NYU Recognized as Individual Conference Winner for EPA’s 2006-2007 College and University Green Power Challenge
New York University which purchases more green power than any other college or university in the U.S. and more than any other institution in New York City was today recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the 2006-2007 Individual Conference Champion. NYU was the 13th largest purchaser of “green energy” nationally. NYU bested its conference rivals by purchasing more than 118 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, representing 100 percent of the school’s annual purchased electricity use. NYU’s purchase helps to reduce the environmental impacts associated with the campuses’ purchased electricity use.
The EPA estimates that NYU’s purchase of more than 118 million kilowatt-hours of green power is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 9,700 average American homes each year. This purchase will have the impact of reducing the equivalent amount of CO2 emissions from more than 16,200 passenger cars annually.
The EPA has been tracking green power purchasing among collegiate athletic conferences through its College & University Green Power Challenge, which concluded today with 33 schools and 16 conferences participating nationwide. New York University ranks No. 1 on EPA’s Top 10 College & University list of green power purchasers and No. 13 on EPA’s National Top 25 Green Power Purchaser list among all purchasers of “green power.”
The purchase of wind energy is part of a campus-wide sustainability effort begun last fall at NYU called the Green Action Plan (GAP). Other key aspects of the plan include the construction of a cleaner, more efficient co-generation facility which will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants; a fund of up to $250,000 to support sustainability projects on campus; and the hiring of new staff to support the sustainability effort
NYU was recognized during a ceremony at the Second Annual Campus Sustainability Conference in College Park, Maryland. EPA presented two categories of awards for its 2006-2007 College & University Green Power Challenge: individual conference champions - recognizing the school that has made the largest individual purchase of green power within a qualifying conference - and collective conference champions - To recognize the conference, and its respective participating schools, whose collective green power purchase was the largest among all participating conferences.
“EPA applauds New York University’s purchase of green power and for its leadership among the University Athletic Association,” said Bill Wehrum, EPA’s acting assistant administrator for Air and Radiation. “Colleges and universities around the nation are setting great examples by taking steps to protect the environment. New York University’s commitment demonstrates that what’s good for the environment is also good for higher education.”
“I accept this recognition on behalf of our faculty, staff and students who have put sustainabilty at the forefront of our agenda, “said Lynne Brown, NYU’s Senior Vice President for University Relations and Public Affairs and Chair of NYU’s Sustainability Task Force. “This is a call to action for us - we’ve made great strides but there is much work to be done.”
“We are incredibly proud of the work we have undertaken and are honored to be recognized by the EPA for our efforts to reduce our environmental impact,” said Jeremy Friedman, Project Administrator for NYU’s Sustainability Task Force. “As the world faces the global environmental crisis, it is incumbent upon universities and other large institutions to emerge as leaders. We are committed to continuing to move forward and hope to become the model for an environmentally conscious institution.”
Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. Green power is considered cleaner than conventional sources of electricity and has lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a greenhouse gas linked to global climate change. Purchases of green power help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.
For more information about EPA’s College and University Green Power Challenge, visit the Challenge Web site at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/partners/hiedchallenge.htm.