Skip to Navigation | Skip to Content

Progress on Recommendations

In June 2007, the Sustainability Task Force released its first Annual Report which included more than 30 specific, effective policy and project recommendations for the university administration. In September, Executive Vice President Michael Alfano set out five major priorities in a Memo to the NYU community, incorporating many of the subcommittees' recommendations.

In July 2008, The Task Force released its second Annual Report. The report contains a new set of recommendations to further advance NYU along the path toward sustainability.

We are continuing to work with every area of the university to implement the Sustainability Task Force's recommendations. Here you can follow our progress.

(2006-07 recommendations included below; 2007-08 recommendations coming soon)


Completed / Successful and Ongoing

  1. Held the Educating for Sustainability Lecture Series: Series complete, with four successful public lectures and faculty research seminars. Presenters also met with Task Force members in internal discussion sessions to help shape priorities and recommendations. Continuation of the highly successful series is planned.
  2. Reathorized the Wind Power Purchase for 2007-08 Year: We renewed our commitment to green energy. Our Fiscal Year 2008 Renewable Energy Credit (REC) purchase totals 132,000,000 MWh and will offset 100% of our expected consumption of purchased electricity.
  3. Expanded Scope and Funding of NYU Landscaping:The department now reports to the Director of Energy and Sustainability. A recent project included native/ non-invasive shrubs in beds near the Washington Square Village lobbies. Landscaping arranged for treatment of campus trees using specially formulated compost, eliminating the need for toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
  4. Launched a Sustainability Advocate Program::The Sustainability Advocate Program launched in the fall of 2007 with great success. More than 75 Sustainability Advocates have received training and resources, and are now leading efforts in their individual departments and work spaces. For a map of Advocate locations on campus, click here. The program will grow in the coming year.
  5. Began Tracking Water Consumption in all Buildings: NYU is now tracking water consumption along with billing records; we've received digital records from the Department of Environmental Protection with assistance from Operational Risk Management staff. Data will be included in our fall Environmental Assessment Report.
  6. Led a Residence Hall Conservation Contest: NYUnplugged, a residence hall energy conservation competition, was held throughout April 2008 with most Washington Square-area residence halls participating. The project was led by a student team and sponsored through a 2007-08 Green Grant. Greenwich Hall won the competition with a 24% reduction in energy consumption against a four-year average. Students received a “party in the dark” at the end of the semester.
  7. Created a Comprehensive NYU Sustainability Website : This website launched in January 2008. This NYU community resource continues to expand, and is maintained by the Sustainability office.
  8. Increased Local and Organic Food Options in Residence Halls:Dining Services launched the Hayden "green" dining hall, featuring significant increases in local and organic food, reduced packaging and waste, and other upgrades. Since the program has been well-received by students, Dining Services is exploring additional locations for the coming year.
  9. Conducted a Characterization Study of NYU’s Waste Stream:Recycling Services has completed a study, and will be sharing the results as part of the fall Environmental Assessment Report. The study will help to direct future programs and expansion of recycling coverage on campus.
  10. Implemented a Composting Pilot Project: The Recycling and Dining Departments are moving beyond pilot projects, launching a full initiative to compost food and other biodegradable waste from all NYU dining halls. They are collaborating with a student Green Grant project to partner with the Law School's D'Agostino Hall and Residential Education's "Green House" community to pilot residence hall composting initiatives.

Implementation in Progress

  1. Develop Local and Organic Food Options for Catering: Aramark is now offering an organic catering option. The Food and Purchasing Subcommittee has developed a full suite of recommendations to support and expand organic catering options on campus, including criteria for sustainable catering.
  2. Review and Assess Rooftop Space, Resources, Access: The Office of Strategic Assessment, Planning and Design is assessing rooftop resources through the NYU Plans 2031 initiative. The Sustainability Task Force is engaged in active discussion of issues surrounding NYU roof access, with the aim of clarifying university policies and supporting environmental performance and research, while ensuring the safety of the campus community.
  3. Develop a Wind and Solar Electricity Microgeneration Project: Several faculty-led renewable research and generation projects are underway, including those sponsored through the Green Grants. The Task Force intends to investigate large-scale generation opportunities for the campus during the 2008-09 year.
  4. Require Recycled Paper Purchasing for all NYU Departments: With the strong endorsement of the university leadership (and previously, the University Senate), 30% post-consumer recycled paper is the accepted minimum standard for the administration. With help from the Task Force, NYU’s schools are developing similar standards. However, given limited enforcement mechanisms, compliance with this standard is not consistent, and additional strategies to increase recycled paper use are under discussion.
  5. Develop a Guide to Green Living for NYU Students: The guide is still in progress, as part of a 2007-08 Green Grant project. Content will be featured in future Housing move-in materials.
  6. Conduct Efficiency Review of Bus Fleet: Part of overall Environmental Assessment effort this year; Assessment Report will be released in September 2008.
  7. Track Mileage and Fuel Purchases for all Campus Vehicles: Part of overall Environmental Assessment effort this year; Assessment Report will be released in September 2008.
  8. Implement a Printing Standard for All University Publications: In 2008-09 the Task Force will evaluate external university vendors (including 100+ printers) for a range of services, to better understand current departmental practices in this area. Printing standards will be included in the environmental purchasing policy this year.

Implementation Not Currently Underway

  1. Explore Partnership of Dining Services and the Washington Square CSA (Community Supported Agriculture): The Task Force plans to explore this and a possible partnership with the NYC Greenmarkets next year.
  2. Implement an Alternative Fuel Vehicle Pilot Project: Planned Task Force Green Grant project encountered issues related to selecting a suitable vehicle for replacement and ensuring reliability after the biodiesel retrofit.
  3. Expand Storage Space for Asset Management: The Recycling Subcommittee will revisit this issue in the 2008-09 year. Asset Management department had a temporary large campus space for redistributing used office goods, but this is no longer available. Thousands of dollars of usable equipment are still discarded annually.
  4. Establish an Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund: No EERF is currently underway. Given major investments in wind power and the current Sustainability Fund, the administration is not prepared to establish an EERF. However, there is strong willingness and support for specific targeted energy performance projects and/or the creative allocation of project cost savings to show future potential for an EERF.