The PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies supports transdisciplinary research and community projects that grow more resilient communities worldwide. From climate change research in New Jersey, to energy studies in Vietnam and modeling water availability in Africa, the work of Montclair State University’s faculty cover the world with results shared with local residents, state agencies and professionals.
Healthy environments and sustainable economies supporting resilient communities.
To advance sustainability by developing community-engaged research projects and building educational programs through academic-corporate-public partnerships.
Our Green Team Program aggregates groups of five students who work with communities and corporations to provide solutions to sustainability problems. In 2017, 45 students from 10 different universities worked with nine organizations throughout New Jersey to help address their sustainability challenges.
The PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies has worked with students and University Facilities to pursue a more sustainable campus. We have supported student efforts to increase recycling awareness in campus residence halls and community centers, installed three water bottle filling stations with support from NJAW, and support efforts to plant community gardens on campus.
Working with the NJDEP and the Township of Montclair, the Institute developed a Green Business Recognition (GBR) program as part of the Township’s recertification for Sustainable Jersey. Montclair’s GBR program helps local businesses identify and implement sustainable practices throughout their operations. By participating in the program, businesses are well aligned to apply to the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry, as well as to other cost reduction and recognition programs. The Institute has helped the town of Montclair recruit students to help register businesses and educate them about the requirements of the GBR program.
Building upon its work with Montclair, the PSEG ISS has also worked with the towns of Verona, Maplewood and Jersey City to recruit students to help them register businesses for their township’s GBR programs. In total, Montclair State students have helped these towns register over 15 businesses, several of which are now part of the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry.
In 2016, the Institute provided seed funding to Dr. Dirk Vanderklein to assist with his work on the “Street Trees of Montclair” pilot project, seeking to identify, evaluate and map the trees along the streets of Montclair. The project was initiated to identify ash trees that would be at risk for emerald ash borer infestation. The Montclair Environmental Commission, in collaboration with Dr. Vanderklein and PSEG ISS, was funded $10,000 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Community Stewardship Incentive Program (CSIP) to continue the work for two more years.
Montclair State University’s USGBC student chapter is running a pilot program this summer in collaboration with the PSEG ISS, Campus Recreation, and several other student organizations seeking to establish a community garden.
In September, 2015, the UN adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals to aid the nations in our world to work toward a more sustainable existence. Montclair State University, under the leadership of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies, joined the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network to build programs that will contribute to the global network of sustainability solutions.
