TCNJ News
For Immediate Release
July 18, 2007
TCNJ President Commits to ‘Climate Neutral’ Campus
Announces Over $1 Million in New Energy Savings
EWING, NJ … R. Barbara Gitenstein, president of The College of New Jersey, recently signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) as an assurance that TCNJ plans to reduce and, eventually, eliminate the College’s global warming emissions. Her signing also signals a commitment to provide critical research and education to help eliminate global warming.
Results from TCNJ’s pledge to climate neutrality and its ongoing “Knowledge is Power” energy conservation campaign are evident. For the 2007 fiscal year, TCNJ saved $1 million due to energy conservation efforts and the benefits of a relatively cool spring. The College surpassed its original projected savings by over $600,000. In addition, TCNJ’s foresight in constructing a cogeneration plant on campus has produced great savings. Projected net annual cost savings for steam (natural gas) and electricity surpassed $3.5 million in fiscal 2007.
ACUPCC is the first such effort by any major sector of society to set climate neutrality – not just a reduction – as its target. This undertaking by America’s colleges and universities is inspired by efforts like the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, and other collective efforts by states and businesses.
Gitenstein joined over 300 college and university presidents across the country, representing institutions from Ivy League schools to large state schools to community colleges. The presidents who have signed the pledge will develop a comprehensive long-term plan to cut emissions, but immediately take the following steps, as suitable to their college’s current situation, to make campuses more climate neutral:
- Adopting green standards for buildings;
- Requiring ENERGY STAR certification for products purchased by the university;
- Offsetting emissions due to air travel;
- Encouraging public transportation;
- Purchasing energy from renewable sources; and
- Supporting climate and sustainability shareholder proposals through their endowment.
About The College of New Jersey
TCNJ currently is ranked as one of the 75 "Most Competitive" schools in the nation by Barron's Profiles of American Colleges, is rated the No. 1 public institution in the northern region of the country by U.S. News & World Report, and is one of Kiplinger's Personal Finance's top educational values in the country. In 2006, the College joined an elite group of institutions when it was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Fewer than 10 percent of the nation's colleges and universities share this honor.
