February 7, 2007 -- Rider Initiates Energy, Sustainability Programs

LAWRENCEVILLE -- Rider University has embarked on a new initiative to promote sustainability, energy conservation and efficiency on its Lawrenceville and Princeton campuses.    The effort will be initiated with the formation of a new “Energy and Sustainability Steering Committee” comprised of students, faculty, and staff.

Committee members will work to establish the mission, policies, principles and goals for Rider University’s energy and sustainability programs.  They will also be responsible for developing the plan to realize the goals and to monitor energy and sustainability initiatives on campus.

The University’s areas of focus will include procurement practices, utility supply and consumption, campus planning, building design and operations, transportation, recycling, and waste management.  Outreach and education will be important to the overall success of this initiative.
"Operating our campus in an environmentally sustainable way is not only the right thing to do – it’s also good business," said Julie Karns, vice president of finance. “By improving the efficiency of our buildings, conserving on energy and water resources and reducing our waste, we will not only reduce our costs but we will also be making a significant positive impact on the environment.  We are taking this important and fundamental first step to develop the institutional framework to support a long-lasting commitment to sustainability.”
Ralph Copleman, executive director of Sustainable Lawrence, is pleased that Rider is engaging in this comprehensive long-term approach. “If our community is going to be ecologically sustainable, everyone will have to participate,” he said. “I’m delighted that Rider, as a major institutional citizen in Lawrence, is showing the way, and I look forward to working with them in their efforts.”

Sustainability principles established through this process will directly build on the widespread participation of students, faculty, and staff alike in numerous programs across the campuses. The administration’s focus on energy cost management and efficiency improvements combined with student and faculty interest in a sustainable future campus prompted the administration to form this new committee of students, faculty, and administrators to define a set of goals for the University.

In conjunction with this initiative, Rider University has commissioned a complete assessment of its existing buildings to establish a baseline and to provide recommendations for efficiency improvements.  “We can’t effectively plan our course for the future without first establishing our current condition,” said Phil Voorhees, assistant vice president of facilities management and member of Sustainable Rider.

Rider University has hired Utility Advantage, an energy management services and sustainability consultant, to provide technical expertise to develop the energy and sustainability plan and programs and to complete the facility assessments.

“We are looking forward to working with the committee to develop an energy and sustainability plan that will produce lasting results and institutional change that will have a permanent positive impact on the University, its students, and the local community,” said Laurie Wiegand-Jackson, president of Utility Advantage. 

A focus on sustainability and energy has proliferated throughout college and university campuses from Appalachia to California.  From recycling competitions to purchasing renewable energy, these programs can vary greatly in scope but are all focused on these two main objectives: to reduce the consumption of natural resources and to minimize the campus’ environmental “footprint.”

“Rider University takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and is committed to smart and sustainable energy use,” said Rider University Mordechai Rozanski.  “Today’s initiative will help us take a leadership role in developing a focused energy and sustainability program.”