The University of North Carolina (UNC) System includes 17 campuses that graduate more than 30,000 students from over 200 academic degree programs every year. The UNC System has adopted aggressive energy and carbon reduction goals and campuses have reduced their total energy use per square foot by 20 percent in just the last decade. The UNC System schools have several renewable energy sources including a 213 kW solar PV, 100 kW wind, and 1060 kW landfill gas as well as 9 solar thermal installations.  One school in particular, Appalachian State University (ASU), has taken great strides in their commitment to sustainability. ASU spends over $7 million on their annual energy use. As part of their effort to contain these costs, the school has adopted one of the most diverse energy portfolios in the state. ASU also works to empower their students with the knowledge and resources needed to make a difference in North Carolina’s sustainable future. Josh Brooks, a graduate student at ASU, says his education provides him the understanding of how he fits into North Carolina's energy future.