Fostering collaboration: Appalachian Energy Summit promises $2 billion in saved energy costs by 2025.

• Author: Wall, Elisabeth
• Position: RESEARCH NORTH CAROLINA: APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

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This month the hum of energy at Appalachian State University will not come solely from the iconic wind turbine situated high above the Boone campus. An electric buzz also will emanate from the yearly gathering of academicians, students, energy industry experts and corporate representatives attending the fifth annual Appalachian Energy Summit.

This year's summit will leverage partnerships between academia and industry to deliver ecological, financial and social benefits to the residents of North Carolina and beyond. Houze, a major sponsor last year, is joined by NTE Energy as 2016's primary sponsors. Additional sponsors include Baltimore-based Constellation Energy Resources, Minneapolis-based MAMAC Systems, Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls, Inc., Lynchburg, Virginia-based Clark Nexsen architecture and engineering, Glastonbury, Connecticut-based Celtic Energy, Inc., and Charlotte-based Piedmont Natural Gas. "Partnership with industry, particularly those forging new sustainable energy paths, is essential if we are to continue to be leaders in energy innovation and savings," says Appalachian's Chancellor Sheri N. Everts.

Each July since 2012, Appalachian has hosted a three-day event that brings together participants from across the state and beyond for an exchange of visionary and pragmatic energy related ideas. An inspired agenda of speakers, presentations, panel discussions and fellowship is tailored to both organize and inspire short- and long-range collaborative efforts around energy innovation on campuses across the nation and around the globe.

Due to the efforts of the summit participants, the UNC system is on track for utility cost savings of $1 billion by 2020 and $2 billion by 2025. At last year's event, leadership reported $311 million in avoided energy costs since the summit began in 2012. The UNC system saved $103 million in avoided utility costs for 2013-14 alone, and has saved $499 million since benchmark year 2004.

According to Everts, "In addition to creating considerable savings for the UNC system, the summit provides opportunities for professional engagement, a model for collaboration and a real and powerful path to a more sustainable future for North Carolina."

> About the summit

The summit began with leaders from UNC's 17 campuses and six private schools, and it has grown to include additional colleges and universities across the country.

The 2016 summit's theme, "Knowledge. Collaboration. Action.,"...