Yes, recycling bins are located in every building on campus. There are blue bins present on almost every floor of the dorms and black bins are conveniently located in the Lower Level Gallagher Center and Castellani Art Museum. In St. Vincent’s Hall, there are now bins in every classroom, something that you will see in the rest of the buildings on campus soon.

Here is a handy flyer on what items can and cannot be recycled.

We recycle about 11 tons (22,000 pounds) of paper and cardboard in a single year. Additionally, we recycle 4 ¼ tons of plastic, metal and glass annually.

The buildings that have been renovated or built in the last 10 years are extremely efficient. They utilize the latest technology, integrated energy management systems, environmentally-friendly spray-on insulation and even green roofs to achieve maximum efficiency.

The spray-on insulation technique used in NU’s Academic Complex was the first utilization of this technology in Western New York.

We have continuously updated and improved the central energy management systems in the buildings that were constructed prior to the last decade. For instance, the lighting systems have benefited from many upgrades, keeping pace with the many improvements in these systems in the last 10 years!

We get 98 percent of our electric power from the New York Power Authority’s hydroelectric plant. This electric power is renewable and significantly reduces our carbon footprint.

To maximize our electric efficiency, 45-kilowatt solar electric panels will be installed on the roof of the Dwyer Arena in spring 2011.

There are many ways to assist Niagara University’s sustainability efforts. NU employees can join the sustainability task force while students are welcome to participate in NUHOPE, the student-run environmental committee.