2009: A Sustainable Commencement
Buses used to provide guest shuttle services will be running on biodiesel and compressed fuel.
The University of New Hampshire is nationally recognized for its sustainability initiatives. Evidence of the university's commitment to being resourceful and reducing waste was especially evident at the 2009 Commencement ceremony.
- Power for the 2009 Commencement ceremony was generated by EcoLine, UNH's first-in-the-nation power generation project that converts landfill gas to enriched and purified gas at a Rochester, NH landfill. The gas is piped 12.7 miles to the university's cogeneration plant which then fuels all academic and research facilities, as well as residence halls (and at the 2009 Commencement ceremony!)
- Student invitations to the UNH Commencement ceremony were sent electronically, thereby saving resources historically spent on printing and mailing thousands of invitations.
- Commencement and Honors Convocation ceremony programs and invitations were printed on 100% recycled paper. For details of the reduced environmental footprint, view the Monadnock Paper Mills Environmental Savings Certificate
- UNH buses providing ceremony guest shuttle services ran on biodiesel and compressed fuel.
- UNH Department of Transportation Services used a transportation plan specifically designed to reduce idling.
- UNH Dining Services composted leftover food for use on the University’s farms and for sale to the public as UDoo.
- Recycling stations were available in and around Memorial Field.
- Porta-potties contained environmentally friendly products that were 100% biodegradable and non-toxic supplied by Earth Friendly Chemicals.TM