SustainabiliTank: New York University Will Reduce Its GHG Emissins …
The NYU Sustainability Task Force announces the release of its Annual Report and Recommendations to the University Administration. This comprehensive report reflects the hard work and effort of 45 NYU students, faculty, administrators and staff who have worked throughout the year to develop campus sustainability.
It includes an overview of the university’s efforts and new initiatives this past year, and more importantly, a set of project and policy recommendations developed by each of the Task Force’s Subcommittees. Each recommendation is crafted to guide NYU forward on the journey to a sustainable future.
A complete copy is available here: Annual Report and Recommendations to the University Administration, 2007. Here you can view the cover letter to Dr. Alfano.
Also today, New York University President John Sexton announced the university’s official contribution to Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC 2030 initiative. As a Challenge Partner, NYU commits to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent over the next 10 years. See the Press Release for details.
Green Action Plan
On October 5, 2006 New York University Executive Vice President Michael C. Alfano presented a charge for the NYU community to become more “green.” This challenge has resulted in the creation of the NYU Sustainability Task Force and subsequently the Green Action Plan.
The mission of the Sustainability Task Force is:
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of NYU’s environmental sustainability efforts
Recommend a prioritized plan – Green Action Plan – to improve NYU’s environmental footprint and save energy
Engage faculty, students and administrators in securing the successful implementation of the plan
And develop a method to award funds for research and demonstration programs in environmental sustainability.
Sustainability Task Force:
Julio Alvarez | Student; Gallatin ’09: Business Management And Sustainable Development
Efrain Azmitia* | Professor of Biology and Psychiatry | Faculty Senators Council
Meenakshi Baker | Director, Facilities Technology And Support Services, FCM; Student, SCPS ’07
Vicki Been | Elihu Root Professor Of Law | Director, Furman Center For Real Estate And Urban Policy, School Of Law
Morgan Bottner | Student; Law ’08
John Bradley* | Assistant Vice President For Energy, Engineering And Technical Services
Adam Brock | Student; Gallatin ’08: Designing Sustainable Communities
Marc Brodeur | Student; CAS 2007: Economics & Mathematics
Lynne P. Brown* | Senior Vice President For University Relations And Public Affairs
Michael D. Davis | Student; Wagner ’07: Urban Planning
Daniel Dempsey* | Alumnus; CAS ’06: Economics And Politics
Annie Dwight | Student; Law ’08
Suzanne England* | Dean, School Of Social Work | Deans Council
Ken Fauerbach* | Executive Director, IT Planning & Compliance Services, ITS | Administrative Management Council
Angela Hacker* | Student; Wagner ’07: Public And Nonprofit Management And Policy
Nelson Harvey* | Student; Gallatin ’09: Renewable Energy Studies
Marty Hoffert | Professor Emeritus, Physics
Pierre Hohenberg* | Senior Vice Provost For Research
Shira Honig | Student; Wagner ’08: Public And Nonprofit Management
Alicia D. Hurley* | Associate Vice President For Government And Community Affairs
Tom Igoe | Assistant Arts Professor, Interactive Telecommunications Program, TSOA
Dale Jamieson* | Professor Of Environmental Studies & Philosophy, Steinhardt
Natalie Jeremijenko | Faculty
Zvi Kedem | Professor Of Computer Science, Courant Institute For Mathematical Sciences | Faculty Senators Council
Patricia Kiernan | Recycling Aide, FCM Recycling Shop
Alison Leary* | Vice President For Facilities & Construction Management
Lori Pavese Mazor* | Assistant Vice President For Campus Planning | Office Of Strategic Assessment, Planning & Design
Owen Moore | Director Of Dining Services
Beth Morningstar | Special Advisor, Office Of The President
Mansi Patel | Student; CAS ’07 | Student Senators Council
George Reis | Gardener, NYU Garden Shop, FCM
Lindsay Robbins* | Student; Wagner ’07: Urban Planning
Oren Ross* | Student; TSOA ’07: Interactive Telecommunications Program | Student Senators Council
David Rozan* | Student; Wagner ’07: Urban Planning
Cecil Scheib* | Director of Energy and Sustainability, FCM
Jennie Tichenor* | Administrator, Anthropology Department | Administrative Management Council
Russell Unger | Alumnus, Law ’01
Tyler Volk | Associate Professor Of Biology
Marc Wais* | Vice President For Student Affairs
Peter Woods | Facilities Manager, FAS-Main Block, FCM
Bailey Jennifer Woolfstead* | Student; Gallatin ’07: Terrorism And National Security | Student Senators Council
Alan Yood | Associate Vice President For Operational Risk Management
Lillian Zalta | Assistant Dean For Operations And Administrative Services, School Of Law
Rae Zimmerman | Professor Of Planning And Public Administration, Wagner School
Daniel Zwanziger | Professor Of Physics | Faculty Senators Council
* Denotes Steering Committee Member
Administrative Support
Jeremy Friedman | Project Administrator, Sustainability Task Force; Gallatin ’06: Environmental Values And Public Policy
Regina Syquia | Manager of Special Projects, University Relations and Public Affairs
Subcommittees and Co-Chairs
Academic Initiatives
Co-Chairs: Dale Jamieson and Oren Ross
Environmental Studies Major – Fall 2007
Identify faculty research and projects across schools
Plan conferences/exhibitions
Ways to create greening “forums” of faculty and students
Outreach and Engagement
Co-Chairs: Marc Wais and Bailey Woolfstead
Ideas to enlist and engage NYU community
“Marketing” campaign: raise visibility on campus
Propose and plan campus activities (student residences; student clubs; events and competitions)
Liaison with NYC initiatives
Liaison with environmental groups
Green Efforts in Campus Planning
Co-Chairs: Lori Mazor and Angela Hacker
Green buildings and green roofs
Use of materials
Landscaping
Energy Systems
Co-Chairs: John Bradley and David Rozan
Cogeneration plant
Energy savings ideas
Research into alternative sources
Conservation and Recycling
Co-Chairs: Jennie Tichenor and Nelson Harvey
Operation of buildings, transportation systems (NYU buses; bicycles)
Food and Fair Trade policies
Recycling, purchasing, water use
Sustainability Fund
Co-Chairs: Pierre Hohenberg and Efrain Azmitia
Propose structure and process for grants
Scope and criteria / Process of awards / Timetable
Identify “best practices” at other universities
Data, Communications and Technology
Co-Chairs: Ken Fauerbach and Lindsay Robbins
Develop effective ways to gather, store, manage, update and share environmental data
Serve as a resource for other committees’ data needs
Utilize the internet, data visualization and other technologies to communicate data
Updated June 6, 2007
nyu.edu/about/green.html
NYU’s purchase of wind-generated energy in October 2006 was the
largest by any institution in New York City or by any American
university. Combined with NYU’s co-generation power plant
(which itself will be replaced with a cleaner, larger and more
efficient version next year), the wind purchase dramatically reduces
the university’s contribution to air pollution and global warming.
Yesterday NYU announced that it is joining Mayor Michael
Bloomberg’s “PlaNYC Challenge,” committing to reducing our
greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent over the next 10 years.
The recommendations in this report move NYU beyond these initial,
significant steps and call for a comprehensive set of broad actions
- such as implementing energy efficiency and conservation measures,
expanding recycling efforts, creating purchasing policies for green
products, and implementing sustainable design guidelines for
building renovations and construction.
NYU is uniquely poised to confront one of the most compelling
challenges of our time by becoming a leader in urban environmental
sustainability. Doing so will require creativity and commitment,
and the report calls upon all members of the NYU community to do
their part by conserving energy and water, reducing waste, and
infusing ideas of sustainability into every aspect of campus life.
We would like to thank the many students, faculty members, staff,
administrators, and alumni who have contributed to the ideas and
research in this report. If you have comments, questions or would
like to be kept up to date on future news and greening efforts,
please e-mail us at green.action.plan at nyu.edu.