This Year March Madness Means: NCAA Schools Cut Their Environmental Impact

NEW YORK, March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Selections have been made, the bracket is set and the NCAA tournament is upon us. While you cheer for your teams during March Madness, Juice Energy Inc. wants you to keep in mind that some of the leading conferences have begun tackling their impact on the environment by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, investing in renewable energy and launching green initiatives. Juice (www.aboutjuice.com)-a revolutionary electricity supply company-is highlighting environmental initiatives at participating conferences and schools.

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    1) The ACC is a perennial powerhouse in March, but is also recognized for
       its environmental initiatives. Duke, a number 2 seed, is the 5th
       largest university purchaser of green power, buying renewables equal to
       31% of total consumption. Duke's cross-town rival, UNC, has committed
       to making its new campus, Carolina North, carbon neutral through the
       use of alternative energy and LEED building guidelines. Clemson
       received high marks in the Sustainable Endowments Institute's 2008
       Sustainability Report Card for its green building policy that requires
       all new facilities over 5,000 square feet to achieve LEED Silver
       certification. The University of Miami is doing its part by conducting
       a university-wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory and launching a
       program to use soy-based biodiesel to fuel half of its campus buses.

    2) The Big East is represented by the most teams--seven--all with
       significant environmental commitments. Georgetown has a 300 kilowatt
       solar installation that represents the longest running project of its
       scale in the country. UConn is home to the first LEED-certified NCAA
       athletic facility, the football complex and training center. Both
       Louisville and Marquette have reduced GHG emissions by improving energy
       efficiency, saving $150,000 and $350,000 per year, respectively. Notre
       Dame reduced GHG emissions by 69,000 tons through efficiency
       improvements at its power plant. Pitt is commissioning a new steam
       plant expected to reduce related annual emissions by 46%. West Virginia
       is focused on both efficiency initiatives and an educational campaign
       to engage students in energy conservation.

    3) The Big Ten is a leader on the basketball court and the environment.
       According to the EPA, the Big Ten is ranked 2nd among green power
       purchases by conference, totaling 134,000,000 kWh per year. Michigan
       State joined the Chicago Climate Exchange and committed to a 6%
       reduction of carbon emissions by 2010, while Wisconsin's "We Conserve"
       campaign is seeking to reduce per square foot energy consumption 20% by
       2010. Indiana has focused on student involvement using its "Volunteers
       in Sustainability" program to engage students on sustainability issues.
       Purdue also encourages student involvement and uses student designed
       solar panels to heat water in one of its buildings.

    4) The PAC-10, another basketball powerhouse, is also making strides in
       sustainability. Oregon is a campus sustainability leader for its
       commitment to achieve climate neutrality and use of 22% of its energy
       consumption from carbon neutral sources. USC is investing in renewables
       as well with 7% of its electricity coming from biomass, geothermal and
       hydro generation. UCLA has set targets to reduce GHG emissions to 1990
       levels by 2020 and Stanford is working to build a "Green Dorm" that
       will emit no net carbon and generate more electricity than it uses.
       Washington State has a student-led initiative to use waste-fryer oil to
       produce approximately 3,800 gallons of biofuel. Arizona has focused on
       design and the new campus Recreation Center will be LEED-certified.

    5) The SEC's participating schools have also made notable commitments to
       reduce emissions. At Tennessee, student fees have facilitated the
       purchase of green power equal to 2.6% of the campus's energy
       consumption and Kentucky's student government similarly voted for a fee
       increase to fund renewable energy purchases. Vanderbilt's "Free Ride to
       Work" program, which pays for faculty and staff to take public
       transportation, received the 2006 Governor's Environmental Stewardship
       Award in Pollution Prevention. Mississippi State hosts a 15-kilowatt
       solar array that supplies 25,000 kWh of electricity per year. Arkansas
       is implementing efficiency projects to reduce carbon emissions by over
       3,500 tons annually and Georgia is currently investigating the use of
       renewable fuels in campus vehicles and the central steam plant.

    6) The Big 12 is represented by 5 schools this year, each working to
       minimize their environmental impact. Baylor is helping to develop a new
       wind generation in Texas and Oklahoma has partnered with their utility
       to purchase 100% wind power. Kansas recently created a Center for
       Sustainability and installed a geothermal heating and cooling system in
       one student residence. Texas has developed its EcoReps program to help
       dorm residents reduce their environmental impact while its rival Texas
       A&M has focused efforts on improving energy efficiency and boasts a 33%
       reduction in energy consumption per square foot.

    7) Conference USA's  sole participant-Memphis-has made impressive student-
       initiated efforts to purchase green power. The largest voter turn-out
       in school history approved a referendum to purchase green power, which,
       if implemented, would make Memphis the largest user of green power in
       the Southeast.

    8) The Atlantic-10 conference is represented by Xavier, Temple and St.
       Joseph's University. Temple has recently established a Sustainability
       Task Force and an Office of Sustainability to apply holistic
       sustainability measures, and is at the forefront of green roof
       technology research. Xavier has taken initial steps to minimize its
       overall impact on the environment by simply replacing light fixtures
       and lamps with more energy efficient units. St. Joseph's is beginning
       to take action by participating in the EPA sponsored recycling contest,
       RecycleMania, a ten-week friendly competition between colleges and
       universities.

    9) The Patriot League through its single participant, American University,
       has made a significant commitment to renewable energy. American
       purchases renewable energy credits equal to 5% of the University's 2005
       energy consumption. Building on this, students at American proposed a
       student fee to fund the purchase of renewable energy and establish a
       goal of having 50% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2012.

    10) The Ivy League is also represented by a single school that has
       achieved a reduction in emissions. According to the EPA, the Ivy League
       has purchased more green power than any other division 1 athletic
       conference, in addition to receiving the highest grade in the College
       Sustainability 2008 report card. This year's representative on the
       court, Cornell, is recognized as a climate change leader with a 10%
       reduction in energy use through the use of cold lake water to air
       condition campus buildings. And, 16% of Cornell's electricity is
       sustainably produced and plans are in place to cut GHG emissions by 20%
       through energy efficiency projects.

Kevin Berkemeyer, Environmental Analyst of Juice Energy is available for interview.

About Juice Energy Inc.:

Juice is a revolutionary electricity supply company working solely on behalf of their clients. Operating in deregulated markets, Juice tailors rate structures and products to improve clients' financial performance and carbon footprint. Juice brings energy portfolio management, transparency and new accountability measures, for the highest return at the lowest cost. www.aboutjuice.com.

     Contact: Eric Yaverbaum
     914-834-2199
     eric@erichopr.com