Reduced Emissions
The College has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations. By installing a cogeneration plant, upgrading to high efficiency HVAC equipment and lighting, and building to LEED Silver or Gold construction standards, RVCC has reduced emissions by over 50% since 2007. The College purchases carbon offsets and renewable energy credits to offset the remaining emissions from on-campus fossil fuel usage (scope 1) and purchased electricity (scope 2). In 2017, RVCC became the first two-year college in the country to be carbon neutral. RVCC stayed carbon neutral through 2020 and now offsets at least 35% of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity.
AASHE STARS Gold Rating – 2022
RVCC has been lauded for its campus sustainability efforts by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). RVCC has earned a STARS Gold rating for its efforts, according to AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). RVCC now ranks as #1 overall for two-year colleges in the US for its sustainability efforts. The College also ranks extremely high nationally among community colleges in a number of areas, including the #1 school in the country, with a perfect score, for sustainability research (for its Center for Environmental Studies); #1 for academics (for research and learning outcomes); tied for #1 for water use and rainwater management, with perfect scores for both (for River Friendly commitments); #3 two-year institution, with a 97.25% score, for sustainability learning outcomes; #3 for energy; and #4 school for air and climate, due to the College’s energy efficiency initiatives and purchasing of carbon offsets and renewable energy credits.
River Friendly Certified – Since 2011
In 2022, the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA) recertified RVCC as a “River-Friendly Business,” celebrating the College’s efforts to promote clean water and a healthy ecosystem in New Jersey’s Raritan River Basin. RVCC staff, members of the Environmental Club, and other students have improved stream riparian corridors, native plant communities, and wildlife habitat on campus by planting native trees and pollinator plants, seeding a wildflower meadow and native grasses, and maintaining deer exclosures and no-mow areas. The College also installed a second rainwater harvesting system and hosted Eagle Scout projects to install bat-houses, a rainwater irrigation system for the Enabling Garden, and a nature trail. RVCC worked directly with the NJWSA on its River-Friendly certification. In addition, the College's Center for Environmental Studies interns Haley Weber and Allyson Schmeider performed stream-side buffer assessments.
Bee Campus USA – since 2016
In 2016 RVCC became the first college in New Jersey, and the 15th in the country, to be certified as a Bee Campus USA affiliate. The Bee Campus USA designation recognizes educational campuses that commit to raising awareness and to enhancing habitat to support pollinators, including bees, butterflies, birds, and bats, among thousands of other species. The College developed a list of pollinator-friendly native plants and follows an integrated pest management policy.
Green Ribbon School – 2016
RVCC was one of 11 colleges and universities in the nation honored with a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Postsecondary Sustainability Award in April 2016. The College was honored for its leadership in sustainable education, programs, practices, and facilities.
New Jersey Governor's Environmental Excellence Award – 2013
In November 2013, the State of New Jersey honored RVCC for its commitment to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the 2013 New Jersey Governor's Environmental Excellence Award (Clean Air category). The Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards are the state's premier environmental awards program for recognizing outstanding environmental performance, programs, and projects in the state.