What We're Doing

We purchase wind energy for nearly 100 percent of our electricity needs. We recycle: Plastics, glass, metal, paper and cardboard. Participated in RecycleMania competitions in 2008, 2009, and 2010. We sponsor a weekly farmers' market in the summer to promote local purchasing. Our Facilities Department uses mostly green-friendly cleaning supplies. American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment: Signed in April 2007. Land management: Our 14,000-acre holdings are certified sustainable by the National Forest Paper Association and Forest Stewardship Council. Paper use: All paper used in campus printers and copiers is 100 percent post-consumer recycled content. Eating green. Our Dining Services department is going all-out for sustainability. Academics: New baccalaureate degree programs include Environmental Studies in 2009 and Natural Resources Sustainability in 2010. Energy Star: All appliances bought on campus are Energy Star-rated including 122 new washers and dryers purchased in 2008 estimated to save $6,000 - $8,000 annually in electricity costs along with saving thousands of gallons of water. Green building: In 2010, the Adirondack Watershed Institute moved to its new headquarters in the LEED certified Countess Alicia Spaulding-Paolozzi Environmental Research and Education Center. And our newest residence halls are built green, with increased insulation and other measures. Zenn Car: Purchased in the Fall of 2008, this very cool and energy-efficient electric car will patrol the campus in place of the former Jeep Liberty. In the fall of 2009, we installed 240 new Energy Smart strips across campus to eliminate electricity consumption from phantom loads. We expect the payback from our $6,000 investment to occur within a year's time. We funded two new Campus Sustainability Assistant positions to help promote and facilitate sustainability initiatives at Paul Smith's College.