Sustainability Master Plan 2025

DEFINITIONS

The Carbon Neutral Global Engagement Initiative is a collaboration between the Global Education Center and Office of Sustainability that started in the fall of 2020. Through this initiative, Elon purchases verified carbon offsets on an annual basis to account for the carbon impact of global engagement travel.

The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is a globally utilized ecolabel that identifies environmentally preferable electronic products.

The Elon University community, for the purposes of the Engagement Goal and Strategies, includes current Elon University students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty and staff.

Engagement, for the purposes of the Engagement Goal and Strategies, is any interaction with university sponsored sustainability events, activities and communications.

External stakeholders are members of any of the following groups: Elon families, prospective undergraduate and graduate students, prospective families, Elon alumni, friends of Elon, residents of Alamance County and other North Carolinians. (Adapted from the Elon Brand Guide)

Lower carbon transportation options are modes of transportation that have a lower carbon impact relative to others. Depending on the situation, the lower carbon transportation option may not be the lowest carbon transportation option. For example, driving to Washington DC is a lower carbon transportation option compared to flying to Washington DC, and taking the train to Washington DC is a lower carbon transportation option compared to driving to Washington DC.

A major renovation is a project that includes major heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements, significant building envelope modifications, and/or major interior rehabilitation, for example projects that require occupants to vacate the space. (Based on STARS 3.0)

The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) project is a collaboration with eight other colleges and universities for a large-scale solar facility located in Kentucky. While electricity generated by the project cannot be transmitted directly to the campuses because of regulatory barriers and distance, the benefits of investing in new additional renewable energy will be transferred to the schools. Elon University will be paying for an amount of energy equal to 100 percent of the electricity used by its campus. In exchange, Elon University will receive renewable energy credits, which can be used to account for greenhouse gas emissions related to purchased electricity.

Procurement systems are all of the processes utilized to procure goods and services. This plan focuses on specific aspects of the processes as identified in the Purchasing Strategy.

Self-service printing refers to the process of students, faculty and staff printing documents from printers across campus (including desktop and Canon printers). This does not include materials printed by Print Services. 

Sustainability explores the dynamic interconnections among environmental, social and economic systems in order to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This definition is based on the one published in Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report, from the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) and incorporates the three key elements of sustainability.

Sustainability activities include involvement in a sustainability-focused student organization, attending a sustainability-focused event or engaging in a sustainability-focused co-curricular activity. (Based on STARS 3.0)

Sustainability-focused means there is a primary and explicit focus on the integrated concept of sustainability and/or the interdependence of ecological and social/cultural/economic systems. (Based on STARS 3.0)

Sustainability research and creative inquiry means research activities, scholarly work and creative inquiry that explicitly address the concept of sustainability, further our understanding of the interdependence of ecological and social/cultural/economic systems or have a primary and explicit focus on a sustainability challenge. (Based on STARS 3.0)

Sustainable commuting options are alternatives to single-occupancy conventional, hybrid and low-emission cars, vans and trucks. Examples include walking and running; skateboarding and similar modes; cycling, including electric-assist bicycles and other micro-mobility options such as e-scooters; carpooling and vanpooling; public transportation, including bus/shuttle, light rail or tram, commuter rail and ferry; motorcycles, mopeds and combustion-driven scooters; zero emission vehicles; remote working and remote learning. (Based on STARS 3.0)

Sustainable fuel sources are gasoline-electric hybrid; diesel-electric hybrid; plug-in hybrid; 100 percent electric (including electric assist utility bicycles and tricycles); fueled with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG); hydrogen fueled; fueled with B20 or higher biofuel for more than 4 months of the year; or fueled with locally produced, low-level (e.g., B5) biofuel for more than 4 months of the year (e.g., fuel contains cooking oil recovered and recycled on campus or in the local community). (Based on STARS 2.2)

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were published in 2015 to advance sustainable development worldwide. They are 17 goals that span across environmental, social and economic systems: 1) no poverty, 2) zero hunger, 3) good health and well-being, 4) quality education, 5) gender equity, 6) clean water and sanitation, 7) affordable and clean energy, 8) decent work and economic growth, 9) industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10) reduced inequalities, 11) sustainable cities and communities, 12) responsible consumption and production, 13) climate action, 14) life below water, 15) life on land, 16) peace, justice and strong institutions and 17) partnerships for the goals.