Despite cutbacks, University pledges to stay ‘green’

“Much of the Sustainability Plan actually saves the University money because the core of the plan is either decreasing use or decreasing the environmental impact the University has. Both of those efforts also decrease the cost for the institution,” Burstein explained, adding that the University’s Sustainability Plan will not be substantially cut or scaled back.

Since sustainability initiatives are cost-effective in the long-term, Burstein noted, the University ought not to reduce their funding.

“The vast majority of the Sustainability Plan is actually something we should do more of during times of budget constraint,” he said. “Much of our greenhouse gas efforts are directed towards decreasing the use of electricity, steam and chilled water. If we decrease those uses, obviously there is less cost for the institution.”

Vice President for Facilities Michael McKay echoed the sentiment, explaining that in coming years, “if anything, there will be more emphasis on achieving the sustainability goals.”

The University will continue to pursue its sustainability goals not only because they are cost-effective but also because it has made a commitment to further reducing its ecological impact, he explained.

Several recent sustainability initiatives, including the recently proposed cap on student paper usage, will help reduce the University’s costs, McKay said.

“The recent experiment at Forbes with trayless dining was also a test of a more cost-efficient system,” McKay said, adding that though the program’s initial implementation will have some costs associated with it, it will save the University money in the long run.

Burstein said that though an estimated 90 to 95 percent of the University’s sustainability goals are cost-effective, at least one initiative will be put on hold because to the budget cuts.

“We are significantly cutting back our landscaping plan. This … plan did have a positive impact on campus sustainability,” he said.

The University has incorporated sustainability goals into its new construction projects, especially the new Butler College dormitories and the new chemistry building. Unlike other University construction projects that have been put on hold as a result of the economic downturn, these two complexes are scheduled to open in fall 2009 and fall 2010, respectively.

Both buildings will be insulated to ensure that energy loss is minimized in the winter and will include water cisterns that will collect rainwater for later use. The Butler site will use this water for irrigation while the Chemistry building will use its water for plumbing purposes.

The new Butler dormitories will have roofs designed with sustainability in mind. Half of the roofs will be white and the other half will be environmentally friendly ‘green’ roofs containing plants and soil which absorb carbon dioxide, water and the sun’s heat.

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“The benefit of a green roof is that it retains rainwater,” former University architect Jon Hlafter ’61 told The Daily Princetonian last year. “Because water is retained in the plants, it takes a lot longer for that water to get to Lake Carnegie.”

Another important energy goal of the University focuses on providing better insulation for the heating pipes on campus, Burstein said, adding that there are continuing efforts to better insulate these pipes, thereby reducing the University’s energy consumption and saving it money.

Increasing recycling is another important goal which will reduce University costs, both McKay and Burstein noted, as Princeton currently pays to transport its waste to landfills.

“Since there is a payback against all of the initiatives in the Sustainability Plan, those initiatives continue to make sense for the University to invest in,” Burstein said.

Some short-term sustainability goals are cost-neutral and will not alter the University’s budget. The goal of converting entirely to Green Seal-certified cleaning products by 2009, for instance, will not alter spending patterns, McKay said.

The educational goals of the Sustainability Plan, which do not reduce operating costs for the University, will be able to continue with funding from the High Meadows Foundation.

“We’ve continued to support teaching and research initiatives associated with the [Sustainability] Plan. Thanks to outside support we will be able to continue those efforts,” Burstein explained.

McKay noted that new sustainability-related ideas have been provided with funding in the past, adding that he is not concerned about the future of University support for these initiatives.

“We have had an open checkbook for many years when it comes to initiatives that pay for themselves,” he said. “When it comes to water use, energy or recycling, the University has been very supportive of new ideas.”