Programs and Strategies
As part of the college’s efforts to become carbon neutral, energy use reduction is a key component.
The College has reduced or eliminated greenhouse gas emissions through the following programs and strategies:
- In 2022, six solar-powered charging stations and WiFi hotspots called Solar Power-Doks, manufactured by Enerfusion, Inc. were installed in front of the Brower Student Center. Each table generates and stores electricity that powers two traditional GFCI outlets, four USB-A power outlets, and two USB-C power outlets and charger ports, even when the sun goes down. Ambient lighting is activated at dusk, and after dark, the canopies provide high-intensity, push-button LED lighting. The tables are constructed from poly-recycled plastic materials, so in addition to providing self-sustaining green energy through solar, each table keeps nearly 7,250 plastic water bottles out of the landfill — that’s more than 43,000 plastic water bottles in all six tables!
- The College has installed a photovoltaic generation plant that can supply electricity to our campus, and channel excess power back to the grid. The total system size produces 2,720,000 kwh per year, which equates to an approximate cost savings of over $408,000 annually and an estimated reduction in the college’s overall carbon footprint of 1,917,882 tons of CO2 savings per year.
- TCNJ has committed to the purchase of only Energy Star equipment and appliances where they exist in the marketplace.
- The Office of Building Services has completed the transition of cleaning chemicals over to Green Seal Certified, which will bring the College up to 90% of the chemicals being Green Seal Certified.
- The College has an energy efficient co-generation plant. More information at powerplant.tcnj.edu.
- Since 2005 the college has constructed only LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver buildings. These include residence halls, the Art and Interactive Multimedia Building, the R. Barbara Gitenstein Library, the School of Education, and a mixed use development called Campus Town.
For more on what the college is doing to conserve and reduce energy use, and for tips on how to reduce your and your office’s energy use, visit TCNJ’s Energy Conservation site Share your comments or questions with Paul Romano, Senior Director of Sustainability and Energy Management, romanop@tcnj.edu.