Princeton takes significant steps toward achieving sustainability goals

Princeton - Princeton - In its first report since adopting a Sustainability Plan in February 2008, Princeton University states that on-campus greenhouse gas emissions have decreased for the first time since the University's energy-efficient cogeneration plant was installed in 1996. While the decrease in carbon dioxide from July 2008 to July 2009 has been modest at nearly 1 percent, "it is a significant step in the right direction," according to the report, considering that the University added nearly 164,000 square feet to its physical plant during the same time period. Other highlights in the Report on Sustainability 2009 range from multimillion-dollar outlays to improve energy efficiency and efforts to define and achieve benchmarks in building design and purchasing, to accomplishments in food buying, recycling and other forms of resource conservation as well as growth in faculty research, environmental courses and student activity. "What is most striking about this report are the many initiatives that have been undertaken and the impact they are beginning to have in achieving the University's ambitious sustainability goals," said President Shirley M. Tilghman. "But just as important is the report's emphasis on what still needs to be done and on the strategies now in place to make continued progress in the years ahead."   Princeton's plan is distinctive because of its comprehensiveness and its integration with the University's commitments to teaching, research and civic engagement.