Colleges are enduring places. Furman, after all, has been in operation more than 180 years. It has been sustained, in good times and bad, by the devotion and generosity of countless faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends.

Contact

J. Scott Derrick
Director of Student Activities &
the University Center

Address:
Student Services
3300 Poinsette Hwy
Greenville, SC 29613

Phone: 864.294.2267

Email: Scott.Derrick@Furman.edu

Such stewardship is one of our most precious resources; it has enabled the university not only to survive but to flourish. So it is especially fitting that the university has adopted a commitment to environmental sustainability as one of its foremost strategic goals.

As in all areas of university life, our goal in sustainability is ambitious. Furman wants to be the national leader among liberal arts colleges committed to sustainability, both educationally and operationally. With the recent revision of graduation requirements to include at least one course dealing with human interaction with the natural environment, the faculty has demonstrated their intention for our graduates to have an awakened conscience about the world around them.

This report highlights seven stories that illustrate how sustainability is woven through the fabric of university life. I invite you to explore these articles, and then join us on the journey toward a more enlightened and sustainable future.

2. Landscaping and Maintenance

Story: When you drive onto Furman’s campus, past the numerous fountains and the meticulously landscaped shrubs and flowers, conservation and sustainability are not the terms that come to mind. What might not be evident as you stroll one of the most beautifully landscaped campuses in the country is that the university has embraced sustainability in its landscaping and building processes . . . Read More >

Environmentally friendly landscape practices
Reduction of grassy areas of campus allows native landscape to emerge.
Greater use of native plants and pest-resistant hybrid vegetation reduces chemical dependency.
Recycled irrigation water from the stormwater reservoir lake is used to irrigate approximately 45 percent of the campus.
Endangered plants such as bunched arrowhead are protected from development.
Tree conservation results in abundant foliage, which provides natural shade and screening.

University moves to more sustainable vehicles
The university is moving away from gas-powered vehicles and embracing other technologies.
Currently the campus operates 25–30 electric vehicles.
Thirty-five electric golf carts have replaced 31 gasoline autos and trucks in Facilities Services. Dedicated cart parking/charging stations are located throughout campus.
Public Safety has purchased a hybrid Ford Escape. Gas mileage is 2.5 times better than the vehicle it replaced, it accelerates better, and it has more usable space

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3. Student Activism

Story: It’s not exactly turning iron into gold or water into wine, but in a shed tucked away on a corner of campus, a student environmental group is conducting its own 21st-century alchemy: turning kitchen grease into diesel fuel . . . Read More >

Biodiesel Program: Conversion of cooking waste to usable fuel
Wind Energy: Promotion of wind energy as a viable alternative energy source
Recycling: Convenient placement of recycling drop-off spots and Recycling promotion campus-wide
Environmental Action Group: Furman's student group for promotion of environmental awareness
Environmental Protection: Program for preserving endangered plant species like Bunched Arrowhead

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4. Trail System

Story: Chainsaws, swing blades and shovels in hand, a dedicated and sweaty group of university employees and summer school students joined with a local Boy Scout group during the summer of 1995 to help carve out nearly four miles of campus trails. The winding wooded pathways—traversing streams and creeks—offer a convenient respite . . . Read More >

Less Traffic: Conversion of campus roads into pedestrian walkways
Rails to Trails Program: Renovation of old railroad tracks into trails for hikers, runners, and cyclists.

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5. Building Practices

Story: What’s wrapped in hidden heat-reflective tinfoil and has solar green glazing and carbon-dioxide sensors that detect the presence of humans? No, it’s not the space shuttle. It’s Herman N. Hipp Hall, . . . Read More >

Hipp Hall Green Facts:
Twenty-five percent of the materials used in construction of the building contain recycled content, compared with 15 percent for most buildings.*
Every room has occupancy sensors. Overhead lights turn off automatically if no one is in the room.
Thanks to tree conservation and new plantings, more than 30 percent of the sidewalk and parking areas around Hipp Hall will be shaded in the next few years.*
More than 75 percent of the waste generated during construction was recycled.*

Duke Library Green Facts
The construction of the James B. Duke Library followed LEED guidelines for a silver rating.
New and replacement windows are equipped with a low-emissivity coating. The coating allows the maximum amount of daylight to enter but blocks ultraviolet light. The glass also reduces glare. For additional protection from the sun’s rays, automatic shades are installed on the south and west sides of the building.
An air/vapor barrier was added to create a building skin to eliminate air infiltration and mold growth.
Every office, study, conference, work and storage room is equipped with occupancy sensors. Overhead lights turn off automatically if no one is in the room.

*Also true of the James B. Duke Library.

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6. The Charles H. Townes Center for Science

Story: With the commitment to “build green,” Furman has seen the transformation of the James B. Duke Library and James C. Furman Hall. The renovation and addition to the science facilities that will begin this summer will result in not only a green building but a green learning experience as well . . . Read More >

Environmental Aspects of the Center:
Closed loop solar aquatic wastewater treatment system
Soil, plant and storm-water retention
Solar thermal panels for domestic hot water
Passive solar heating and thermal storage at greenhouse
Solar heating of HVAC water
Rainwater collection system
Maximization of day-lighting systems
High-performance energy systems/thermal efficiency

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7. Faculty and Student Research

Story: In 1996, the departments of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Biology and Chemistry launched the River Basins Research Initiative, a research project studying the impact of urbanization in the Upstate on stream systems in the Lower Broad River Basin. The RBRI has evolved into the largest . . . Read More >

Every year, students and Faculty from across campus conduct research aimed at improving environmental conditions at Furman, in the Greenville Community, and in larger communities abroad. Furman is a partner in the Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium, which oversees research and educational efforts concerning the negative impacts of development—such as runoff and pollution. Furman's River Basin Research Initiative - which combines seven of Furman's academic departments and is the school's largest single research project - is another example of research aimed at bolstering sustainability at Furman and abroad.

Further Initiatives >