Resources

Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS)

STARS is a voluntary, self-reporting framework for gauging relative progress toward sustainability for colleges and universities. The development of STARS is guided by a Steering Committee, Strategic Advisors, and Technical Advisors.
STARS is designed to:

• Provide a guide for advancing sustainability in all sectors of higher education.
• Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions by establishing a common standard of measurement for sustainability in higher education.
• Create incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability.
• Facilitate information sharing about higher education sustainability practices and performance.
• Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community.

stars.aashe.org STARS Assessment Manual

EPA Sustainability Handbook (This may no longer be on the web)

EPA Region 2 Sustainability Handbook is now available. The Handbook has been drafted as a tool for municipalities to learn more about various aspects of sustainability.
It is available electronically: www.epa.gov

The Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments

The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) is a high-visibility effort to address global climate disruption undertaken by a network of colleges and universities that have made institutional commitments to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from specified campus operations, and to promote the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. Its mission is to accelerate progress towards climate neutrality and sustainability by empowering the higher education sector to educate students, create solutions, and provide leadership-by-example for the rest of society.
For more information visit: https://secondnature.org/

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a cooperative effort by ten Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to limit greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI is the first mandatory, market-based CO2 emissions reduction program in the United States.

• For more information visit: www.rggi.org

Clean Air – Cool Planet Carbon Calculator

The Campus Carbon Calculator is the leading tool for assessing campus greenhouse gas emissions. Currently in use at more than 1200 campuses across the country, the Calculator has already helped schools of all sizes and types, and in all regions to tackle global warming. Learn More

The Climate Registry

The Climate Registry is a nonprofit organization that provides meaningful information to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Registry establishes consistent, transparent standards throughout North America for businesses and governments to calculate, verify and publicly report their carbon footprints in a single, unified registry.

The Registry is committed to:

• Utilizing best practices in greenhouse gas emissions reporting
• Establishing a common data infrastructure for voluntary and mandatory reporting and emissions reduction programs
• Minimizing the burden on Members, Directors and Native Sovereign Nations
• Providing an opportunity for Members to establish an emissions baseline and document early action
• Developing a recognized platform for credible and consistent greenhouse gas emissions reporting
• Promoting full and public disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions while respecting business confidentiality

www.theclimateregistry.org

Energy Reports and Action Plans

Five Energy Reports and Action Plans are now available online! NJHEPS received grant money from the BPU to develop 15 Energy Reports and Action Plans last year and 10 more this year. A few institutions have presented their Energy Reports at NJHEPS Energy Workshops. Others have utilized the Energy Reports as internal tools or presented them to their institution’s President showing what opportunities are available to save their campus money, along with reducing their emissions. Available for viewing:

• Bergen Community College
• Princeton University
• Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
• The College of New Jersey
• The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Please contact Gary Minkoff, Executive Director if you are interested in NJHEPS doing an Energy Report and Action Plan for your institution.

Campus Energy Toolkit Available!

NJHEPS is happy to announce the publication of the Campus Energy Toolkit . This volume is designed to be a practical resource for facilities managers, with information on energy efficiency technologies, renewable options, administrative and policy suggestions, financing information, and resources for further exploration. It was prepared by NJHEPS staff with the NJHEPS Energy Technical Team’s input and review, and is offered through the support of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.The document is available as a free Acrobat (PDF) download .

• Short Takes : brief capsules of projects at Princeton University, Middlesex County College, Rutgers University, Rowan University, and The College of New Jersey
• Richard Stockton College : Faculty and Staff United for Energy Progress
• The College of New Jersey : Metering and Management for Energy Savings

Contact Gary Minkoff, Executive Director ( gminkoff@njheps.org ; 973.642.7848) to order a printed copy for $10

Support for Making Green Technology Choices

Did you know that your desktop computer, if left on 24/7, may consume $110 of electricity and produce 1600 lbs of CO₂ per year? Save money and reduce emissions with green computer use practices! Please download this one-page flyer (Adobe Acrobat PDF) you can share with your IT department or college computer/printing facility. The flyer offers strategies for both departments and individuals to follow to reduce paper use and use less computing energy. Harvard’s Green Campus Initiative also offers online information about its Computer Energy Reduction Program at www.greencampus.harvard.edu/CERP/

Environmental Protection Agency Carbon Calculators and Green Power Community

EPA’s Clean Energy Programs are working with state policy makers, electric and gas utilities, energy customers, and other key stakeholders to identify, design and implement clean energy policy and technology solutions. These programs provide useful, objective information and technical assistance for available clean energy technologies. Stakeholders can find relevant policy information and receive valuable recognition for meeting specific requirements under each program area.

EPA Green Power Community www.epa.gov/grnpower/communities/index.htm

EPA Greenhouse Gas Calculator http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-resources/index.html