October 24, 2008
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg praised St.
John’s University for its progress in the “PLANYC 2030 Challenge,”
a plan to reduce greenhouse emissions by 30 percent in ten years,
which St. John’s accepted in June, 2007.
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At a press conference, attended by James
P. Pellow, Ed.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer and Brij Anand, Vice President for Facilities at St.
John’s, to announce that four additional institutions have accepted
his invitation, Mayor Bloomberg recapped the efforts and successes
the original 10 “Challenge Partners” have made in the past year,
and recognized St. John’s for its aggressive plan to achieve that
goal in just six years.
“And finally, the Gold Star,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “St.
John’s goes to the head of the class, for accelerating its
greenhouse gas reduction plan to reach its 30% decrease target by
the year 2013.”
Since accepting the Mayor’s challenge in June 2007, St. John’s
has emerged as a leading innovator in developing strategies to meet
the aggressive goals. St. John’s was the first school to
submit its plan to the Mayor and has established a sustainability
office within the Department of Facilities Services. With
the help of this office, the University completed the carbon
inventory and developed a plan to achieve the desired 30%
reduction. St. John’s has also implemented strategic
initiatives by incorporating hybrid vehicles in its fleet,
established a Building Management System, installed a high
efficiency chiller plant and has actively engaged students in the
awareness program and coordination of carbon reduction on all
campuses.
“We feel proud and honored that Mayor Bloomberg declared St.
John's University the ‘head of the class,’ said Anand. “We
will continue to provide the leadership in sustainability and
carbon reduction, including sharing our best practices with other
higher education institutions, as well as engaging our students,
about the means and methods to achieve the 30% carbon reduction
over the next 5 to 7 years.”
PlaNYC was adopted in April 2007 by Mayor Bloomberg,
appropriately on Earth Day, and, with the help of a Sustainability
Advisory Board (comprised of leaders from the private, public and
non-profit sectors), he developed strategies that focus on five key
dimensions of the city’s environment: land, air, water, energy and
transportation. The Mayor’s call to action is now and he has
received support from many constituencies including the higher
education community.
“The best way to teach is by example,” Mayor Bloomberg added.
“These colleges are also teaching more than 350,000 students who
are enrolled in their classes each year – the future leaders of our
society, that energy efficiency makes both economic and
environmental sense.”
10 schools throughout New York City accepted the Mayor’s
Challenge last June. Joining St. John’s were CUNY, Columbia
University, Barnard College, New York University, Fordham
University, Rockefeller University, New School, Cooper Union and
Pratt Institute. The schools joining the challenge today are
Weill Cornell Medical College, Berkeley College, School of Visual
Arts and Pace University.
At the announcement, held at CUNY’s Bronx Community College, the
Mayor was joined at the podium by Barnard President Debora L. Spar,
Berkeley NYC Campus Operating Officer Kristin Rowe, Columbia
President Lee Bollinger, Cooper Union President George Campbell,
Jr., CUNY Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operation Officer,
Allan Dobrin, Fordham President Rev. Joseph McShane, S.L., New
School President Bob Kerrey, New York University President John
Sexton, Pace President Stephen J. Friedman, Pratt President Thomas
F. Schutte, Rockefeller University Associate Vice President Alex
Kogan, SVA Executive Director of Facilities James Pirot, Weill
Cornell Medical College Dean Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., and Dr. Pellow,
representing St. John’s.
For more information on Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC Initiative,
contact Stu Loeser or Jason Post at (212) 788-2958., or visit the
Mayor’s website at www.nyc.gov/mayor. For
information about St. John’s University, please contact Elizabeth
Reilly, Assistant Director of Media Relations, at (718) 990-5789,
or by e-mail to reillye@stjohns.edu.
Read Mayor Bloomberg's Press
Release
Mayor Bloomberg and University Officials
Announce Four New Universities Joining PlaNYC Challenge to Reach
Ambitious Goal of Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions 30 Percent in
10 Years
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