New York University has received a 2007 Green Power Leadership award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The annual awards recognize leading national green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nations green power market. NYU was recognized for purchasing more than 118 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. In 2007, NYU was the largest academic purchaser of green power. NYUs purchase helps to reduce the environmental impacts associated with the campuses purchased electricity use.
EPA will present the Green Power Purchase Award to Cecil Scheib, NYUs director of Energy and Sustainability for the Division of Facilities and Construction Management, at an awards event, Monday evening, Oct. 22, in conjunction with the 12th National Renewable Marketing Conference taking place in Philadelphia, PA.
We are honored to receive this prestigious award from EPA in recognition of our commitment to sustainability and the environment, said Scheib. We are proud of the work that we have been able to do thus far and look forward to continuing to green NYU.
EPA presented awards for green power purchasing to 17 organizations that have demonstrated leadership by voluntarily purchasing green power. EPA is recognizing green power purchasers in three categories: Green Power Partner of the Year, On-site Generation and Green Power Purchasing. All 17 organizations are EPA Green Power Partners. EPAs Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to purchase green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with electricity use. Additional information about the Green Power Leadership Awards is available at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm.
Today the U.S. EPA updated each of its top partner lists, highlighting the largest purchasers in the Green Power Partnership. NYU is also currently ranked No. 1 on EPAs National Top 10 College and University List and No. 18 on its National Top 25 List. The list highlights EPA Green Power Partners that have completed the largest annual voluntary green power purchases through Oct. 1, 2007. EPA updates its Top Partner lists quarterly, which are available at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/partners/index.htm.
America is shifting to a green culture, with more and more businesses understanding that environmental responsibility is everyones responsibility, said Marcus Peacock, EPAs Deputy Administrator. EPA commends the Green Power Leadership Award winners for making a long-term commitment to protecting the environment by purchasing green power.
Green power is defined as electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro. These resources generate electricity with zero anthropogenic (caused by humans) carbon dioxide emissions and offer a superior environmental profile to conventional power generation. In addition, buying green power helps support the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.
This is the second time NYU has been recognized by the EPA. In April 2007, NYU was recognized by EPA as the 2006-2007 Individual Conference Champion. At that time NYU was the 13th largest purchaser of green energy nationally.
Additionally, NYU was one of the first 100 universities to sign up for the Presidents Climate Challenge and, in June 2007, signed on as one of Mayor Michael R. Bloombergs PlaNYC Challenge Partner, agreeing to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% within the next 10 years.