| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.52 |
| Liaison | Andrew D'Amico |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Princeton University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.25 / 4.00 |
Shana
Weber Director Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Published Plans That Address Sustainability
Strategic Plan
Yes
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
The 2026 Campus Plan reflects Princeton's commitment to sustainability not only in campus development, but culturally as well. Most illustrative of this is the University's commitment to "a strengthened sustainability ethos," one of the six Sustainability Impact Priorities framed in the Campus Plan.
A copy of the strategic plan:
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The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Sustainability Plan
Yes
A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
Climate Action Plan
No
A copy of the climate action plan:
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The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
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Other Published Plans
Yes
A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
Princeton Design Standards Manual: https://facilities.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/DSM.pdf
Measurable Sustainability Objectives
Curriculum
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective:
Facilitate and advance connections between faculty and graduate student research and undergraduate education related to sustainability.
Research
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: Increase student research opportunities that incorporate links between the campus environment and global sustainability issues.
Campus Engagement
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: Develop leaders in sustainability among students, staff, and faculty.
Public Engagement
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: Expand the discourse about sustainability on campus, in the local community, and across the nation.
Air & Climate
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
Buildings
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
In addition to the applicability to buildings of the Air & Climate and Energy objectives, Princeton’s Design Standards Manual includes a set of environmental criteria for new building construction and major renovations.
Energy
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
Food & Dining
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: Significantly increase the percentage of sustainably produced food items.
Grounds
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: Apply an integrated landscaping approach that helps to restore the quality and capacity of the regional watershed.
Purchasing
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: Maximize the number of purchasing contracts for “green” goods and services.
Transportation
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: By 2020, decrease the number of cars by [15 percent] commuting to campus.
Waste
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: Increase the household recycling percentage from the 2007 rate of 38 percent of all recyclable materials to 50 percent by 2012.
Water
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The 2008 Sustainability Plan includes the following objective: By 2020, decrease water use by 25 percent.
Diversity & Affordability
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Investment & Finance
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Wellbeing & Work
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Other Impact Areas
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Optional Fields
Yes
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
Princeton's Sustainability Principles were endorsed by President Eisgruber and the Grounds and Building Committee of the Board of Trustees in February 2014
Princeton’s most meaningful global contributions will come from its research, the education of its students, and from the leadership of its graduates.
Princeton’s sustainability goal setting is informed by methodical, science-based, and multi-perspective analyses.
Near-term (2-10 yr) sustainability goals “stretch” beyond those that are currently achievable, and they exist within a visionary, aspirational framework.
Planning and development related to the physical campus have sustainability as a core priority.
Holistic benefits (educational, cultural, research) as well as financial considerations over multiple time horizons are integral components of Return-on-Investment analyses related to campus sustainability implementation.
Princeton carbon emission reductions produce results that are “additional” to regulatory or market driven reductions that would happen anyway, and are rigorously verifiable.
Princeton is committed to a “campus as a living laboratory” approach that engages the campus community in rigorous inquiry and demonstration of principled pathways to sustainability.
Princeton fosters community-wide awareness and action and is an exemplar of repeatable best practices for other institutions.
The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
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Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | No |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | No |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | Yes |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | No |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | No |
| UN Global Compact | No |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Each of these goals and strategies were drafted with the creation of Princeton’s Sustainability Plan in 2008. Some goals have been updated since publication. The most current set of goals and progress can be found on the Office of Sustainability website at http://sustain.princeton.edu/progress
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.