About CCNY Green


The City College of New York is a charter signatory to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.  Signing the commitment is far more than a statement of our deep concern about the scale and speed of global warming and its potential consequences. It is a pledge, on our part, to not only take positive steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also an initiative to exercise leadership in the community and society through the example we set.  As a signatory to the Climate Commitment, CCNY pledges to develop a comprehensive plan for achieving climate neutrality as rapidly as possible.  We recognize that this effort will result in short-term challenges. However, exercising leadership in addressing climate change will not only help us to stabilize and reduce our long-term energy costs, but also help us attract excellent students and faculty, identify new sources of funding and increase support from alumni and the community.

At the same time, CCNY is a full participant in the CUNY Sustainability Initiative, part of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC for a sustainable city. CUNY has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 30% in 10 years and CCNY will do its part. And the initiative is far more than just carbon reduction, it calls for a range of measures both on the academic and administrative sides to create a more sustainable environment at CUNY.

Some of the immediate steps CCNY is taking are:

• Creation of a task force to oversee and coordinate all faculty, administration and student efforts to promote a green campus and to ensure compliance with the PCC and CUNY Project.
• Creation of working groups to focus on specific areas, such as recycling/reuse, sustainable purchasing, landscaping, auxilliary  enterprises, energy conservation, carbon inventory, curriculum and student activities
• Developing a campaign to build awareness and create interest in this initiative.

Even before we signed on to the PCC and CUNY launched is project, CCNY had taken steps toward sustainability.

• We are developing a joint program in Architecture and Engineering in Sustainable Design, and plan to take a leadership role in educating the next generation of design professionals in how to build green.
  
• Many of our purchases are recycled products and EnergyStar rated appliances.
  
• We’ve also purchased two new energy efficient boilers and have cleaned and retrofitted our old boilers to increase their efficiency.  Newly installed control sensors in our buildings will monitor and automatically adjust the flow and temperature of chilled water, enabling us to increase the efficiency of our cooling systems.
• We use electric-powered vehicles for short trips on campus, reducing the need for gasoline-powered vehicles and eliminating greenhouse gases.  Natural gas-powered buses have replaced older diesel-powered engine vehicles, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Schedules and routes adjustments have produced additional fuel savings and reduced the buses environmental impact.
• Our Custodial Department now uses “green” cleaning products, we are installing energy-efficient light bulbs and we have begun a recycling program.  Even our grass clippings are now being turned into mulch.

We welcome the input and involvement of everyone on campus to make this initiative successful. Please contact us if you have any comments or questions.