Think NJIT. Think green. Environmental awareness is an intrinsic part of the campus culture. With Federal funding, the university has converted its Oak Residence Hall into a prototype state-of-the-art, energy efficient building, reducing electrical energy use by 50 percent and fossil energy use by 40 percent.
Buildings across the campus are being similarly equipped with high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems with demand-based controls; energy efficient lighting; and low-flow water fixtures.
The Campus Center is equipped with 160 solar panels that can produce 58 megawatts of electricity and eliminate the atmospheric release of an estimated 86,832 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
NJIT’s Dining Services buys local and organic whenever possible, and this year began to use produce grown in an organic garden on the roof of the Campus Center maintained by student and staff volunteers. Food is delivered in biodegradable containers, cups, forks, and knives, napkins are made of recycled paper, and a reusable water bottle and coffee mug refill program is in place.
NJIT collects and recycles paper, glass and aluminum cans, fluorescent lamps, electronic equipment, cooking oil, concrete and other construction waste. Last year, the university recycled some 157,050 pounds of paper and over 1,300 gallons of cooking oil.
The university has also identified sustainable systems as a focal point for education and research in its 2010-2015 Strategic Plan. Research initiatives include a collaborative project with Building Media Inc. to develop innovative energy efficiency strategies that can be applied to American homes; membrane separation research on desalination of seawater to produce pure, potable water; and the development of corn-based polymers to replace harmful chemicals in adhesives, paints, and the coatings.
Green facts about NJIT include that 10 percent of the food budget is spent on local/organic produce while 5 percent of the school energy is from renewable resources. Among the available transportation alternatives are bike share/rent, car share and shuttle service. Environmental studies degrees are available while the university provides guidance on green jobs.