Residing in a net-zero, LEED-certified, sustainable showcase home, next to an organic farm in the heart of Furman’s campus, the Shi Institute brings together environmental scientists and economists, urban planners and policy experts, students, faculty, and community members, and sustainability visionaries and elected officials to collaboratively pursue and promote sustainable communities.
Sustainability at Furman
Sustainability is part of our identity and has been a core university value and a strategic priority for decades.
About Us
The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities connects campus and community around promoting sustainable human flourishing through education, research, and leadership.
Programs and Services
The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities is a regional hub for sustainability education, research, and leadership. We have developed a wide array of sustainability programs to serve the local and regional sustainability ecosystem.
Meet our Staff
We are here to promote and support campus and community sustainability efforts. Have a question?
Ellie Howard ’25 talks about Alternative Transportation on Furman’s campus
Furman University is a small campus with extremely accessible sidewalks and bike paths. However, we have hundreds of cars on campus and students driving short distances to go to class. My name is Ellie Howard...
Continue Reading >New recycling program, farmers market and more at The Woodlands
By Victoria Bostrom '24, The Woodlands at Furman Fellow Located right behind the university, The Woodlands at Furman community is distinguished by its residents' unwavering commitment to lifelong learning. The Woodlands at Furman itself is...
Continue Reading >Meet our 2023-2024 Student Fellows!
We're excited to introduce our Shi Institute Student Sustainability Fellows for the current academic year! Here's a little bit about them and their favorite experiences at Furman: Kerry Black ’24 of Greenville, S.C., is a...
Continue Reading >Support The Shi Institute
Your gift to The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities supports critical work in the areas of climate resilience and biodiversity protection and is invaluable to efforts geared toward advancing sustainability on campus and in our communities.
Contact Us
Looking to learn more about The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities?