<< Back to Report Card
With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.
Name: Jeremy Friedman
Title: Coordinator, NYU Sustainability Task Force
Date survey submitted: 7-27-09
ADMINISTRATION
SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES
1) Does your school have its own formal sustainability policy?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
As a private university in the public service, NYU has identified and recognizes a responsibility to embed environmental values throughout its administrative operations and academic mission. It demonstrates its commitment to fulfilling this responsibility by institutionalizing sustainability at every level of practice and policy through capacity-building programs such as the Sustainability Task Force, the Sustainability Advocate Program, and the annual Green Grants competition.
For more on our mission and vision for sustainability at NYU, please see http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability/about.sustainability/.
2) Has the president of your institution signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. If completed, please provide the date the GHG Report was submitted to the ACUPCC:: 10/3/2008 NYU is a Charter Signatory and a Leadership Circle member of the ACUPCC,
3) Has your institution signed the Talloires Declaration?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes
4) Is there a sustainability component in your institution's master plan and/or strategic plan (check all that apply)?
[ ] No
[x] Yes, in the master plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
[x] Yes, in the strategic plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
Both strategic and master planning for sustainability will be included in the final public document resulting from NYU Plans 2031. Plans 2031 is the output of a 4-year campuswide initiative which has combined strategic assessment, planning and design for the next two decades of NYU’s development and growth. The final public document will include detailed sustainability planning considerations and components, and is expected to be completed in the coming year.
Please see http://www.nyu.edu/nyu.plans.2031/ for more information about the process.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
5) Does your school have a council or committee that advises on and/or implements policies and programs related to sustainability?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes
The Sustainability Task Force is a university-wide body of approximately 60 student, faculty, and staff volunteers which recommends and implements a comprehensive annual slate of new programs and policies to reduce NYU’s environmental impacts and foster a campus culture of sustainability. More than one hundred Task Force recommendations have been accepted by university leadership.
The Task Force is divided into several Working Groups: Energy and Water, Food and Purchasing, Recycling and Transportation, Green Building and Campus Planning, Outreach and Engagement, and Environmental Assessment. Each group is co-chaired by both a student and a faculty or staff member.
If you answered "No" to question 5, please proceed directly to question 11.
6) Please provide the name of the committee and list the number of meetings held since August 2008.
Name: The Sustainability Task Force
Number of meetings:
The Task Force as a whole meets approximately six times per year.
In addition, the Task Force Steering Committee meets 2-3 times per year, and each of its eight topic- or project-based Working Groups meets 10-20 times annually.
7) Please provide number of stakeholder representatives on the committee.
[ 30] Administrators
[15] Faculty
[n/a ] Staff (We don’t distinguish between administrators and staff, but include everyone from administrative and clerical support personnel, through executive vice presidents, leadership, and management, in the Task Force).
[15] Students
[12] Other. Please describe: Community members (neighbors, representatives of partner organizations in New York City, etc.) and alumni
In addition to the 60 full Task Force members, an additional 75 volunteers are members of individual working groups. These students, faculty, staff, and community members do not attend full Task Force meetings, but are valuable contributors to the subgroups.
8) Please provide the name of the chair(s) of the committee for the 2009-2010 academic year, and indicate which stakeholder group the chair(s) represents.
If 2009-2010 academic year information is not yet available, please provide information for 2008-2009 instead.
Name of chair(s): Lynne P. Brown, Alison Leary
Position(s) (e.g., administrator, faculty, staff, student): Senior Vice President for University Relations and Public Affairs, Senior Vice President for Operations
9) To whom does the committee report (e.g., president, vice president)?
The Task Force reports directly to NYU Executive Vice President Michael Alfano, and by extension to President John Sexton.
10) Please list key issues/programs that the committee has addressed or implemented since August 2008.
Key issues/programs that the group has addressed/implemented since August 2008:
Energy and Water:
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions – NYU is a signatory of the ACUPCC, and has pledged to reduce its GHG emissions by 30% by 2017 as part of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC Challenge.
- Water use efficiency
Food and Purchasing:
- Environmental impact of NYU’s food system
- Harnessing NYU’s purchasing power to shape industry practices and create change in the larger community.
Recycling and Transportation:
- Taking the opportunity that our dense urban setting gives us to have an extremely minimal transportation footprint; bicycle planning and infrastructure improvements; efficiency upgrades for NYU buses
- Diversion of as much waste as possible from landfill
Green Building and Campus Planning:
- Adoption of campuswide LEED green building standard; evaluation of design guidelines and 2031 master and strategic planning initiative; development and review of plans for new NYU-Abu Dhabi campus in the United Arab Emirates.
Outreach and Engagement:
- Promotion of environmental literacy and sustainability practices among all members of the NYU community
- Importance of engaging all community members as contributors to the sustainability movement at NYU and empowering them to take leadership roles
Environmental Assessment:
- Evaluation of quantitative impacts of sustainability programs and projects at NYU
Progress made on each of these issues since August 2008:
Energy and Water
- Drafted a comprehensive Climate Action Plan to meet our ACUPCC and Mayoral Challenge commitments, and become carbon neutral in the decade of 2040-2050.
- Created a framework for considering water issues at NYU
- Submitted a Request for Expressions of Interest to area businesses for the installation of a renewable energy project at NYU
Food and Purchasing
- Worked with Dining Services to take water bottles out of the meal plan
- Worked with Purchasing Services and the Sustainability Office to draft an Environmental Purchasing Policy for a wide variety of goods and services, from catering to janitorial supplies
- Created a user-friendly, publicly-available Environmental Purchasing Guide to accompany the Policy, available online at http://nyu.edu/sustainability/purchasingguide
Recycling and Transportation
- Created an Alternative Transportation Plan Proposal for NYU that would improve bicycle access and infrastructure with the goal of increasing ridership, and also increase the efficiency of NYU’s bus fleet and bus route planning.
Green Building and Campus Planning
- Successfully advocated for a University mandate for at minimum LEED Silver certification for new construction and substantial renovation.
- Worked closely with the planning committee for NYU Abu Dhabi to ensure that sustainability is integrated into campus plans and operations from the beginning
Outreach and Engagement
- Began to develop a communication plan for sustainability at NYU, identifying target audiences and defining the message we want to send.
Environmental Assessment
- Completed the first comprehensive Environmental Assessment of the University, available online at http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability/assessment/.
SUSTAINABILITY STAFF
11) Does your school employ sustainability staff (excluding student employees and interns)?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please provide titles and number of sustainability staff.
[9 ] Number of full-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [Sustainability Task Force Coordinator, Director of Energy and Sustainability, Manager of Sustainable Resources, Recycling Coordinator, plus four full-time Recycling staff, Sustainable Landscaping Supervisor]
[2 ] Number of part-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [4 Student Project Assistants, half-time each ]
12) Does the head of the sustainability staff report directly to the president or another high-level administrator (e.g., vice president, vice chancellor)?
[ ] N/A
[ ] No
[X] Yes. Please describe: The Sustainability Task Force Coordinator reports directly to the Senior Vice President for University Relations and Public Affairs, who reports directly in turn to the President.
OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT
13) Does your school have an office or department specifically dedicated to furthering sustainability on campus?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please describe (including name of office or department and year created): NYU Office of Sustainability
WEBSITE
14) Does your school have a website detailing its sustainability initiatives?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please provide URL: http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability/
GREEN PURCHASING
15) Does your school have a formal green purchasing policy?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to full policy, if available:
NYU has drafted a comprehensive Environmental Purchasing Policy, which is undergoing review by the University leadership. Additionally, the Sustainability Task Force has created an accompanying Environmental Purchasing Guide, which is available online at http://nyu.edu/sustainability/purchasingguide.
16) Does your school purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products?
[ ] No
[ x ] Some. Please describe: Computers, refrigerators, cooling, lighting, office equipment.
[x] All known items, where enforceable and where ENERGY STAR standard exists, is available, and meets other operational performance needs. Environmental Purchasing Policy codifies this long-standing practice.
17) Does your school purchase environmentally preferable paper products (e.g., 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council)?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ x] All. Please describe: There is a University-mandated 30% minimum for recycled content of all paper purchased by departments and offices. Many, including the Copy Central print shop, use 100% PC recycled content paper routinely.
18) Does your school purchase Green Seal, Environmental Choice certified, or biorenewable cleaning products?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[x ] All. Please describe: Our cleaning contract must meet Green Seal GS-42 standard.
19) Are your school's computer/electronics purchase decisions made in accordance with standards such as the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)?
[X] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ ] All
20) Does your school use only pesticides that meet the standards for organic crop production set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or Canadian Organic Standards (excluding on-campus farms)?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ x ] All The NYU Garden Shop provides 100% organic grounds care.
CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY
21) Has your school completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory?
Please check all that apply.
[ ] No.
[ ] In progress. Please describe status and provide estimated completion date:
[ x ] Yes. Please provide total annual GHG emissions (in metric tons of CO2e). Also, include the start date for each year as well as the URL to each inventory, if available online, or attach the document.
2008: Data not yet fully available.
2007: 174,582
2006: 176441 MT CO2e
Start date: 9/1/06, URL: http://acupcc.aashe.org/ghg-report.php?id=457
2005:
COMMITMENT TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION
The purchase of carbon offsets does not count toward greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions for this indicator. They are counted in a subsequent indicator.
22) Has your school made a commitment to reducing GHG emissions by a specific amount?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please list details.
Reduction level: 30% , 100%
Baseline year: 2006
Target date: 2017 , 2040
If you answered only "No" or "In progress" to question 21, please now skip to question 27.
REALIZED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
23) Has your school achieved a reduction in GHG emissions?
[ ] No
[X] Yes. Please list details.
Percentage reduced: 4%, or 7,300 tons between FY2006 and FY2007. Additionally, in FY08, NYU reduced electricity use by approximately 4% (5 million kilowatt-hours). Substantial reductions are expected based on significant additional electricity and commodity fuel reductions in 2008.
Baseline year: 2006
Date achieved: 2007
24) Please provide the total heating and cooling degree days averaged over the past three years.
Data on total degree heating and cooling days is available at: http://www.degreedays.net/. This information will be used to help reduce bias between schools in different climates.
Cooling degree days average over the past three years:
Fahrenheit-based 3-year-average (2006 to 2008) cooling degree days for a base temperature of 65F
Source: www.degreedays.net (using temperature data from www.wunderground.com)
Accuracy: No problems detected
Station: Airport: Central Park, New York, US (73.98W,40.77N)
Station ID: KNYC
CDD
Jan 1
Feb 0
Mar 3
Apr 30
May 96
Jun 244
Jul 385
Aug 315
Sep 157
Oct 49
Nov 2
Dec 1
Total 1283
Heating degree days average over the past three years:
Fahrenheit-based 3-year-average (2006 to 2008) heating degree days for a base temperature of 65F
Source: www.degreedays.net (using temperature data from www.wunderground.com)
Accuracy: No problems detected
Station: Airport: Central Park, NY, US (73.98W,40.77N)
Station ID: KNYC
HDD
Jan 820
Feb 893
Mar 690
Apr 363
May 159
Jun 25
Jul 3
Aug 12
Sep 46
Oct 250
Nov 512
Dec 782
Total 4555
25) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-thousand-square-foot basis for the past three years.
Per-Thousand-Square-Foot Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total maintained building space in thousands of square feet.
2008: Data not yet available
2007: 13.7
2006: 14.4
26) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-full-time-student basis for the past three years.
Per-Student Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total number of full-time enrolled students.
2008: Data not yet available
2007: 5.48
2006: 5.1
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
27) What programs or technologies has your school implemented to improve energy efficiency (e.g., cogeneration plant, retrocommissioning of HVAC systems, performing system tune-ups, temperature setbacks)?
New York University is replacing and expanding its current Cogeneration Plant. Next year, the new $120 million plant will immediately reduce campus-wide carbon emissions by more than 15%. The university installed 2,500 occupancy sensor lighting controls in offices, meeting rooms, and classrooms and has verified schedules and correct operation of Building Management Systems. NYU has upgraded lighting systems in over ten buildings as past of a campus-wide, rolling lighting retrofit program. NYU has replaced over 25,000 incandescent lightbulbs with low-mercury, high efficiency compact fluorescent lightbulbs in residence halls and gives incoming students CFLs each year for use in desk or bed lamps. In addition, NYU is reconfiguring summer equipment schedules to save energy during the cooling season, and is beginning a large-scale recommissioning project. NYU is also adding natural gas fired water heaters to supply domestic hot water in summer, obviating the use of inefficient fuel oil space heating boilers in summer.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
28) Do you facilitate programs that encourage members of the campus community to reduce energy use (e.g., cash incentives, signs reminding individuals to turn off lights and appliances)?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please describe:
NYU holds an annual competition among residence halls called "NYUnplugged" as well as the "Lights Off" campaign to turn off unused lighting and other loads, especially before weekends or breaks. NYUnplugged provides the winning dorm with a trophy and a "party in the dark." Annual 5%+ savings have been realized since the program’s inception.
RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
29) Does your school generate renewable electricity?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please specify percentage of overall electricity generated from each of the following sources and describe details below.
[ %] B100 biodiesel
[ %] Clean biomass
[ %] Concentrating solar power (CSP)
[ %] Geothermal
[ %] Low-impact hydropower
[ %] Solar photovoltaics
[ %] Wind
[ %] Other
Description:
In May 2009, NYU planned and executed a Request for Expressions of Interest from dozens of solar and renewable energy installers, to find interested vendors to plan a major rooftop renewable project for the coming year. The submissions are being evaluated during the summer.
30) Does your school have solar hot water systems?
[x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please specify number of systems and total BTUs generated annually, if available:
RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASE
31) Has your school purchased electric energy from renewable sources or renewable energy credits (RECs)?
RECs and electricity from renewable sources must be Green-e certified or meet the requirements of the Green-e standard.
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please describe.
NYU made the largest purchase of wind power of any university or college in 2006 and 2007. The university is currently considering reinvesting resources from annual no-return purchases of credits, and into on-campus or direct investment in renewables.
Date of most recent contract: 10/19/2007
Quantity (kWh): 136,000,000
Percentage of your total electric energy use that it represents: 100% of retail supply electric purchase.
32) Has your school purchased non-electric energy from renewable sources?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Date of most recent contract:
Quantity (BTUs):
Percentage of your total non-electric energy use that it represents:
ON-SITE COMBUSTION
33) Please provide total BTUs of energy for heating and cooling from on-site combustion:
91 667 967 710
34) Please list each fuel source (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil) and the percent of overall BTUs derived from that source:
Purchased Electricity: 23%
Purchased Steam: 4%
Type 2 Oil: 13%
Type 4 Oil: 1%
Type 6 Oil: 23%
Natural Gas: 36%
35) Is any on-site combustion for heating and cooling derived from renewable sources?
[X] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Percentage on-site combustion derived from renewable sources: [ %]
Total BTUs of energy generated from renewable sources: [# ]
Description of renewable energy sources used for on-site combustion for heating and cooling:
FOOD & RECYCLING
The food portion of this category is covered in a separate dining survey.
RECYCLING OF TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
36) Please indicate which traditional materials your institution recycles (check all that apply).
[ ] None
[ x ] Aluminum
[x ] Cardboard
[ x ] Glass
[ x ] Paper
[ x ] Plastics (all)
[ ] Plastics (some)
[x ] Other. Please list: Plastic bags, technoscrap (CDs, cords, computer scraps)
37) Diversion rate: [32%]
RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC WASTE
38) Does your institution have an electronics recycling program?
[ ] No
[x ] Yes. If available, please indicate the total annual weight or volume of each material collected for recycling or reuse.
[ x ] Batteries
[ x ] Cell phones
[ x ] Computers
[ x ] Lightbulbs
[ x ] Printer cartridges
[ x ] Other E-waste. Please list: CDs, keyboards, power supplies, etc. Weights not available
COMPOSTING (ASIDE FROM DINING FACILITIES)
39) What percentage of your campus's landscaping waste is composted or mulched?
[ 5%]
40) Do you provide composting receptacles around campus in locations other than dining halls (e.g., in residence halls, offices, academic buildings)?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please describe:
The Green Grant-funded Residence Hall Composting Pilot tested different types of composting systems in a number of NYU residence halls. A more detailed description can be found at http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability/campus.projects/green.grants.php?id=17&type=&area=&year=#hi .
SOURCE REDUCTION
41) Do you have any source-reduction initiatives (e.g., end-of-semester furniture or clothing swaps and collections)?
[ ] No
[x ] Yes. Please describe:
During NYU’s 2009 "Green Apple Move Out," students donated a record 73 tons of reusable items to Goodwill Industries, an exciting step up from last year's 8 tons. Diverting this much material from landfills represents a two percent reduction in NYU's waste stream for the year, and has saved the University approximately $10,000 in waste-hauling costs.
GREEN BUILDING
GREEN BUILDING POLICY
42) Does your school have a formal green building policy?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to the full policy, if available:
NYU will construct new buildings and renovate existing NYU buildings to at least LEED Silver Standards. There are at least four construction projects underway that will pursue LEED Silver or higher certification.
GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS
NYU has committed to meeting LEED-Silver or above standards for ALL new major construction and renovation projects, across our 12,000,000 square feet of building space in New York City.
43) Please indicate LEED-certified buildings.
[1] Total number of LEED-certified buildings.
[ sq ft] Certified-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Silver-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[32,000 sq ft] Gold-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
The Gallatin renovation project in 715-719 Broadway is LEED Gold certified. More information is available at nyu.edu/gallatin/leed.
[ sq ft] Platinum-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
44) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED certification criteria but are not certified.
[# ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED criteria
[ sq ft] Certified-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Silver-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Gold-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Platinum-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
45) Please indicate buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# ] Total number of ENERGY STAR buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
RENOVATIONS AND RETROFITS
46) Please indicate LEED-EB certified buildings.
[# ] Total number of LEED-EB certified buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
47) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED-EB certification criteria but are not certified.
[# ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED-EB criteria but are not certified. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
48) Please indicate renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# ] Total number of renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
49) What energy-efficiency technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., HVAC systems, motion sensors, ambient light sensors, T5 lighting, LED lighting, timers, laundry technology)?
For each technology, please indicate the number and type of fixtures installed, and the number of buildings in which those fixtures are installed. If possible, include either the percentage of the overall campus fixtures each type represents or the percentage of overall maintained building space that has been renovated with the technology (e.g., 20 buildings representing 10 percent of maintained building space have been retrofitted with motion sensors; thus, 10 percent of the total maintained building space in square feet would be the desired data).
HVAC systems – 60 buildings representing 80% of campus space are installed
Motion sensors – 70 buildings representing 85% of campus space are installed
T5 lighting – 10 buildings representing 5% of campus space are installed
LED lighting – NYU has about 10 test installations, but are not yet satisfied the technology is appropriate for widespread use – have also committed to one major experimental LED theatrical lighting installation in high-profile campus building
Laundry – all washing machines must be efficient side loading type when replaced
Vending Misers – all non-glass front beverage machines have this technology
50) What water-conservation technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., low-flow faucets, low-flow showerheads, waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, gray water systems, laundry technology)?
For each technology, please indicate the number and type of fixtures installed, and the number of buildings in which those fixtures are installed. If possible, include either the percentage of the overall campus fixtures each type represents or the percentage of overall maintained building space that has been renovated with the technology (e.g., 20 buildings representing 10 percent of the maintained building space have been retrofitted with low-flow faucets; thus, 10 percent of the total maintained building space in square feet would be the desired data).
Low flow faucets – 90 buildings representing 90% of campus space have been installed
Low flow showerheads – 22 buildings representing 95% of campus student residential space are underway, planned or installed. Ultra low flow showerheads are installed in approximately 1/3 of these buildings and NYU is doing the rest.
Dual –flush toilets – installed at 2 locations, 3% of building space
Laundry – all washing machines must be efficient side loading type
51) What percentage of your institution's non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills?
[ 32 %]
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
52) Are there any sustainability-themed residential communities or housing options at your school?
[ ] No
[ 2] Yes. Please provide details below.
Name of program: The Green House
Type of community (e.g., hall, building, house):
The Green House at Seventh Street residence hall offers residents a number of opportunities to get involved in sustainability efforts in the NYU and New York communities. All residents are expected to participate by becoming involved in one of four focuses: Conservation Programming, Communal Dinners, Community Service (through local community gardens), and Community Development (which focuses on working with ResEd, Housing & Facilities to implement improvements to the building).
Number of students involved: 80
Additional details: In addition to the Green House at Seventh Street, the Green Apple Explorations floor at the 12th Street Residence Hall offers freshman who are interested in environmental issues an opportunity to get involved in sustainability movements at NYU and beyond.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
53) Does a portion of your new student orientation specifically cover sustainability?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe how sustainability is incorporated (e.g., information sessions, green tour):
Approximately eight different sustainability sessions will be during the all-school orientation, among them a green walking tour of the East Village, an information session on recycling, and two sessions on how to get involved with sustainability at NYU, and a Green Grants Symposium showcasing past Green Grant (http://nyu.edu/greengrants) projects.
In addition to this, numerous schools and departments are integrating sustainability into their orientation week planning, among them the School of Social Work, the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, and the College of Dentistry.
INTERNSHIPS/OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
54) Does your school offer on-campus office-based sustainability internships or jobs for students?
[ ] No
[X] Yes. Please provide number of students and average number of hours worked weekly per student:
[5] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student: 15
[25-30] Unpaid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
While no internships for academic credit are offered, we partner with the Environmental Studies department to offer NYU students environmental internships throughout the city, and we have a highly specialized group of over 20 student volunteers working on the Sustainability Task Force and other initiatives. These students work anywhere between 2 and 15 hours weekly, playing a crucial role in developing sustainability policy at NYU, and gaining valuable skills that will serve them in their future careers.
55) Does your school have residence hall Eco-Reps or other similar programs to promote behavioral change on campus?
[ ] No
[X] Yes. Please provide details below, and indicate URL if available:
[4] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
The 2 RAs at the Green House, as well as the 2 RAs on the Green Apple Explorations Floor, work 10 or more hours per week.
[# ] Positions that award academic credit. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[80] Uncompensated positions. Average hours worked weekly per student: The NYU Unplugged Green Team student volunteers worked an average of 2-4 hours per week during the month of April.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
56) Does your school have active student-run organizations devoted to sustainability efforts on campus?
[ ] No
[X] Yes. Please provide total number of active organizations, names of organizations, a brief description of each, and URLs, if available:
Here is a complete list of NYU student clubs and listservs: http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability/links.resources/student.clubs.html
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
57) Does your school organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please list details for all competitions.
Name of competition: NYUnplugged
Year initiated: 2007-2008
Frequency of competition: Yearly
Participants: Students in eighteen different residence halls; each hall competes as a team.
Incentives: trophy and a "party in the dark"
Goal of competition: To encourage students to decrease their energy consumption so that their dorm will have the largest overall energy savings at the end of the competition, teaching them lasting sustainability behaviors.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 4%
Lasting effects of competition:
Website: http://www.nyu.edu/sustainability/campus.projects/unplugged.html
TRANSPORTATION
CAMPUS MOTOR FLEET
58) How many vehicles are in your institution's fleet?
[52]
59) Please list the number of alternative-fuel vehicles in each class.
[1] Hybrid. Please list makes and models:
[#9 ] Electric. Please describe type of vehicles: Chrysler GEM
[# ] Biodiesel. Please describe type of vehicles and list biodiesel blend(s) used:
[# ] Other. Please describe:
60) What is the average GHG emission rate per passenger mile of your institution's motorized fleet?
[] pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per passenger mile traveled.
The campus vehicle fleet ranges in efficiency by use/type. According to our Environmental Assessment, in 2007 campus shuttles emitted roughly 1,029 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
61) Does your school offer incentives for carpooling?
[X] N/A. Please explain: Because of NYU’s urban location, which is highly convenient for mass transit but inconvenient for private vehicles, very few NYU community members use private vehicles to commute to campus, and demand for cars is low among community members.
[ ] No
] Yes. Please describe details of the program including the type of the incentive and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students):
62) Does your school offer public transportation subsidies?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe the program including the size of the discount (as a percent of full price) and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students):
NYU educates and encourages students to use NYC transportation but provides no official subsidies for students. Subsidized Metrocards are being evaluated for feasibility by the Sustainability Task Force. However, NYU is incentivizing public transportation for employees through expanded tax-free reimbursement accounts. On average, employees save $429 per year through this program, and 33% of employees participated in 2008, up from 27% the previous year.
63) Does your school provide free transportation around campus?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe: The NYU Shuttle Fleet provides transportation between NYU buildings throughout the city.
64) Does your school operate a free transportation shuttle to local off-campus destinations?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[X] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
BICYCLE PROGRAM
65) Does your school offer a bicycle-sharing/rental program or bicycle repair services?
[ ] No
[ x ] Yes. Please provide details below.
The NYU Bike Share Program is modeled after the Velib program in Paris and allows students to register for the bikes over the Internet using their university ID number.
Year created: 2008
Number of bikes available: 30
Fees for participation: None
Repair services provided: Bicycle repair workshops are held by the Bike Share leadership routinely.
CAR-SHARING PROGRAM
66) Does your school partner with a car-sharing program?
[ X] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Year created:
Total number of vehicles:
Number of hybrid vehicles:
Fee for membership:
PLANNING
67) Does your school have policies that support a pedestrian-friendly or bike-friendly campus (e.g., in the school's master plan, a policy prohibiting vehicles from the center of campus)?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe: The Sustainability Task Force completed a draft slate of bicycle-related recommendations to support current demand and stimulate more community members to bike. This plan includes more than a dozen components, from storage space, to bicycle rack design, to streetscape coordination with local government, to anti-theft and pro-safety policy changes. The plan launches a year-long collaboration between university departments to decide how best to meet these needs and work together, as well as how to implement immediate improvements while incorporating sustainable transportation into NYU Plans 2031 in the longer term.
68) What percentage of individuals commute to campus via environmentally preferable transportation (e.g., walking, bicycling, carpooling, using public transit)?
[ 99% - likely the lowest level of car use among students, faculty and staff at any higher education institution in the country. Based on results of 14,000-member survey carried out in February, 2009.]
STATISTICS
69) Campus setting:
[ ] Rural
[ ] Suburban
[X] Urban
[ ] Other. Please describe:
70) Total number of buildings: [168]
71) Combined gross square footage of all buildings: [12,729,560 ]
72) Full-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [31,848]
73) Part-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [9,935]
74) Part-time enrollment as a proportion to a full-time course load: [# ]
75) Percent of full-time students that live on campus: [38%]
Questions 76-87 are for informational purposes only; responses will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
OTHER AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Please mark an "X" next to each item that applies to your institution.
76) Outdoors club: [ X ]
77) Disposable water bottle ban: [ x ] (partial, removed from meal plans September 2009)
78) Participation in Recyclemania: X]
79) Student trustee position: [ ]
80) Environmental science/studies major: [ X ]
81) Environmental science/studies minor or concentration: [X ]
82) Graduate-level environmental program: [ X ]
83) Student green fee: [ ]
84) Alumni green fund: [ X ]
85) Revolving loan fund for sustainability projects: [ ]
86) Campus garden or farm: [ X ]
87) Single-stream recycling: [ X ] (partial, pilot on campus)
<< Back to Report Card