All members of the University of New Haven community play a role in fostering a sustainable campus and in developing the next generation of leaders and innovators committed to preserving the environment.
The University’s Office of Energy and Sustainability, which is a part of the Facilities department, coordinates campus-wide efforts to reduce the University’s carbon footprint, engages students in discussions and programs designed to protect the environment, and develops ways to integrate issues about sustainability into classes and co-curricular learning opportunities, including through Tagliatela College of Engineering, which includes professors who are experts in sustainability and green design.
The University also offers a minor in Sustainability Studies for students seeking to better understand environmental considerations in industry, government, nonprofit, and academic institutions. Courses enhance students’ major area of study by providing links between science, engineering, mathematics, business, economics, and the humanities. The minor takes a problem-solving approach to the discipline as students learn to apply broad knowledge to specific institutional, local, or global problems. Students in this minor develop valuable insights into the nature of current sustainability practices.
Learn more about the Office of Energy and Sustainability on myCharger (login required).
myChargerSince 2014, University of New Haven students and Facilities staff have collaborated on a program to minimize waste when students are moving out of their residence halls. During the spring of 2018, the campus donated 1,748 pounds of items to local nonprofit and community organizations.
These are some of the ways in which the University strives to lessen its impact on the environment:
Celentano Hall, the University’s largest residence hall, is LEED-gold certified and features a 228-panel solar array on its roof. Westside Hall, the University’s newest residence hall, has been recognized by the Connecticut chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council for using heating and control systems that use significantly less energy than most buildings of its size.
The University of New Haven tracks energy usage using a centralized Building Management System. A team of staff conducts building audits on a regular basis to identify energy opportunities that increase efficiency where possible.
Hydration stations are located all over campus and encourage students to bring reusable drink containers. By using these stations we lessen the number of plastic bottles that would be added into the waste stream.
The University of New Haven offers single stream recycling. This means that recyclables can all go into the same receptacles. Learn more about what can be recycled on campus.
Sodexo, the University of New Haven’s dining services provider offers tray-less dining, recyclable to-go containers, and reusable food containers and drink containers. Sodexo also offers locally sourced produce and hosts farmers markets on campus.
Bike racks are located around campus to encourage bike travel. The University also has a robust system of on- and off-campus shuttles. In late 2022, the University added charging stations for electric vehicles in two locations on campus.
As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and energy conservation, I am pleased to announce that as of Spring 2023 we have eight new level 2 electric vehicle charging stations located on campus, along with future plans to add more.
These new charging stations are now available to all students, faculty, and staff who have made their own commitment to sustainability by driving electric-powered vehicles. Supporting this commitment, the University is proud to offer the use of these new charging stations to faculty, staff, and students free of charge.
These stations pictured below are located in the Beckerman Recreation Center parking lot and in the Celentano Hall parking lot.
Using the stations is very simple. Users will need to create their own account through ChargePoint, which is one of the world’s largest electric vehicle charging companies, with more than 200,000 charge points across the globe. While use of the stations is free to campus users, you will be asked to provide a payment method (Credit Card, PayPal, or Apple Pay) when creating a new account.
Upon creating an account, users should:
After completing these steps, you will receive an email from ChargePoint that your connection to use a charger station on campus has been approved.
Users can also download the ChargePoint app from the App Store on your iPhone or via Google Play to start charging or to receive notifications when your car is done charging or when a charging station is available for use.
Charging time is limited to four hours, which should be more than sufficient to fully charge your vehicle. A nominal fee of $5 will be charged to your account for each hour after four hours of use. This is to encourage sharing of the charging stations and to insure ample availability to all users.
To learn more about this program, please visit ChargePoint.com or email Laura Miller, director of energy and sustainability for the University, at LMiller@dos5.net.
The Bergami Center for Science, Technology and Innovation is the campus' newest sustainable building. Opening in the fall of 2020, the Bergami Center has earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating that sets is apart from many of the other buildings on campus. The LEED rating system covers 5 key areas; Sustainable Site Selection, Energy and Atmosphere, Material Selection, Water Efficiency, and Indoor Environmental Quality. To learn more about this building please attend a scheduled tour offered bi-weekly. To attend simply fill out this form: Bergami Center Sustainability Tour.
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Providing all of the base power for the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation, the University’s first fuel cell is a critical step forward in minimizing the University’s energy footprint. The hope is that it will be the first of several fuel cells that will provide power to the campus.
The Charger Blog
From its new electric vehicle charging stations and fuel cell to efforts to reduce food waste, the University is a leader in fostering sustainability through important initiatives, education, and outreach across the University.
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Meet Laura Miller, director of energy and sustainability, who enjoys visiting U.S. National parks and spending time outside when she is not helping to lead the University’s “green” initiatives.
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As part of its many green initiatives, the University is committed to composting, and it is now using food scraps to feed crayfish that are used in research.
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The University of New Haven’s newest building, the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation, has earned a Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizing the University’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
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After a series of meetings illuminated new ways for the University of New Haven to enhance its efforts to go green, the Office of Facilities spearheaded a project to install energy-efficient LED lighting solutions in two of the University’s most active facilities.
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The University’s diverse green initiatives have been recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and students and staff members are continuing to work together to minimize the University’s impact on the planet.
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In an effort to decrease food waste and help address food insecurity in the greater New Haven area, the University of New Haven is partnering with Haven's Harvest, a nonprofit organization, to distribute unused food to local residents in need.
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Laura Miller, director of energy and sustainability, and Sam Alaimo ’21, a marine biology major and leader of the University of New Haven’s Marine Conservation Society, discuss efforts to increase visibility of the University’s sustainability initiatives, including participating in RecycleMania.
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A new fume hood exhaust system in the kitchen in The Marketplace in Bartels Hall will significantly reduce the amount of natural gas and electricity needed to power the system.
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Laura Miller, the University’s director of energy and sustainability who coordinated a contribution to the Columbus House, discusses her efforts to reduce waste by giving back to the community and shares how students can get involved.