RECYCLING To further conserve natural resources, significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce cost of trash hauling, the university’s Department of Physical Plant Operations instituted a single-stream recycling program. In 2021, the University recycled over 200 tons of aluminum, cardboard/paper, concrete, scrap metals, plastics, glass, and wood. SOLAR ENERGY William Paterson University’s solar panel installation, dedicated in 2010, continues to rank as one of the 10 largest on the campus of a four-year college or university in the United States. Our campus-wide solar project generates 3.3 megawatts of energy for a savings of approximately $300,000 each year and $1.5 million since 2010. ENERGY CONSERVATION In addition to a full recycling program, recent energy conservation initiatives include the elimination of trays in the dining hall and the installation of filtered water fountains throughout campus including Morrison, Wightman, the Rec Center, and the residence halls for students, faculty, and staff who wish to fill water bottles, leading to less use of plastic water bottles. Energy-efficient technologies have reduced electrical consumption by more than 30 percent and natural gas consumption by nearly 50 percent since 2000. EV CHARGING STATIONS Fifteen electric vehicle (EV) charging stations available throughout campus. The initial seven charging stations were provided through a program administered by PSEG. The charging stations provide free electricity in these dedicated parking spaces for electric vehicles operated by University faculty, staff, and students.
RECYCLING To further conserve natural resources, significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce cost of trash hauling, the university’s Department of Physical Plant Operations instituted a single-stream recycling program. With single-stream recycling, virtually any grade and volume of recyclable paper, plastic, glass, and metal are able to be processed. Single-stream recycling allows all recyclables, such as fiber (newspaper, magazines, office paper, phone books, flattened cardboard, junk mail, brown paper bags, paper cardboard, and juice containers) and non-fiber (plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminum cans, aluminum foil and pie tins, and tin and steel cans) to be placed into a single container for collection. or an informative video on single stream recycling, click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcggQBbssqM The University encourages all employees and students to participate in single-stream recycling. Receptacles are placed in common areas in all buildings on campus. Did you know? Recycling approximately one ton of newspapers saves 17 trees, 6,953 gallons of water, and 463 gallons of oil, 587 pounds of air pollution, 3.06 cubic yard of landfill space, and 4077 kilowatt hours of energy Recycling one aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a laptop computer for four hours The United States throws away 2.5 million plastic bottles an hour An aluminum can (soda can) takes 200 to 500 years to degrade in a landfill and a plastic jug takes one million years to degrade
SOLAR William Paterson University’s solar panel installation, dedicated in 2010, continues to rank as among the largest solar arrays on a college or university campus in the United States. The installation provides 3.3 megawatts and supplies 15 to 20 percent of the institution’s energy needs while lowering costs. The installation includes arrays covering some parking areas and photovoltaic cells on the roofs of some of the University’s buildings. Elevated solar arrays are located in Lot 1, Lot 6, a portion of Lot 5, the Power Art Center parking lot, and the extended parking lot at 1600 Valley Road. Solar panels are located on the Power Art Center, the upper roof of the Recreation Center, Speert Hall, University Commons Ballroom, and newly added to University Hall.
ENERGY CONSERVATION As part of its commitment to climate leadership, William Paterson has reduced greenhouse gas emissions 31 percent since 2007 and aims to achieve a 50 percent reduction by 2025. Energy efficiency technologies have helped the University reduce electrical consumption by over 30 percent and natural gas consumption by nearly 50 percent since 2000, and we continue to pursue further reductions. More than 25 percent of the University’s energy purchases come from renewable sources and a recently completed energy audit of 26 buildings has provided recommendations for further improvements to building efficiency. William Paterson has also committed to further energy reductions through a campus-wide LED lighting retrofit program. The multi-year program, which began the summer of 2016, is designed to transition all University buildings and parking lots to LED lighting. When complete, energy consumption for lighting will be reduced by more than 80 percent and the University’s overall energy consumption will be reduced by 30 percent, resulting in more than $1 million in savings per year. Specific examples of energy conservation initiatives include: LED lighting installations Cooperative energy purchasing Metered fuel-dispensing pumps Occupancy-based controls Enhanced recycling LEED-focused building design construction Solar panel installation LED parking lot light conversions High-efficiency HVAC systems
EV CHARGING STATIONS EV CHARGING STATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE Fifteen electric vehicle (EV) charging stations available throughout campus. The initial seven charging stations were provided through a program administered by PSEG and were installed to help supplement the University’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and the ongoing commitment to sustainability. The charging stations provide free electricity in these dedicated parking spaces for electric vehicles operated by University faculty, staff, and students. Currently, all the electric charging stations on campus are considered a shared resource. Faculty, staff, and students wishing to use one of the stations on campus must first register for an electric vehicle charging permit. Once registered, approved drivers can start a charging session. Users should not expect to have a dedicated parking space available to them at all times. To balance demand, users are required to relocate their vehicle when charging is complete. Individuals interested in using one of the electric charging stations should send an email with “EV Charging” in the subject line to vinalesr@wpunj.edu.
