Blog

Learning to Live Better at LiveWell

In today’s world, it has become ever harder for the average person to achieve a solid standard of living. Our current modes of infrastructure do not prioritize peoples’ abilities to live happy, fulfilling lives. In...

Continue Reading

Realizing Our Identity as a City

During the 20 years I have been alive, the population of Greenville County has grown by nearly 45%, from around 400,000 citizens to 580,000. Even as a young kid, I remember walking around downtown with...

Continue Reading

Unraveling the Rubik’s Cube of City Planning: My Summer as a Planning Fellow

Before this summer, I pictured city planning as a straightforward process, a simple walk in the park leading to a beautifully laid out city. What I've come to realize, however, is that it's far more...

Continue Reading

Introducing our 2025 Summer Fellows!

We are so excited to introduce our Summer 2025 class of Shi Institute Student Fellows! Representing six states, seven countries and 13 different academic majors and minors, this diverse group will tackle real-world sustainability projects...

Continue Reading

Stella Frisbie ’25: Taking a grassroots approach to climate action

By Stella Frisbie '25 Looking back on my time at Furman, some of my most meaningful moments happened not in a classroom, but in conversations—at sustainability tabling events, with peers passionate about change, and eventually,...

Continue Reading

CCC: Saving energy costs and promoting energy efficiency

By Vanessa Amasi '26 [caption id="attachment_1549" align="alignright" width="292"] Joy Baker (left) and Vanessa Amasi (right) looking at utility data reports.[/caption] When it comes to warming hearts and homes, I could not think of a better...

Continue Reading

Furman University receives STARS Gold rating for sustainability achievements

For the fourth time, Furman University has earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment...

Continue Reading

Furman to receive $25,000 in pro bono consulting for renewable energy project

Cambridge, Mass. -- Second Nature, a leading organization advancing climate action in higher education, is pleased to announce that Furman University has been chosen as one of seven institutions to receive pro bono consulting services...

Continue Reading

Pedal Smart, Drive Safe: Essential Road Safety Tips for Bikers and Drivers on Campus

By Ellie Howard '25 Furman’s biking community is growing every year. Biking is an eco-friendly, fun mode of transportation that Furman students are encouraged to use whenever possible. The growing bike community on campus calls...

Continue Reading

How can we protect South Carolina’s farmland?

Rural farmland across South Carolina faces mounting market pressures as urban expansion and demand for housing encroach on agricultural communities. To address these challenges, our research team developed a mapping tool to help stakeholders identify...

Continue Reading

Summer Marsden ’25 talks about her farm-to-fork fellowship

Have you ever eaten a meal in the Furman Dining Hall and taken a moment to consider where that food might have come from, or where it goes once your plate magically disappears on the...

Continue Reading

“Spring into action!” at the Shi Institute with two new gardening workshops

[caption id="attachment_1480" align="alignleft" width="219"] Farm Manager Bruce Adams[/caption] As the seasons shift, it’s the perfect time to prepare your garden for a thriving year ahead. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just getting started, our...

Continue Reading