release. “This effort will not only amplify the pillars of the Howard Forward strategic plan but also help us accelerate progress towards our energy, climate and sustainability goals, increase our financial stability, attract new students and set a vision for excellence in academics and operations.”

Additionally, VEIC and CustomerFirst Renewables will also be sponsoring a Howard student internship focused on building professional experience in sustainability-related activities—including implementing the sustainability plan. “Strategic planning is a complex and vitally important activity, and it requires both technical and behavioral analysis and solutions,” said Zoe Dawson, strategic energy management coach and VEIC’s project lead. “We're eager to help Howard University determine the most promising pathways to achieve their sustainability goals and ensuring reliable metrics are applied to help track their progress and celebrate achievements along the way.”

The university will also create a Howard University Sustainability Leadership Council made up of students, faculty, staff and local sustainability leaders across various sub-committees. The partnerships will encourage active and productive collaboration among the university and the community at large.

“Our team is confident that Howard has the opportunity to capture significant value by accessing the benefits of renewable energy and water optimization and reuse—particularly in D.C., where incentives are aligned to provide compelling cost savings,” said Chris O’Brien, Director with CustomerFirst Renewables and adviser to the university. “We look forward to working collaboratively with VEIC to help Howard design and implement effective strategies that will support their sustainability efforts for years to come.”

The project is slated for completion by August 2022.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Wyoming District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne, Wy., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Mountain View Elementary School, according to a news release. The facility has an estimated completion date of summer 2028, and it will have the capacity for 650 students in fifth and sixth grade.

  • CSU Starts Construction on New Engineering Building

    Colorado State University in Denver, Colo., recently began clearing space for the construction of the new Don and Susie Law Engineering Future Technologies Building, according to a news release.

  • California District Opens New Robotics Center

    The Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) in Cupertino, Calif., recently held a Grand Opening ceremony for a new, district-wide Robotics Center, according to a news release. The 14,500-square-foot facility was designed by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA); Landmark Constructors served as the builder and Blach Construction as general construction manager.

  • DLR Group Announces New Mid-Atlantic Higher Education Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has promoted Principal Shawn Gaither, AIA, LEED AP, to the role of higher education leader in the Mid-Atlantic, according to a news release. Gaither has served with the firm for more than 20 years, most recently as the national higher education business development leader.