News Release from EPA Region 2

EPA and Georgian Court University to Work Together to

Increase Green Practices

Will Promote the Use of Refillable Water Bottles at Campus Water Fountains

Contact: Jennifer May (646) 369 0039 may.jennifer@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – March 12, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Georgian Court University have entered into an agreement to enhance environmental practices at the university. The agreement, signed today by EPA Region 2 Chief of Staff Lisa Plevin and Georgian Court University President Rosemary E. Jeffries, RSM, Ph.d., commits the university to participate in various EPA environmental stewardship programs, and promises technical assistance and support from the EPA. Georgian Court is the first institution in Ocean County to sign such an agreement with the EPA.

"With this agreement, Georgian Court University is doing its part to create a cleaner, healthier planet," said EPA Regional 2 Chief of Staff Lisa Plevin. “Georgian Court is setting an example for all universities that care about the environment and the health of their students, faculty and staff.”

Under its Memorandum of Understanding with the EPA, Georgian Court University has agreed to:

• Promote the use of reusable water bottles by installing filters on water fountains within highly trafficked buildings and implement educational campaigns to help raise awareness of the benefits of reusable water bottles.
• Achieve at least a 2% reduction in energy use per year under the EPA's "Menu of EnergyStar Offerings for Higher Education," and use applicances that meet EnergyStar or equivalent energy-saving levels.
• Continue as an EPA Green Power Partnership Program member.  Through the program, Georgian Court competes against other colleges each year to determine which can be the largest purchaser of green power.
• Improve its stormwater management practices, including incorporating porous pavement into future construction, constructing of rain gardens throughout the campus, and using rain barrels and an existing green roof to mitigate the effects of drainage from buildings.
• Increase the university's recycling rate by at least twice or current rate.
• Implement a composting program to compost food waste from the university's waste stream, and replace disposable plastic utensils currently used at the university's Court Cafe with compostable utensils.
• Reduce emissions from vehicles and other internal combustion engines used in construction and operation of university facilities, utilizing practices outlined by the EPA's Clean Construction USA program.  The university will further implement idling reduction measures on its fleet.
• Promote use of carpooling and public transportation among all members of the university community.
• Develop a comprehensive Environmental Management System (EMS) for the University.  Georgian Court's EMS will be a set of processes and practices that enable the university to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency.

Georgian Court will submit an annual status report to the EPA, which the agency will use to determine the environmental benefits associated with the hospital’s “green” activities and provide feedback on ways to improve its environmental performance.

EPA has similar agreements in place with a number of major sports organizations, universities, hospitals and large businesses in New York and New Jersey.

For more information on EPA green agreements, visit http://www.epa.gov/region02/greenteam.

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