Sustainability at Rider

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Rider University’s vision is to be a leader in American higher education celebrated for educating talented students for citizenship, life and career success in a diverse and interdependent world. Rider will achieve distinctiveness by focusing on students first, by cultivating leadership skills, by affirming teaching and learning that bridges the theoretical and the practical and by fostering a culture of academic excellence.

Broncs Go Green

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In 2007, Rider University signed on to the Second Nature Carbon Commitment and not long after, the Office of Sustainability was formed.  Currently, the office includes the Director of Sustainability, the Graduate Assistant for Sustainability and a group of Student Eco-Reps.  Our logo is a four arrow box standing for, “Reduce, Reuse, REFUSE, and Recycle”.

Averting a climate crisis will inevitably involve changes to long-ingrained habits. But which habits are the most pressing to change? Understanding the fundamental economic, ecological and social dimensions of climate change is important for every 21st century citizen and the focal point of our messaging and educational programming.

Download the Guide to Sustainable Living at Rider (PDF).

This timeline offers a glance at our journey to the present day:

2007- 2024

• Signed on to the American College & University President's Climate Commitment in 2007 (2015 renamed to Carbon Commitment) as a charter member.
• Creation of the Office of Sustainability in 2008 including a Sustainability Manager and Eco-Reps on the Lawrenceville and Princeton campuses. In 2010, a Graduate Assistant for Sustainability was added
• First greenhouse gas emissions inventory submitted to ACUPCC to serve as a benchmark for each following year internally as well as in comparison to similar colleges & universities.
• Energy submeters installed in most campus buildings in order to provide energy data.  This data would measure the “before and after” as building energy efficiency projects made improvements to our carbon footprint and reduction of utility spending.
• 35% renewable energy offsets became an annual purchase to lower our carbon footprint.
• Purchased offsets help in alleviating annual emissions in our portfolio such as air travel for study abroad and recruitment. 
• Soy ink was introduced for all campus print kiosks to reduce the fossil fuel-based toner on campus.
• McDonald-Beckett (West) Village residence halls were certified LEED Silver by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
• 3 honeybee hives were introduced on the Lawrenceville campus to be used for classes and to encourage local pollinators.
• Environmental Chair position was added to Student Government Association (SGA).
• Sustainability Studies minor was created by a group of faculty and adopted by the university to begin enrolling students.
• Rider's Carbon Neutrality Plan was adopted by the Board of Trustees with a goal of 2050.
• 740kW solar array installed on Rider’s campus in partnership with PSE&G.
• 1st Princeton Review "Green College" designation in 2010 and have been included in this ranking EVERY year since!
• Green Acres organic community garden was created.
• Sustainable You radio show was introduced on 107.7 The Bronc FM.
• Lynch-Adler Hall (formerly North Hall) was certified as LEED Gold by the USGBC.
• A self-guided Green Campus Tour created using smartphone technology.
• Rider Magazine "Green Issue" came out in limited print but widely available in a digital version.
• Food waste biodigester installed in Daly Dining Hall that can turn nearly 400 pounds of food waste daily into grey water while reducing solid waste removal and lowing hauling cost. Over 40,000 pounds of food waste have been processed through the digester!
• 1 megawatt Tri-gen energy plant goes online serving the academic quad with electricity, hot and chilled water produced on campus lowing utility spending as well as our overall carbon footprint.
• Bill Nye the Science Guy climate change talk to a crowd of 850 people.
• 3 Environmental Sustainability Symposiums were held for NJ high school students.  These were grant funded and well attended.
• Drop in carbon emissions of 8.61%.
• Over 25,000 health and beauty product packages recycled through TerraCycle.
• Rider ranked one of greenest universities in the world by UI GreenMetric World Ranking.
• 5 EV charging stations installed through partnership with PSE&G and grant from NJDEP. This EV charging program has grown to 12 campus chargers and over 70 Rider account holders making use of them on a regular basis.
• Sustainability and the Arts Collaborations began with Sustainability & Dance and later branched out to having an official chapter of the Broadway Green Alliance at Rider.
• Adopted an Energy Master Plan.
• Shifted to digital events & programming during the pandemic and keeping the interest of our students during a tough time.
• Several energy efficiency upgrades, including large-scale lighting replacements have been completed lowing our energy use and utility spending. Some have qualified for rebates such as the SRC lighting project. More are planned.
• Rider’s GREEN TEAM became an official campus club in 2024.

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Awards and Recognition

• 2020 Platinum Award New Jersey Smart Workplaces, Greater Mercer TMA
• 2019 Platinum Award New Jersey Smart Workplaces, Greater Mercer TMA
• 2018 Platinum Award New Jersey Smart Workplaces, Greater Mercer TMA
• 2018-2019 Champion of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in EPA's College & University Green Power Challenge
• 2019 Marks for Distinction for Rider’s progress toward carbon neutrality goals, Second Nature
• 2018 Marks of Distinction for Rider’s progress toward carbon neutrality goals, Second Nature
• 2018 Certificate of Recognition, New Jersey Charging Challenge, Drive Green New Jersey
• 2018 Commendation for Hamilton Township Roebling Park cleanup, Council of Hamilton Township, Mercer County
• 2017-2018 Champion of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in EPA's College & University Green Power Challenge
• 2015 Silver Star award, sustainable student actions, Purposeful Networks
• 2011 Environmental Stewardship Award, Waste Management

#OurTomorrow Collaborative

The Office of Sustainability is participating in an ongoing civic engagement collaborative, called #OurTomorrow. Partner organizations include Ivy League universities and colleges from around the country, sharing efforts and ideas to inspire change in their communities. Our students contributed to the second annual social media campaign period, and were featured in a blog post. Check out the #OurTomorrow website to learn more from other school’s blog posts and Learning Series webinars.

Rider University is an AASHE partner member

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AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) defines sustainability in an inclusive way, encompassing human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations. AASHE is an association of colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada and overseas, working to create a sustainable future. It was founded in 2006 with a mission to promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education - from governance and operations to curriculum and outreach - through education, communication, research and professional development.

As an active member of AASHE, Rider University understands the important role that we must play in not only reducing Rider’s impact on the environment, but also educating the members of our community about sustainability. Since signing the Carbon Commitment in 2007, Rider has been strongly dedicated to doing just that in an effort to create a better future and more sustainable lifestyle.

The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges

Rider’s efforts have been recognized annually in the Princeton Review for more than a decade as one of America’s top green colleges.

Any questions, comments or suggestions should be sent to [email protected].