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View larger image

Attendees take in research presented as part of the poster competition of the Student Summit, an event held concurrently with the university’s 2019 Appalachian Energy Summit. Photo by Leila Jackson

‘Creating a Resilient Energy Future’ through 2019 Appalachian Energy Summit

“Together, you put into action a transformational effort that delivers real and powerful ecological, financial and social benefit to our state, our region and our world.”

Appalachian Chancellor Sheri Everts, in her address to attendees of the 2019 Appalachian Energy Summit

By Appalachian’s Office of Sustainability
Posted Aug. 9, 2019 at 3:22 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Some of the world’s best minds in energy policy and practice convened on Appalachian State University’s campus last week for the eighth annual Appalachian Energy Summit, sharing knowledge, innovations and best practices.

The three-day event — with a theme of “Creating a Resilient Energy Future” — focused on the need for University of North Carolina System institutions and other state organizations to adapt to changing markets, weather patterns and technologies.

“Together, you put into action a transformational effort that delivers real and powerful ecological, financial and social benefit to our state, our region and our world.”

Appalachian Chancellor Sheri Everts, in her address to attendees of the 2019 Appalachian Energy Summit

In her opening remarks at the summit, Appalachian Chancellor Sheri Everts reported that, to date, UNC System institutions, together with industry partners, have avoided more than $924 million in utility costs. The System is on track to avoid $1 billion in utility costs by 2020 and $2 billion by 2025.

“The UNC System has a demonstrated track record as a leader in energy efficiency.”

Dr. Lee Ball, Appalachian’s chief sustainability officer

Everts told the summit’s 330 registered attendees, “Together, you put into action a transformational effort that delivers real and powerful ecological, financial and social benefit to our state, our region and our world.”

“The UNC System has a demonstrated track record as a leader in energy efficiency.”

Dr. Lee Ball, Appalachian’s chief sustainability officer

“The UNC System has a demonstrated track record as a leader in energy efficiency,” said Dr. Lee Ball, Appalachian’s chief sustainability officer. “The UNC System has a responsibility to continue its leadership as we transition toward a more resilient and responsive energy infrastructure.”

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Speakers featured in the Keynote Panel of the 2019 Appalachian Energy Summit engage in a discussion moderated by Dr. Jeff Ramsdell, professor in Appalachian’s Department of Sustainable Development and the Built Environment, far left. Others pictured, from left to right, are Energy Summit keynote speaker Amory Lovins, chief scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute; Sushma Masemore, deputy assistant secretary for environment and state energy director in the NC DEQ; and N.C. Rep. John Szoka. Photo by Leila Jackson

Keynote speaker Amory Lovins, chief scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute, focused his remarks on the need for implementation of energy efficiency and renewables strategies.

In his remarks, Lovins, who has been a featured speaker each year since the summit’s inception in 2012, explained that the electric power industry is changing to become customer-focused, renewable and resilient.

A Student Summit was held in conjunction with the Energy Summit, in which 80 undergraduate and graduate students had the opportunity to network with industry professionals and learn more about energy and sustainability in both the region and nation. The students also engaged in working groups on campus sustainability initiatives and careers in renewable energy.

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Appalachian senior Catherine McDiarmid, an interior design major from Pittsboro, with the winning research poster in the undergraduate category of the Student Summit poster competition. McDiarmid completed the research with other building sciences students as part of a group project for local nonprofit LIFE Village Inc. Photo by Leila Jackson

As part of the Student Summit, students participated in a poster competition sponsored by the Appalachian Energy Center, presenting innovative ideas on topics related to clean energy. A total of 36 posters were submitted for judging.

The top prize in the competition’s undergraduate category was awarded to Appalachian building sciences students Catherine McDiarmid, Andrew Blount, Hunter Galliher ’19, Chad Hupp, Rachel Small ’19 and Annika Davidson for their poster titled “A New Approach to Adaptable, Energy Efficient Design for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum.”

Justin Krupa, of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, received the top prize in the graduate category of the poster competition for his research on the “Use of Commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics Models to Assess HVAC Design Effects on Indoor Particle Behavior.”

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Two attendees of Appalachian’s 2019 Energy Summit examine a research poster included in the poster competition of Appalachian’s Student Summit. The poster, titled “Identifying standardization gaps of Blockchain Applications in the energy sector using SGAM-Toolbox,” was completed by UNC Charlotte student Johnathon Vieth. Photo by Leila Jackson

Energy Summit attendees heard from a range of academic, corporate and government speakers, and had the opportunity during working groups and breaks to share knowledge and experience, as well as engage in collaborative work to further develop campus clean energy.

This year’s event featured over 15 guest speakers, including the following:

  • Sushma Masemore, deputy assistant secretary for environment and state energy director in the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ).
  • Dr. J. Todd Roberts, chancellor of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.
  • North Carolina Rep. John Szoka.
  • Jeremy Tarr, policy adviser on energy, environment, transportation and natural resources in the North Carolina Office of the Governor.
  • W. Scott Tew, executive director of Ingersoll Rand’s Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability.
Top winners of the Student Summit poster competition
Undergraduate category

Poster title: “A New Approach to Adaptable, Energy Efficient Design for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum.”

Poster authors:

  • Catherine McDiarmid, a senior interior design major from Pittsboro.
  • Anna Basile, a senior building sciences major with a concentration in architectural technology and design from Pinehurst.
  • Andrew Blount, a senior building sciences major with a concentration in sustainable building systems from Summerfield.
  • Alumnus Hunter Galliher ’19, of Olin, who holds a B.S. in building sciences with a concentration in construction management.
  • Chad Hupp, a senior building sciences major with a concentration in construction management from Beloit, Ohio.
  • Alumna Rachel Small ’19, of Mount Holly, who holds dual B.S. degrees in building sciences with concentrations in construction management and architectural technology and design.
  • Annika Davidson, a senior building sciences major with a concentration in architectural technology and design from Boone.
Graduate category

Poster title: “Use of Commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics Models to Assess HVAC Design Effects on Indoor Particle Behavior.”

Poster author: Justin Krupa, a graduate student in Appalachian’s M.S. in technology program from New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.

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University Sustainability
University Sustainability

Defining sustainability since 1899

Sustainability at Appalachian State University is not a trend, it is a tradition. We are active stewards of our state’s interconnected financial, cultural and natural resources. Through engaged scholarship, we balance critical, creative and global thinking in a living laboratory, transforming theory into practice and fostering responsible citizenship.

Learn more
Appalachian is a UNC System leader for energy and water reduction
Appalachian is a UNC System leader for energy and water reduction
March 15, 2018

Appalachian’s 45 percent energy intensity reduction leads the UNC System. In 2016-17, the university avoided using enough energy to power 2,160 average North Carolina houses for the year.

Read the story
Trustees approve resolution for energy contract with savings implications
Trustees approve resolution for energy contract with savings implications
Jan. 17, 2019

Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees signed a resolution that will save New River Power and Light (NRLP) customers and the university hundreds of thousands annually in energy costs.

Read the story

About Sustainability at Appalachian

Appalachian State University’s leadership in sustainability is known nationally. The university’s holistic, three-branched approach considers sustainability economically, environmentally and equitably in relationship to the planet’s co-inhabitants. The university is an active steward of the state’s interconnected financial, cultural and natural resources and challenges students and others think critically and creatively about sustainability and what it means from the smallest individual action to the most broad-based applications. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate academic degree programs that focus on sustainability. In addition, 100 percent of Appalachian’s academic departments offer at least one sustainability course or course that includes sustainability, and all students graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome. Learn more at https://appstate.edu/sustainability.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

“Together, you put into action a transformational effort that delivers real and powerful ecological, financial and social benefit to our state, our region and our world.”

Appalachian Chancellor Sheri Everts, in her address to attendees of the 2019 Appalachian Energy Summit

Top winners of the Student Summit poster competition
Undergraduate category

Poster title: “A New Approach to Adaptable, Energy Efficient Design for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum.”

Poster authors:

  • Catherine McDiarmid, a senior interior design major from Pittsboro.
  • Anna Basile, a senior building sciences major with a concentration in architectural technology and design from Pinehurst.
  • Andrew Blount, a senior building sciences major with a concentration in sustainable building systems from Summerfield.
  • Alumnus Hunter Galliher ’19, of Olin, who holds a B.S. in building sciences with a concentration in construction management.
  • Chad Hupp, a senior building sciences major with a concentration in construction management from Beloit, Ohio.
  • Alumna Rachel Small ’19, of Mount Holly, who holds dual B.S. degrees in building sciences with concentrations in construction management and architectural technology and design.
  • Annika Davidson, a senior building sciences major with a concentration in architectural technology and design from Boone.
Graduate category

Poster title: “Use of Commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics Models to Assess HVAC Design Effects on Indoor Particle Behavior.”

Poster author: Justin Krupa, a graduate student in Appalachian’s M.S. in technology program from New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.

“The UNC System has a demonstrated track record as a leader in energy efficiency.”

Dr. Lee Ball, Appalachian’s chief sustainability officer

University Sustainability
University Sustainability

Defining sustainability since 1899

Sustainability at Appalachian State University is not a trend, it is a tradition. We are active stewards of our state’s interconnected financial, cultural and natural resources. Through engaged scholarship, we balance critical, creative and global thinking in a living laboratory, transforming theory into practice and fostering responsible citizenship.

Learn more

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

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  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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