Sustainability On Campus

 

Sustainability is embedded in the way we manage our campus — from conserving energy and promoting local food initiatives to providing high-performance, energy-efficient and healthful facilities. We strive to reduce our environmental impact, support long-term resilience and partner with faculty and staff to prepare graduates who are ready to lead the social, environmental and economic changes needed to build a better future while positively contributing to the local economy.

How We Go Green

We are actively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality on campus. Our efforts include monitoring emissions, promoting alternative transportation options, and engaging the campus community in climate-focused initiatives.

Sustainable construction and maintenance are a priority at UNCP. We implement green building practices, utilize eco-conscious materials, and manage landscaping in ways that conserve water and protect native ecosystems.

Help us conserve energy and meet reduction goals by turning off unused lights, unplug unneeded phantom plug loads such as cell phone chargers, use ENERGY STAR appliances and EPEAT electronics, set thermostats to 70 degrees in the winter and 75 in the summer, limit water use, etc. For more information, click here.

Reducing energy and water consumption is vital to our sustainability goals. UNCP upgrades infrastructure with energy-efficient technologies, monitors usage to identify improvements, and promotes conservation behaviors across campus.

UNCP promotes sustainable dining through local food sourcing, plant-based menu options, and food waste reduction programs. These initiatives support regional agriculture and promote healthy, eco-conscious choices for students.

UNCP is committed to minimizing waste through robust recycling programs, composting, and education. We continue to explore innovative solutions to reduce landfill use and promote a circular economy on campus.
The Brave Health Center at UNC Pembroke, featuring large windows, bike racks, and shaded pathways surrounded by green landscaping.
2017 - Braves Health Center: certified Two Green Globes

Sustainability at UNCP

UNCP students and faculty smile in front of a Tree Campus USA banner beside a newly planted tree on campus.

UNC Pembroke earned national recognition as a Tree Campus USA school for 2025

UNCP faculty and staff gather in the Lumbee Tribe building in Pembroke, NC, around a decorative floor mosaic of a turtle with a four-colored medicine wheel, as two representatives hold a Sustainable Sandhills Green Business award.

UNC Pembroke received the "Green Business" award by Sustainable Sandhills - 2016

Get Involved

UNCP Agriculture Club members at a mum sale on campus.

Agriculture Club

The Agriculture Club connects students with hands-on experiences and events in farming, agribusiness, and sustainability.
A flower blooming in the UNCP Campus Garden and Apiary.

Campus Garden & Apiary

The Campus Garden & Apiary is a place of community as well as a way to relax and connect with nature. Volunteers are welcomed as well as those who choose to just attend events.
A person plants seedlings as part of the UNCP Greener Coalition's campus conservation efforts.

Greener Coalition Student Club

The Greener Coalition's mission is to preserve and promote the conservation of the environment at UNCP.

Charging Stations

The BRAVESTATION entrance at the UNCP campus bookstore, with outdoor seating and a solar-powered charging table with a curved canopy.

Clean Energy

UNCP is embracing clean energy with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations conveniently located on campus — making it easier for students, faculty and visitors to drive green. While you're here, stop by the solar smart table near the bookstore! It's a shaded, solar-powered charging hub where you can recharge your mobile devices using 100% renewable energy — no emissions, just sunshine.

An electric vehicle charges at a UNCP campus EV charging station.