Jersey City, N.J. – November 20, 2014 – Saint Peter’s University today announced that the U.S. Green Building Congress (USGBC) has awarded LEED Silver Certification to the Mac Mahon Student Center. According to the USGBC, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and LEED certified buildings save money and resources, have a positive impact on the health of the occupants and promote renewable clean energy. A building can be considered LEED certified based on categories such as water savings, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality, among others.
“Saint Peter’s strongly believes in being a good steward of God’s creation and has sought cutting-edge science to assist in the goal of reducing the carbon footprint of the University,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “We are extremely pleased that the Mac Mahon Student Center has achieved LEED Silver Certification as it reflects our dedication to being a leader in sustainability.”
The Mac Mahon Student Center officially opened in March 2013 and is a state-of-the-art six-story structure located on the east side of the Jersey City campus. The building features energy and water efficient controls and fixtures, a green roof and storm water runoff. The facility was constructed with regional-sourced materials and promotes recycling and HVAC management while reducing waste. The elevators utilize recycled energy similar to the technology used in the Toyota Prius.
Saint Peter’s commitment to sustainable energy has been demonstrated in a number of other projects over the past decade. In 2011 the University entered a $6.3 million energy services contract, which involved the installation of solar arrays above a number of buildings on the campus to generate electricity and a cogeneration plant that produces both low carbon heat and electricity. Another component of the contract was the Green Energy Command Center, which contains software and equipment that tracks the amount and type of energy being used on campus. The Center also serves as an educational tool for students.
Previous green projects at Saint Peter’s include the implementation of 100 percent renewable energy generated by wind power as the sole source of purchased electricity and in 2008 Dr. Cornacchia, joined more than 650 others in signing the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The commitment acknowledges that the University will continue to be an early adopter of environmentally friendly solutions. Organizations such as Students Against Violating the Earth (SAVE) also exist on campus in order to engage students in sustainability efforts.
This year the University received a 2014 Garden State Green Award and was named one of the most environmentally responsible colleges by The Princeton Review.
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Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit www.saintpeters.edu.
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Sarah Malinowski Ferrary
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