The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
MCCC recognized for green practices
POTTSTOWN >> Montgomery County Community College was recently presented with Office Depot’s 2018 Green Spend Award, for the school’s commitment to with its purchase and use of eco-friendly products.
The college had the largest percentage increase in the purchases of green products in 2018 among the 17 colleges and universities in Office Depot’s Philadelphia Area Collegiate Cooperative, according to a press release. MCCC increased its green purchases from 38.45% in 2017 to 50.11 % in 2018 — an increase of 11.66%.
“One of the major changes the college made was switching to recycled copy paper on a college-wide basis. Additionally, individual departments have switched to using more of Office Depot’s eco-conscious products,” the release stated.
Office Depot regularly participates in MCCC’s annual Earth Day events in April, where representatives share information about its eco-conscious products with students and employees.
In 2007, MCCC signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment pledge to be carbon neutral by 2050. Since signing the
pledge, MCCC has been actively working to reduce its carbon footprint, incorporate sustainability into academic course programming and engage the community in sustainable practices through events like Earth Day, Sustainability Week and lectures, according to the college.
Sustainability efforts at MCCC are led by the Sustainability Council — a team of employees, students, alumni and community residents. Celeste Schwartz, MCCC’s vice president for information technology and chief digital officer, is the chairwoman for the council.
A Climate Commitment Action Plan was developed by the council and as a result of that plan, MCCC has implemented several sustainable initiatives, including completing a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions, purchasing 15% of campus electricity from wind power, providing a shuttle bus for students and employees between campuses, working with SEPTA to modify the bus routes and reduce overall mileage, increasing recycling efforts, among others, according to the release.
MCCC has earned several recognitions for its sustainability initiatives, including Second Nature’s Award for Institutional Excellence in Climate Leadership in 2011 and 2014 and Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association’s Environmental Leadership Award, Platinum Level Sustainability Award and the Diamond Level TDM Advocate award in 2018 and 2019. For more information, visit www.mc3.edu. Email business story ideas to business editor/ writer drovins@21stcenturymedia.com.