Coastal Carolina University received one of four leadership awards given by South Carolina's chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction.

Debbie Conner, associate vice president for University Relations, and Dan Abel, director of the CCU Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative, accepted the award at the organization's annual awards dinner Oct. 18 at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia.

Coastal received the Education Award, which recognizes the university's overall commitment to sustainability and renewable energy.

"By incorporating a strong focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency, Coastal's programs reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but more importantly, demonstrate to others what can and should be done," according to USGBC's awards committee. "The University is continually improving its environmental footprint, and will continue to do so as new buildings are constructed. As it does so, it continues to accelerate the education of students, visitors and our state's citizenry on the concepts of and issues related to sustainability, and green building design and construction."

CCU's Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative was established in 2005 to promote the practice of sustainability in all campus endeavors, including university curriculum, and serve as a resource to the community. Sustainability is defined as development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising resources for future generations.