The University of Scranton's Green Initiatives Honored

        The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce presented The University of Scranton with the Green Practices Award for organizations with more than 100 employees and a Pride and Progress Award for New Construction at its recent Annual Membership Luncheon.

        The Green Practices Award honors organizations demonstrating outstanding green practices and sustainability efforts. The University of Scranton has been actively involved in implementing and maintaining sustainability practices on campus for years. In July 2004, Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of the University of Scranton, initiated the Sustainability Task Force in an effort to coordinate and implement sustainability initiatives on campus. Since then, the task force has helped to develop approaches to sustainability issues targeting the areas of academics, community education and physical plant. 

        In academics, a wide range of courses and workshops have been developed to discuss sustainability and its impact on society. More than 50 faculty members have implemented sustainability into the curriculum across many disciplines.

        The University has built community awareness by developing programs to inform on- and off-campus constituents about sustainable practices including several free, educational programs organized in conjunction with community partners.

        The physical plant has initiated sustainability projects involving improvements in energy efficiency, water conservation and green construction practices, most prominently with the construction of The DeNaples Center and the unified science center.

        The Patrick and Margaret DeNaples Center, opened in January 2008, received the chamber's New Construction Award. The DeNaples Center earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification from the United States Green Building Council in 2009, making it the first building in Lackawanna County to earn this certification. Some of the environmentally friendly features of The DeNaples Center include water conservation devices; light sensors and controls for daylight harvesting; the use of green housekeeping supplies and green cleaning machines; CO2 feedback controls on air returns; and a single-ply roof membrane that reflects, rather than absorbs heat, reducing the air conditioning load.

        The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce presents these awards to publicly and privately owned organizations in recognition of improving the community and beautifying the region.