By Taylor Smith

Monmouth University in Long Branch (www.monmouth.edu) is the first private institution of higher education in New Jersey to join businesses across the state on the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry (http://registry.njsbdc.com).

Named a Princeton Review Green College in 2017, Monmouth has a reputation for forward-thinking when it comes to environmental causes. For example, as of December 2018, Monmouth’s original solar installation has generated electricity that has reduced emissions of carbon dioxide by over 4,270 tons, which is equivalent to planting 880 acres of trees, removing 752 cars from the roads per year, or not driving a total of 8,920,632 miles.

The installation of hydration stations to fill reusable containers with filtered water in high traffic areas throughout campus has helped to divert more than 921,408 disposable plastic water bottles from a landfill since 2014. In addition, the University’s utility costs have either decreased or remained stable continuously since 2007 (while having added a total of 433,984 square feet) as a direct result of energy efficient practices and energy efficient purchases, including lighting retrofits. Finally, the waste diversion rate (the amount of waste that is diverted from landfills for recycling) increased from approximately 10 percent in 2009 to 58 percent in 2018.

Monmouth was awarded the New Jersey Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award in the Clean Air category in 2014 as well as the New Jersey Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award in the Environmental Leadership category in 2012.

New Jersey residents can view a list of “green businesses,” according to the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry, at http://registry.njsbdc.com/registered-businesses. Cherry Grove Farm, Terhune Orchards, Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design, Windsor Nissan, Flying Fish Brewing Company, Greenleaf Painters LLC, Whole Earth Center, Robbinsville Cleaners, and Jammin’ Crepes are just a few of the highly-recognizable small businesses.

Situated along New Jersey’s northern coastline, Monmouth University’s leading academic research and faculty attention is complemented by Division I athletics. Their extensive undergraduate and graduate degree-granting programs prepare students for life beyond college. Learn more about how Monmouth is “leading the way to a greener world” at https://www.monmouth.edu/about/green-campus/.