{"id":9459,"date":"2021-07-09T19:02:01","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T19:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/2021\/07\/16\/ccc-earns-acclaim-from-un\/"},"modified":"2022-09-07T15:41:56","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T19:41:56","slug":"ccc-earns-acclaim-from-un","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/ccc-earns-acclaim-from-un\/","title":{"rendered":"Shi Institute earns international acclaim from UN program"},"content":{"rendered":"

For more than a decade, Furman\u2019s Community Conservation Corps<\/a> has been making a local impact, improving the lives of hundreds of residents. Now, that local impact has spread globally with recognition from the United Nations Environment Programme.<\/p>\n

The winners of the International Green Gown Awards<\/a>, which are dedicated to \u201crecognizing exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by the world\u2019s universities and colleges,\u201d were announced in a bilingual online ceremony on July 7, 2021. The CCC, a signature program of Furman\u2019s Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities<\/a>, was \u201chighly commended\u201d by the judges for its home weatherization program.<\/p>\n

Furman was the only U.S. institution among the six schools recognized within the Benefitting Society category.<\/p>\n

The IGGA judges commented that the CCC was \u201coutside of the comfort zone\u201d for Furman.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project shows a good example of social and economic justice,\u201d the judges said, adding that they \u201clook forward to seeing how this project can be replicated into other communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2010, the CCC has helped more than 160 low- and moderate-income homes in the Greenville, South Carolina, area become more energy efficient.<\/p>\n

At a home, the CCC team conducts an energy audit to determine need; performs weatherization through attic insulation and caulking; provides a supply of LED lightbulbs; and educates the homeowner about energy efficiency.<\/p>\n

The work can save homeowners up to 25% on their energy bills \u2013 \u201cwhich puts hundreds and hundreds of dollars back in their pockets,\u201d says Hannah Dailey, program coordinator for the Shi Institute, \u201cand they can use that on other things that they need for their families.\u201d<\/p>\n

Homeowners also often tell Dailey they feel more comfortable in their homes \u2013 warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer. And there\u2019s satisfaction for the student volunteers, too. \u201cThey gain skills talking to homeowners and working with the community,\u201d Dailey says, \u201cbut they also learn about affordable housing and energy burdens, which is really important in today\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not only is the CCC a unique program to help the community, Dailey says, but it also helps Furman meet its carbon neutrality goals, since the school can claim carbon offsets for the homes that the CCC weatherizes.<\/p>\n

Cooperation is key, says Dailey.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe CCC has wonderful collaborative partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, which serves as our contractor; Piedmont Natural Gas, which is our local utility company that provides most of the funding; the city of Greenville; and then, of course, the university,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Although the CCC is not the only home weatherization program in the area, \u201cit is one of the only weatherization programs that is situated within a university and provides so many social benefits,\u201d Dailey says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinning this Green Gown award affirms our dedication to reaching beyond the campus walls to benefit society,\u201d says Weston Dripps, executive director of the Shi Institute. \u201cWe are proud that the Shi Institute is home to this unique flagship program and are honored to receive international recognition for its campus and community sustainability efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n