Green Initiatives

Quinnipiac University is committed to the environment. The University is engaged in a far-reaching campaign to go green, with fresh initiatives underway across all three campuses.

At the York Hill Campus, wind turbines generate 32,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually, while 721 roof-top photovoltaic panels gather power from the sun, saving another 250,000 kilowatts. Watch the wind turbines in action and read about them in a New York Times article. Read more about York Hill's green initiatives.

On the North Haven Campus, environmentally-friendly features include: energy-efficient heating and cooling units and lighting fixtures; low VOC paint; Green Guard-certified carpeting and new windows with energy-saving thermal glazing.

On the Mount Carmel Campus, a community garden yields fresh fruit and vegetables. The University holds an annual Earth Day celebration in April on the Mount Carmel Campus. View photos from the 2012 event or a video from Earth Day 2012. In addition, each fall and spring, the University hosts a weekly farmer's market. The event provides students, faculty and staff the opportunity to learn about sustainable food practices and purchase food and crafts from local vendors. On select weeks, the event also features cooking demonstrations and competitions. View photos from the 2013 fall semester Farmer's Market and watch a video about how the event got started.

Building DashboardQuinnipiac also has a Building Dashboard website, which lets students and staff on all three campuses track their energy consumption rates in real-time. The site also offers energy-saving tips.

Read more about the University's sustainability measures in the sections below.

Wind garden
The wind turbine garden on Quinnipiac’s York Hill Campus generates 32,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year. Read more about the University's responsible energy use.
Quinnipiac purchases 100 percent of its electricity from renewable resources, placing it well above state and national minimum renewable energy purchase requirements. In 2012, Quinnipiac was named to the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership Top 20 Colleges & Universities list, citing the University's purchase of electricity from renewable resources.

At the York Hill Campus, wind turbines generate 32,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually, while 721 roof-top photovoltaic panels gather power from the sun, saving another 250,000 kilowatts. Watch the wind turbines in action and read about them in a New York Times article. Read more about York Hill's green initiatives.
  • Lighting in all residence halls uses T8 bulbs instead of the less efficient T12 models.
  • The University's ongoing "Bobcat Bulb Swap" program allows students to trade up to six fluorescent bulbs for greener, compact fluorescent models.
  • The University's information technology department has installed a "deep freeze" feature, which automatically shuts down all computers in teaching classrooms at night.
Hydration station video
Hydration stations are more sanitary and encourage less plastic waste. Watch the video
Half of the campus' eight irrigation zones, which deliver water to the grounds and landscaping, are outfitted with automatic shut-off features to conserve water after heavy rain has saturated the soil.

Water usage in residence hall toilets has been reduced from 3.5 to 1.6 gallons per flush, which saves 2-3 million gallons of water annually.

"Hydration stations," which allow users to easily refill water bottles with fresh, cold drinking water, are replacing less sanitary, old-style water fountains in the Athletic Center and Tator Hall. The stations encourage University community members to bring reusable water bottles, therefore reducing plastic use. Watch a video about the stations.
CT Green Guide
Connecticut Green Guide consulted with Quinnipiac for an article on sustainable practices during the winter months. Read the article.
A geothermal heat pump system on York Hill provides all of the heating and cooling for the Eastview Residence Hall. The geothermal well field, which is concealed below the Eastview Parking lot, consists of 48 closed-loop wells that are each 500 ft. deep. Geothermal heat pumps are highly energy-efficient because they reject summertime heat into the mass of the earth, and then draw the heat back out to heat the building during the winter. They also have the added benefit of eliminating cooling towers and associated chemical treatment.

The University improves the efficiency of the heating and cooling systems by taking measures such as using windows with energysaving thermal glazing. The facilities department also ensure all the energy-efficient systems are tuned and running efficiently.

Technicians have access to heating and cooling systems through their iPads, which allows them to make changes remotely and improve efficiency.
Single stream recycling
Members of the University's sustainability committee and Students for Environment Action remind members of the community how we can help reduce our impact on the planet through single-stream recycling. Watch the video
  • The University provides "Big Belly" solar-powered trash cans on campus. Watch a video about the trash cans.
  • The University conducts single-stream recycling across campus.
  • In 2012, the University invested in iPads for its technicians. This allows them to trouble-shoot several problems remotely, cutting down on travel time, fuel use, and paper use.
  • In 2009, the University launched an annual mattress recycling program, recycling 167 mattresses for the first time.
  • Campus Copy shop offers double-sided copies printed on 100 percent recycled paper.
  • Sixty-five percent of cleaning supplies used on campus are Green Seal-certified.
  • The University uses only natural fertilizer products on its fields and landscaping
  • Paper towel products used on campus are composed of at least 40 percent recycled fiber.
  • The University Copy/Mail Center uses a digital package-tracking system, which notifies recipients via e-mail, rather than paper slip notices in mailboxes.
  • Graduates at Commencement ceremonies wear gowns made of 100 percent recycled material.
  • In February 2013, the University's Sustainability Committee partnered with CT Rides, a program sponsored by CT Department of Transportation, to encourage students to use alternate forms of transportation. Students will have the opportunity to earn rewards and discounts from local restaurants and businesses by riding the shuttles.
Solar panels
Roof-top photovoltaic panels gather power from the sun, generating 250,000 kilowatts annually.
  • In April 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency recognized Quinnipiac as the largest green energy purchaser in the Northeast Conference.
  • In September 2012, Quinnipiac was named a leader in green power for its commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation's green power market.
  • In June 2012, Quinnipiac was awarded a Connecticut Green Business Award for overall corporate achievement. Watch a video about the award featuring Keith Woodward, associate vice president for facilities operations.