Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get involved in Sustainability locally?

Check out some sustainability organizations from newark and beyond such as the Greater Newark Conservancy, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Rutgers 4-H, the City of Newark Environmental Commission, and the Eastern Environmental Law Center.

I have an idea on how to make NJIT more sustainable…what do I do next?

That’s great! Email us at sustainability@njit.edu, submit ideas on our suggestion box on this website, or DM us on Instagram at njitsustain.

Your suggestions are so important to us, thank you!

What can I do for the environment?

• Eat less meat and other animal products/go vegetarian or vegan
• Learn how to recycle properly 
• Buy less new products/buy more second hand 
• Shop at small businesses/buy more local goods
• Take shorter showers and only wash full loads of laundry
• Learn about the life cycles of products you buy
• Vote for political candidates that support green policies
• Try to live a zero-waste lifestyle
• Avoid plastic when possible

How can I make my dorm green?

• Link to ig video
• Take shorter showers
• Air dry your hair
• Buy secondhand clothes and furniture
• Turn off your lights and unplug devices when not in use
• Put devices in energy efficient mode
• Encourage your friends to live sustainably.

What is sustainability?

The pillars of sustainability are people, planet, and prosperity. Every aspect of a business, school, city, or life should be trying to honor these three factors if they want to be sustainable. Sustainability is the practice of building long term conditions that enable equitable and prosperous opportunities for life and the planet as a whole.  

Why should I care about sustainability?

Sustainability is at the core of everything in life. If you care about your family, social justice, animals, wildlife, future generations, food, clean water, technology, and/or yourself, then you must care about sustainability. 

Why are pollinators important?

Almost all of the world’s seed plants need to be pollinated, so it’s safe to say that without pollinators we wouldn’t be able to live on Earth. Pollinators like bees, birds, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, bats, and more facilitate the spread of pollen throughout their lives. They enable plants to reproduce, maintain genetic biodiversity, and develop fruits to complete their life cycles again. Pollination helps with clean air, carbon sequestration, water purification, and the prevention of soil erosion. 

What is an invasive species?

Invasive species are nonnative to our region and pose threats to native wildlife. Not all nonnative species are invasive. They multiply at alarming rates due to an absence of natural predators and take resources from native species without benefiting the environment they’re in. When left unchecked, invasive species can destroy entire ecosystems. Some invasive species in NJ are the spotted lantern fly, Multiflora Rose, Japanese Barberry, and Emerald Ash Borer. 

What is environmental justice?

Genuine sustainability cannot be practiced without environmental justice. Marginalized groups are being disproportionately affected by the climate crisis while contributing the least to its causes. Communities of color across the globe are facing the brunt of devastating natural disasters, landfills, pollution, waste dumping, and more, all as a direct or heightened result of climate change. Environmental justice is the process of giving these communities who are most affected proper representation in environmental discussions, policy frameworks, and legal matters. The world cannot solve this crisis or be sustainable without addressing these injustices.

What does the Office of Sustainability do?

We’re here to serve NJIT’s community! We serve as the bridge between students and administrators when it comes to student-led environmental projects and we’re always open to hearing students’ suggestions. Our job is to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of NJIT, collect data on waste management, supervise recycling initiatives, establish climate goals, report on NJIT’s progress towards carbon neutrality, and so much more.

What is NJIT doing to combat climate change?

We recently signed a carbon neutrality commitment and are working hard to reach this goal within the next few years. The Office of Sustainability is continually promoting sustainable decisions throughout all departments of NJIT and are connecting students to climate action. The Honors college is educating incoming students about sustainability and spearheading pollinator conservation projects around campus. 

What careers are there in sustainability?

Sustainability can and should be a part of every career path, but some that focus on it more than others include sustainability specialists, environmental lawyers, biologists, clean energy workers, agriculture, environmental researchers, environmental engineers, and much more.

What research opportunities in NJIT relate to sustainability?

Check out our research page where we highlight recent projects related to sustainability. In general, the Urban Ecology Lab, Atmospheric Chemistry Lab, Structural Ecology Lab, Sustainable Environment Nanotechnology and Nanointerfaces Lab, Environmental Processes Lab, and Materials and Structures Lab are a good place to look.

What can I major in to help the environment?

Every major is related to sustainability and the environment in its own way. It’s up to you to incorporate respect and care for the environment in your own major or career path, from computer science to medicine. It’s especially important that you bring up the conversation of sustainability in spaces where it is traditionally ignored, even if it can be uncomfortable, you will be paving the way for change.