Throughout the years the SUNY New Paltz community has been involved with many green and sustainableSustainability is the use of ecosystems and their resources in a manner that satisfies current needs without compromising the needs or options of future generations. initiatives that range from the installation of photovoltaic (solar) panelsPhotovoltaic (solar) panels: Silicon panels collect sunlight and convert it into solar energy, which is then stored in special batteries, sent to a power inverter, and converted into a usable form; photovoltaic panels are joined together to create a solar array. on the roof of the Elting Gymnasium to offset power usage, to the development of two new academic programs that focus on the study and protection of the environment.
Many of the green initiatives on campus are a result of a collective effort by committed people working across departments. These collaborative efforts manifest in a variety of ways. For example, the campus-wide recycling effortRecycling is the third R of the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycling means taking a product or material at the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to make another product. has become a huge success and has resulted in a significant reduction (125 tons!) in the amount of waste the college sends off to landfills.
This Web site demonstrates the many ways in which the SUNY New Paltz community is working toward a more clean, green and sustainable future.
If you have any questions or suggestions please share them with us by contacting the Office of Public Affairs at publicaffairs@newpaltz.edu.
SUNY New Paltz was selected the "Hottest Small State School in America" in the 2008 Kaplan/Newsweek "How to Get Into College Guide"