Catawba College: Passive House, Regenerative Design & the Upcoming Midterm Elections

What an energizing experience at Catawba College Center for the Environment this week. From learning more about the Campus as Forest regenerative design concept to touring the newly completed passive house dorm and the Living Building Challenge student space under construction, this campus embodies the beauty and possibility of a sustainable future.

Check out this link to learn more about the Campus as Forest concept, Centennial Hall (the passive house dorm), and the Student Center (a former coal smokestack), which will be a Living Building.

After interacting with the Catawba students as a Professor in Residence and talking with them about eco-anxiety, conservation, climate leadership, and careers in sustainability, I left with the confidence that we are going to make it through all this chaos. Gen Z is passionate, creative, and ready to lead.

I especially enjoyed talking with Professors Lee F. Ball Jr, PhD and Dr. Michael Bitzer of the Center for NC Politics & Public Service at Catawba College about the upcoming midterms and what’s at stake for North Carolina and our nation.

The Midterm Elections: What's at Stake for North Carolina & Beyond panel with Prof. Michael Bitzer, Prof. Lee Ball, and Prof. in Residence Heather White

My colleagues and clean energy experts Amory Lovins and Marty Pickett of Rocky Mountain Institute provided insightful context for the cutting-edge sustainable design on campus.

Grateful to OneGreenThing Board Chair Meg Dees for her steadfast leadership, Emily Fowler for her strategic thinking and operational know how, and for Lee Ball for sharing his vision for ecological thinking and a campus community organized through regenerative design-- and of course, for the talented students who continue to give me hope for a better future.

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  Centennial Hall, Passive House

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  Lee Ball, Heather White, Amory Lovins, Marty Pickett at Catawba College

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  Heather White & Emily Fowler at the Center for the Environment at Catawba College

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  Emily Fowler & Heather White at the Dreamscape Virtual Reality Lab

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  Heather White, Meg Dees, and Marty Pickett at Catawba College