BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) has been recognized by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) with a Certificate of Environmental Stewardship “for its voluntary and proactive measures taken to go beyond compliance in an effort to improve the environment and ensure a sustainable future.”
According to the letter from the NJDEP, “This honor is a testament to the positive impact your organization has made on our environment and the commendable initiatives you have undertaken in promoting sustainability.”
The award was determined by the College’s participation in several categories, including: Carbon Footprint Analysis; Environmental Purchasing Policy; Outreach Program; Green Building Certification; Green Building Implementation; Water Use Reduction; Employee Trip Reduction; Process/Operations Energy Use Reduction; Renewable Energy Use; Environmental Enhancement Project; Innovative Program; and EPA Voluntary Programs.
Sustainability is an important part of the campus fabric at RVCC, which has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 58% since 2005. The College earned a Gold rating in AASHE STARS, is certified as River Friendly, and is a Bee Campus USA affiliate.
RVCC has three solar installations, a new greenhouse, publicly available electric car charging stations, a green roof and a green wall, numerous pollinator gardens, a rain garden, three rainwater harvesting systems, and three buildings built to LEED standards. In 2009, RVCC was the first community college in the nation to sign an environmental stewardship agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, and its new Strategic Plan formalizes its commitment to environmental stewardship.
