Stevens Institute of Technology Again Receives Gold STARS Rating for Sustainability Innovations

HOBOKEN, N.J. October 8, 2024 – Stevens Institute of Technology has once again secured a Gold STARS rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), reaffirming the university’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. This achievement, aligned with Stevens’ strategic plan, marks the second time the university has been recognized with this honor.

According to AASHE, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) is “a transparent, self-reporting framework used by hundreds of colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.” Currently, 359 institutions hold a valid STARS rating, with Stevens being one of only three universities in New Jersey to achieve Gold status.

Stevens’ accomplishments were further highlighted in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI), which recognizes top-performing institutions across 17 sustainability impact areas. Stevens ranked in the Top 10 for Buildings, Transportation and Water categories.

“This Gold STARS rating reaffirms Stevens' position as a leader in sustainability within higher education," said Stevens President Nariman Farvardin. “It reflects our comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship, from our renewable energy commitment to our cutting-edge research and academic programs. We’re not just adapting to a changing world, we’re actively shaping a more sustainable future.”

A cornerstone of Stevens’ sustainability efforts is its commitment to renewable energy. The university recently renewed its contract to source 100% of its electricity from local renewable energy sources, a practice it began in 2021. This initiative significantly reduces Stevens’ carbon footprint, with an impact equivalent to removing thousands of passenger vehicles from the road.

“Our sustainability initiatives are deeply integrated into every aspect of campus life,” said Robert Maffia, vice president for facilities and campus operations at Stevens. “From our green buildings and transportation solutions to our resource management and academic programs, we’re creating an environment that not only reduces our ecological footprint but also inspires and equips our students to become leaders in sustainability.”

Stevens continues to demonstrate leadership in sustainability through various initiatives:

• Green Building Practices

  • The University Center Complex earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2022, following the Gateway Academic Center's LEED Gold certification in 2020. Stevens is committed to building all new construction to a minimum of LEED Gold standards.

• Sustainable Transportation

  • An on-demand shared ride service allows the Stevens community to use campus shuttles as a green transportation solution.

  • Eleven EV charging stations are now available across campus, offering free charging to faculty, staff and students.

• Resource Management

  • The "Feed the Flock" program allows students to donate unused meal swipes, addressing food insecurity while reducing waste.

  • Enhanced composting programs, dining guidelines, a new greenhouse and specialized recycling bins in residence halls promote individual resource management.

• Energy Efficiency

  • Stevens has installed LED lighting in 30 campus academic buildings, significantly reducing energy consumption.

  • LED lighting and occupancy sensors are now a campus standard on all projects.

• Water Management

  • The campus features bioswales, bioretention planters and rain gardens designed to collect stormwater runoff and prevent flooding.

  • The University Center Complex features a 12,000-gallon retention tank used for irrigation.

• Academic Integration and Research

  • The university offers a master's program in sustainability management and a graduate certificate in materials technology for energy and sustainability.

  • Recently, a $1.45 million gift from the PSEG Foundation enabled the creation of the Stevens Center for Sustainability.

  • Stevens leads cutting-edge renewable energy research, including wave power, AI-optimized grids, advanced batteries, microgrids and biofuels.

For more information on sustainability efforts at Stevens Institute of Technology, please visit Stevens’ sustainability website. Additionally, Stevens’ STARS report is publicly available at the AASHE website.

Stevens Media Contact
Kristen Daily
Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communication and Public Relations
Division of University Relations
973-879-5074
[email protected]

About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, New Jersey. Since our founding in 1870, technological innovation has been the hallmark of Stevens’ education and research. Within the university’s three schools, nearly 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate closely with faculty in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment. Academic and research programs spanning business, computing, engineering, the arts and other disciplines actively advance the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront our most pressing global challenges. The university continues to be consistently ranked among the nation’s leaders in career services, post-graduation salaries of alumni and return on tuition investment.

About AASHE

AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future. AASHE’s mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. It provides resources, professional development and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research. For more information about AASHE, visit aashe.org.