PACK POINTS
Engineering a greener NC State
Natasha Herting has become something of a sustainability dynamo during her four years at NC State.
What do industrial engineering and protecting the environment have in common?
A whole lot, says senior Natasha Herting.
“Many industrial engineering concepts can be used to reduce waste, improve efficiency and reduce lead times,” she said. “One could say that is being more sustainable.”
Herting, who will graduate in December with a degree in industrial and systems engineering, has become something of a sustainability dynamo during her four years at NC State.
She wrote and helped pass the first Campus Sustainability Continuous Improvement Act as a member of the Student Senate, calculated the university’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for the new Office of Sustainability and is assisting in the implementation of PackPulse, a real-time energy monitoring system for two residence halls.
“Sustainability was always something that I was passionate about,” she said.
Sustainability has many definitions, but one way to think about it is meeting present needs without compromising the abilities of future generations to meet their own needs.
Eventually, Herting wants to start her own sustainability consulting firm, helping companies identify areas where they can reduce waste and increase profits at the same time.
But first things first. Work remains on the sustainability improvement act, which needs endorsement from other campus groups before it takes full effect. Among its provisions is a commitment to providing sustainability-related coursework allowing students to receive credit for their projects.
Ideally, the University would permanently install these systems, so students would know their work would leave a legacy.
“If students have a significant connection to NC State, they’re
more likely to stay connected as alumni and continue to support the improvement
of the university,” Herting said. 