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From degree programs to dining halls, sustainability is central to The New School |
New York, August 23, 2011--The New School has received a STARS Silver Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), in recognition of the university's achievements in sustainability. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
In the higher education sector, The New School is a leader in sustainability. The university offers several environmentally focused, interdisciplinary learning opportunities, including the masters program in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management, and the Tishman Center for Environment and Design, which facilitates sustainability-related research, curriculum development, and public programming across the university. In addition, a New School team has been selected as one of 20 finalists in the prestigious Solar Decathlon 2011, an international competition hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The New School's facilities and operations are equally focused on sustainability, with recent projects including lighting upgrades; improving cooling and heating systems; and the installation of energy-saving white roofs on university-owned buildings. The university has committed to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent in 10 years, with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. Further, The New School's 16-story University Center, currently under construction and set to open in Fall 2013, will be one of Manhattan's greenest buildings, with a projected US Green Building Council LEED Gold rating.
"Public engagement and civic action have distinguished The New School since our founding. In that spirit, we've made a focus on sustainability and environmental justice a central part of our mission," said Gwen Kilvert, Assistant Director for Sustainability and Energy Management, who led The New School's STARS effort. "That's why we're thrilled to be a part of STARS--and to receive our STARS Silver rating."
AASHE's STARS program is the only one of its kind that involves publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university's sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in three overall areas: 1) education & research, 2) operations, and 3) planning, administration & engagement.
"STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts," said AASHE Executive Director Paul Rowland. "The New School has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts."
Unlike other rating or ranking systems, this program is open to all institutions of higher education in the U.S. and Canada, and the criteria that determine a STARS Rating are transparent and accessible to anyone. Because STARS is a program based on credits earned, it allows for both internal comparisons as well as comparisons with similar institutions. It is also a long-term planning tool: universities can submit for a higher rating as frequently as every year.
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