YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Young Harris College is pleased to announce that the campus now has three charging stations for electric vehicles. With the new 220-volt, 30 amp charging stations, electric car owners can charge their vehicles up to six times faster than charging from a standard wall outlet.
This initiative was paid for by the Student Government Association Green Fee. Students voted to contribute $5 per student per semester to a fund used for various green projects, and YHC matched the contributions. Currently, the charging stations are funded for two years.
In addition to being a sustainability initiative that benefits the students, the environment and the community, the stations will also attract visitors to the YHC campus. Driving uphill in the mountains drains an electric car’s battery, and there aren’t many reliable charging stations in the north Georgia mountains. While charging their cars, visitors will be able to enjoy some of the campus’s amenities.
“The charging stations are located in a beautiful part of campus near a creek and green space,” said Hollis Townsend, director of technology support and operations at YHC. “While charging, you can visit Cupid Falls, a YHC athletic event, or the Rollins Campus Center, which has dining options like Chick-fil-A and Starbucks.”
The charging stations will also benefit potential students who want to attend an environmentally conscientious college. The YHC switchboard operators estimate they receive about one call per week asking if electric car chargers are available.
The charging stations are located in the parking lot of the Athletic Department building at 17 Sunset Drive, Young Harris, Ga. 30512. The chargers are compatible with every electric car. A Tesla requires the use of an adapter, which comes standard with the vehicle.
The charging stations are just one of the many ways YHC seeks to be an environmentally friendly institution. The campus also features several LEED-certified buildings, including residences like Enotah Hall, The Towers and The Village, as well as the Rollins Campus Center and the Recreation and Fitness Center.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a globally recognized certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED provides a framework for creating healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings.
To learn more about sustainability initiatives at YHC, visit yhc.edu/about/sustainability.
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has three academic divisions: Arts and Humanities, Professional Studies, and Mathematics, Science and Technology, with more than 1,300 students enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The historic campus in Young Harris, Ga. has completed major campus improvements to accommodate the College’s growth. Recent LEED-certified campus improvements include the 121,000-square-foot Rollins Campus Center, new residence facilities, and a 57,000-square-foot recreation and fitness center. The College is an active member of NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the prestigious Peach Belt Conference. YHC is among fewer than 300 colleges and universities nationwide named to the 2017-2018 list of Colleges of Distinction and is listed as a “Best National Liberal Arts College” by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
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