Monthly Newsletter December 2019

Cultivating an Ethos of Sustainability at Princeton to Accelerate Action at All Scales

This month, we spotlight Princeton’s new stormwater management target. Our goal is to expand the area on campus that meets high standards for improved surface water quality and reduced runoff, and monitor outcomes so that best practices can be shared. Over the past decade, stormwater management became an area of focus in Princeton’s campus planning and sustainability efforts, leading to more than 20 projects that have reduced runoff while helping to restore the quality of the local watershed.  We aim to continue to expand the area under enhanced management by incorporating green infrastructure into new construction and landscape projects through scalable action (e.g., subsurface infiltration, bioretention, stormwater harvesting, green roofs, porous pavement, natural storm water treatment landscapes, green infra structure corridors, etc.). We have also implemented an ongoing monitoring program for campus stormwater outflow quality and quantity. READ THE PLAN Demonstrating Scalable Action Rain gardens retain and filter stormwater, providing benefits to the local watershed and stream systems by encouraging stormwater infiltration and reducing erosion. In 2010, the rain garden at the Frick Chemistry Laboratory was the first installation of its kind on campus, with others following at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Peretsman-Scully Hall, and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. Additional installations are planned that blend habitat enhancement and recreation with stormwater management.  Sustainability Leadership Profile: Sean Gallagher, Director of Civil and Environmental Engineering Read more

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Student Sustainability Space Coming Soon! The Office of Sustainability is pleased to announce a new sustainability-focused student space in Frist Campus Center that will be soft-launched next spring. Stay tuned for more information, including the official name, to come in the new year!

Recycling is not dead, but we need you to help revive it Claire Wayner '22 Greening Events EcoRep Leader, Claire Wayner '22 explores the challenge of properly recycling on campus in this Daily Princetonian op-ed. READ MORE

Princeton Faces of Climate Change Campaign Pace Center for Civic Engagement student organization  Princeton Environmental Activism Coalition ( PEAC) recently introduced the Princeton Faces of Climate Change campaign. Members of the Princeton University community have shared their stories about how they have witnessed or experienced the growing impacts of climate change in their communities and in their lives. Follow the campaign on Facebook or Instagram . Have a story to share? Fill out this form to share your personal story or experience.

EcoReps raise awareness about reducing waste at recent events

Photo by Andrew Yang '22 On Saturday, November 16, the Greening Athletics EcoReps hosted a Tiger Sustainability Night at the Princeton Hockey game. Acting as "Recycling Goalies," the EcoReps assisted attendees with sorting their waste at the bins located in Baker Rink. By demonstrating proper recycling, the EcoReps were able to help reduce the amount of contamination in the recycling bins during the game. Go Tigers! The following Saturday, November 23, the Greenin g Dorms EcoReps hosted their biannual Clothing Swap . The goal of the event is to spread awareness about fast fashion as well as to provide a fun and no-cost opportunity for Princeton students to revamp their wardrobes. All leftover items were donated through campus partner, HELPSY . Student group, Mend was also on-hand to help teach attendees how to sew or tailor their "new-to-you" finds.

EVENTS

Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping with Mend Wednesday, December 11 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Frist Campus Center GreenSpace (Level 100) Shrink Your Footprint: What You Buy Wednesday, February 5 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Princeton Public Library, Community Room Save the Date! Princeton Research Day Thursday, May 7, 2020 Location: Frist Campus Center

Sustainability Action Plan Iconography

What do these icons mean? Inspired by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs, we created icons to represent the seven action areas in our campus Sustainability Action Plan. Throughout our newsletter, we have identified news and events that are aligned with these action areas.

Office of Sustainability sustain@princeton.edu

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