Virginia Tech has strengthened its position as a leader in environmental stewardship through comprehensive sustainability programs spanning education, infrastructure, and regional development. These efforts were detailed in the university’s 2024-2025 Sustainability Annual Report, which was presented to the Board of Visitors’ Buildings and Grounds Committee in November and outlines achievements from the past year.
Students are gaining practical experience through hands-on learning initiatives. The College of Natural Resources and Environment launched the Sustainable Impact Academy last spring, using the Blacksburg campus as a real-world laboratory. Learners collaborated with faculty across disciplines to tackle environmental challenges, building skills relevant to future careers in sustainability.
One student project focused on analyzing water and energy consumption in Patton Hall, conducted with support from the Office of Energy Management and the Office of Sustainability. The team evaluated potential upgrades, factoring in cost reductions and return on investment, including a 20 percent buffer for unforeseen expenses. Their proposal—submitted for the 2025-26 funding cycle—recommends retrofitting plumbing fixtures in restrooms and labs to reduce water use.
The Green RFP initiative, driven by students, enables the implementation of eco-friendly projects across campus. Seven proposals were approved for 2024-25, such as adopting electric landscaping tools, expanding bike pathways, and planting more trees. These actions reflect a broader strategy to embed sustainability into daily operations.
In the Pamplin College of Business, learners in the Marketing, Society, and the Public Interest course developed outreach materials under the guidance of senior marketing instructor Thomas Reilly. Their work supports Facilities Division campaigns related to waste reduction, compactor usage, and effective communication strategies.
The College of Engineering, through its Civil and Environmental Engineering department, introduced the first cohort of Bowman fellows and scholars, made possible by a gift exceeding $2 million from alumnus Gary Bowman ’80. This funding supports the Bowman Sustainable Land Development Program, which trains students in sustainable engineering and planning practices applicable at local and global levels. The program also advances curriculum design, industry partnerships, and public engagement, aiming to establish Virginia Tech as a national model in land development education.
External funding has further expanded research capabilities. Both the College of Engineering and the College of Natural Resources and Environment received grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission to promote economic growth through sustainable methods.
Research in the natural resources college explores non-timber forest farming techniques to boost regional prosperity, emphasizing community-led management of local ecosystems. Meanwhile, engineering researchers are working to transform the region’s natural gas reserves into cleaner, more marketable energy forms by leveraging existing infrastructure.
Additionally, Virginia Tech leads a multi-institutional research effort focused on refining critical minerals and materials in ways that are both affordable and environmentally sound. This initiative seeks to unlock the economic potential of the Central Appalachian coal basin by extracting rare earth elements and producing high-value, non-combustible carbon-based goods.
Infrastructure improvements continue to support these goals. The Blacksburg campus now hosts six electric vehicle charging stations, with two recently added at the Perry Street Parking Garage. This expansion improves accessibility for students, staff, and visitors, contributes to LEED certification eligibility, and reinforces the university’s commitment to sustainable transportation.
The new Transit Center strengthens regional connectivity by serving as a central hub for local and intercity bus routes. Featuring a drivers lounge and 17 covered bus bays across two loops, it facilitates seamless transfers between Blacksburg Transit, Virginia Breeze, and Smartway services, enhancing mobility in the New River Valley.
Virginia Tech Electric Service completed an Advanced Metering Infrastructure project ahead of schedule, enabling precise monitoring of energy use. This system enhances outage detection, allows remote service control, improves billing accuracy, and supports data-driven energy management.
Three recent buildings achieved LEED certification: the Corps Leadership and Military Science Building and Upper Quad Hall North earned Silver, while the Transit Center received Gold. With 30 certified structures totaling over 2 million square feet, the university demonstrates a sustained dedication to energy efficiency and resource conservation, aligning facility design with long-term environmental and financial objectives.
— news from Virginia Tech News
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Sustainability initiatives yield educational and economic returns
Virginia Tech continues to demonstrate leadership in environmental responsibility, earning national recognition and implementing wide-reaching sustainability efforts across academics, student life, infrastructure, and operations. n nThe university’s sustainability achievements were highlighted in the 2024-2025 Sustainability Annual Report, which was accepted by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors’ Buildings and Grounds Committee during its November quarterly meeting. The report reflects progress made over the past year. n nExperiential learning opportunities n nLast spring, the College of Natural Resources and Environment piloted the Sustainable Impact Academy. The experiential learning program used the Blacksburg campus as a classroom. Students worked side by side with faculty from a range of disciplines to solve pressing environmental issues, gaining hands-on experience that will prepare them for future careers. n nThe student-led analysis of Patton Hall’s water and energy use, conducted in partnership with the Office of Energy Management and Office of Sustainability, culminated in a Green Request for Proposals (RFP) presentation. Students analyzed Patton Hall’s data, assessing potential benefits from upgrades in terms of cost savings and payback period, including a 20 percent contingency. Their Green RPF proposes retrofitting bathroom and laboratory sinks, toilets, and urinals to lessen water usage and was submitted as part of the 2025-26 cycle. n nStudent leadership is at the heart of the Green RFP program, which empowers students to implement sustainability ideas across the Blacksburg campus. The program approved seven projects for the 2024-25 submission period, including new electric landscaping equipment, enhanced bicycle infrastructure, and additional tree plantings. n nPamplin College of Business students in the Marketing, Society, and the Public Interest course, taught by Thomas Reilly, senior instructor of marketing, created student-focused marketing materials supporting sustainability that could be used by the Division of Facilities. Topics included waste and recycling efforts, trash compactor use across the Blacksburg campus, and communications and marketing best practices. n nThe College of Engineering and its Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering announced the inaugural Bowman fellows and scholars thanks to a gift from Gary Bowman ’80, founder of Bowman Consulting. Bowman committed more than $2 million to Virginia Tech in 2022 to establish the Bowman Sustainable Land Development Program. The program trains students in sustainability and engineering design principles for land development at local, regional, and global scales and aims to position Virginia Tech as a national leader in land development education by emphasizing environmental responsibility, community-centered planning, and technical innovation. In addition to supporting students, the endowment also enhances curriculum development, outreach, and industry engagement. n nRegional research n nBoth the College of Engineering and the College of Natural Resources and Environment were awarded grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission focused on economic development through sustainable practices. n nResearch in the College of Natural Resources and Environment is focused on sustainable non-timber forest farming practices to improve economic development in the region. The work is part of a broader economic development strategy emphasizing local Appalachian stewardship and control over natural resources management and production. n nMeanwhile, research in the College of Engineering works to leverage the region’s abundant natural gas resources and existing infrastructure to efficiently turn natural gas into a cleaner and more economically viable product. n nAdditionally, Virginia Tech is spearheading a research coalition focused on advancing cost effective and environmentally responsible processes to produce and refine critical minerals and materials. The project aims to enable the Central Appalachia coal basin to realize its full economic potential in producing rare earth elements, critical minerals, and high-value, nonfuel, carbon-based products. n nEfficient infrastructure n nAcross the Blacksburg campus, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure continues to grow, with two new EV charging stations added at the Perry Street Parking Garage, bringing the total to six. This investment provides broader parking infrastructure for students, faculty, and visitors; enhances campus appeal by demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship; and can help earn points toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications. n nThe opening of the new Transit Center enhances connectivity between Blacksburg and the campus. The facility plays a key role in improving mobility options in the New River Valley, supporting a more efficient regional transit network. Designed as a central hub for transit routes, the center includes a drivers lounge, while the two nearby bus loops have 17 covered bays and provide seamless access to Blacksburg Transit, as well as other bus routes, such as the Virginia Breeze and Smartway. n nThe Virginia Tech Electric Service completed an Advanced Metering Infrastructure project, nearly two years ahead of schedule. This advancement in technology allows for the frequent and accurate collection of usage data to support improvements to outage detection, remote turn on/off capabilities, readings and billings, energy data analytics, and more. n nThe Corps Leadership and Military Science Building and Upper Quad Hall North both earned LEED silver certifications, while the Transit Center received LEED gold certification. The total number of buildings with LEED certifications is now 30, covering more than 2 million square feet and emphasizing the commitment to environmental stewardship in the design of the Blacksburg campus. These facilities support the university’s goals for environmental stewardship while also delivering long-term cost savings through energy efficiency and resource conservation.