One of Stevens’ points of pride is its efforts to make campus more sustainable. The Princeton Review ranked Stevens on their list of “Green Colleges” and the school received a gold rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, & Rating System. To continue improving sustainability, Stevens is constantly working on new initiatives.
Cogeneration
A number of Stevens buildings use cogeneration units which utilize natural gas to make both electricity and hot water. The process uses less fuel for greater output.
On-site renewable generation
Stevens has rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays installed on Schaefer Athletic Center, Samuel C. Williams library, and Jonas Hall, as well as ground-mounted panels in the 8th Street parking lot and behind Davidson Lab.
Reducing single use plastics
Stevens has installed 23 water bottle refill stations around campus to allow students to use refillable bottles and reduce single use plastic bottles. The school also complies with the New Jersey state-wide ban on single use plastic bags.
Water conservation
Stevens employs various water saving tactics, including a new recirculating chiller in Burchard which has the potential to save 1.3 million gallons of water a year when compared with the previous system in the building. Additionally, all new toilets and sinks installed meet EPA Waterwise standards.
Food
Stevens Dining makes efforts to feed students more sustainably by purchasing locally grown products (reducing emissions used to transport ingredients), repurposing food scraps to reduce food waste, and providing vegan and vegetarian options. Vegetarian and vegan options are both good for students with dietary restrictions and better for the environment since plant products use less land and water than animal products. The school also sends over 5,294 pounds of used cooking oil a year to a facility to be processed into biodiesel.
Purchasing standards
The Division of Campus Facilities & Operations oversees purchasing of furniture and finishes for all of campus. To support sustainability goals, the division of Campus Facilities & Operations has established purchasing standards that include electronics that are EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Tool) certified, buying products from companies located within 250 miles of campus, purchasing office paper that is Forest Stewardship Council certified, buying Green Seal certified cleaning products, and switching to tree-free bathroom paper products.
Green bond
Green bonds are a way to raise money for climate and environmental projects. In the spring of 2020, Stevens issued the New Jersey Education Facilities Authority’s first ever green bond to fund the construction of the UCC which is LEED Silver certified.
Transportation
The school has a Citibike port installed on campus in front of the River Terrace Suites, allowing students the option to ride bikes to school without needing to purchase a bike. Additionally, Stevens has a number of charging ports for electric vehicles.
