Howard U to Engage Students with Five-Year Sustainability Plan

• By Matt Jones
• 02/22/22

Howard University recently announced that it will be partnering with VEIC and CustomerFirst Renewables to develop a five-year campus Sustainability Plan. The university and its partners will engage with students, faculty and staff to seek input in creating a robust, future-oriented plan, according to a news release.

The new Sustainability Plan will create sustainability goals that align with the pre-existing Howard Forward strategic plan. Initiatives are set to include sustainability-focused research opportunities, creating partnerships in the larger community, and operational improvements to boost the use of renewable energy and water reuse. The plan will also include support for campus finances via procedural guidance and restructured funding models.

“We’re excited to embark on the development of a five-year, campus-wide Sustainability Plan for Howard with the VEIC team,” said Alfonzye “Chip” Chisholm, Director for the Office of Sustainability at Howard University, in a news release. “This effort will not only amplify the pillars of the Howard Forward strategic plan but also help us accelerate progress towards our energy, climate and sustainability goals, increase our financial stability, attract new students and set a vision for excellence in academics and operations.”

Additionally, VEIC and CustomerFirst Renewables will also be sponsoring a Howard student internship focused on building professional experience in sustainability-related activities — including implementing the sustainability plan. “Strategic planning is a complex and vitally important activity, and it requires both technical and behavioral analysis and solutions,” said Zoe Dawson, strategic energy management coach and VEIC’s project lead. “We're eager to help Howard University determine the most promising pathways to achieve their sustainability goals and ensuring reliable metrics are applied to help track their progress and celebrate achievements along the way.”

The university will also create a Howard University Sustainability Leadership Council made up of students, faculty, staff and local sustainability leaders across various sub-committees. The partnerships will encourage active and productive collaboration among the university and the community at large.

“Our team is confident that Howard has the opportunity to capture significant value by accessing the benefits of renewable energy and water optimization and reuse — particularly in D.C., where incentives are aligned to provide compelling cost savings,” said Chris O’Brien, Director with CustomerFirst Renewables and adviser to the university. “We look forward to working collaboratively with VEIC to help Howard design and implement effective strategies that will support their sustainability efforts for years to come.”

The project is scheduled to be complete in August 2022.