See which colleges got top marks from Grist, then grade our effort in the comments section at the bottom of this page.
College of the Atlantic
This small school in Bar Harbor, Maine, has just one major: human ecology -- or "the study of our relationship with our environment." So it only makes sense that it was the first college in the U.S. to pledge carbon neutrality. And it kicked off quite a trend: Now more than 270 other U.S. colleges and universities -- including many of the following -- have pledged to do the same as part of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.
Middlebury College
This Vermont college is a hotbed of climate activism. Student group MiddShift pushed the board of trustees to approve a plan to make the school carbon-neutral by 2016. Students have also led the charge to host energy-saving contests in residence halls, increase use of public transportation to and from campus, and turn down campus thermostats. A handful of students and recent alums, along with scholar-in-residence Bill McKibben, helped organize the Step It Up 2007 campaign demanding action to fight climate change, and now a Middlebury delegation has joined up with the Climate Summer campaign in New Hampshire.
EARTH University
This appropriately monikered university in Costa Rica is dedicated to promoting sustainable development in the tropics. Students from more than 20 different countries go through a four-year program to earn an agronomy degree as they learn to balance ecological preservation and agriculture. EARTH University's "rational use of resources" program aims to instill an eco-ethic in everyone on campus.
The Evergreen State College
True to its roots -- and its name -- this Washington state school maintains a strong commitment to sustainability: An organic farm, almost an acre in size, produces enough food to have leftovers after selling to the campus food service, and proceeds go into financing farm projects and other student endeavors. A massive composting program is also in place -- complete with a compost reactor, worm bins, and food-scrap collection at residence halls. And after students voted to approve a fee increase, the school was able to purchase 100 percent (ever)green power.
Oberlin College
Hoping to get an ober-view of energy use, faculty and students at this small liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, collaborated in 2005 to create a web-based monitoring system in some of the dorms that shows how much energy and water is being used, giving students real-time feedback that can help change their consumption habits. Last year, students worked with Cleveland-based CityWheels to create a car-sharing program on campus. The college's Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies is housed in a pioneering green building that opened in 2000. Oberlin also boasts Ohio's largest solar array and is transitioning to 100 percent earth-friendly cleaning products.
News Office
Harvard University
This Ivy Leaguer began a Green Campus Initiative in 2000 and has continued to grow its green roots [PDF] since then. Harvard has made major investments in energy conservation in campus buildings, introduced a green cleaning service, and integrated local and organic produce into school cafeterias. Plus, 20 new-construction and renovation projects have been certified for green credits since 2002, more than at any other university in the country. The Crimson's green tide is also extending to transportation, with biodiesel being made from kitchen oil and used in university buses.
University of British Columbia
A leader in the greening of Canadian campuses, UBC adopted a sustainable development policy in 1997 and a year later opened a campus Sustainability Office -- both firsts for the nation's colleges. Offering more than 300 sustainability-related courses, this Vancouver campus was Canada's first and only university to receive Campus Ecology Recognition from the U.S.-based National Wildlife Federation, in 2003 and again in 2005. And just last year, UBC developed a comprehensive sustainability strategy to keep the eco-momentum moving.
California State University, Chico
This year, Chico State won grand prize in the National Wildlife Federation's Chill Out competition, which challenges colleges to find effective ways to fight global warming. Chico State's dedication to sustainability also includes LEED-certified buildings and solar arrays atop some campus rooftops, and students have taken up the charge with energy-saving projects and sustainability-minded service-learning programs.
Tufts University
Tufts is getting tough on climate change. It has committed to meeting or exceeding the Kyoto target for emissions reductions, and it was the first university to join the Chicago Climate Exchange. The Tufts Climate Initiative won the U.S. EPA Climate Protection Award in 2005. The university has a strong history of incorporating sustainability throughout its operations and campuses.
Leeds University
The U.K.'s second-largest university, Leeds is a leader in eco-friendly waste management, and the school's work in that area has won it a Green Gown Award [PDF] from U.K.-based HEEPI (Higher Education - Environmental Performance Improvement). By replacing trash bins with recycling containers, it doubled the amount of recycling happening on campus. The school has also changed its purchasing practices to favor recycled goods.
Green Mountain College
Calling itself "Vermont's environmental liberal arts college," GMC uses the environment as a central theme in its core curriculum. Also central to its operation? Methane from nearby dairy farms that provides half of the school's electricity. Additionally, GMC's efforts to save energy helped earn it the first Energy Star Showcase Campus award from the U.S. EPA in 1999.
Yale University
Yale President Richard Levin wants to make his school the greenest in the U.S. The university has committed to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2020. (Hello, DIY Kyoto.) To reach its goal, it plans to tap into renewable sources of energy, purchase carbon offsets, make its energy systems more efficient, and build new buildings greenly. Taking the commitment even further, the university hopes to aid China in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and educating its leaders on environmental issues.
Aquinas College
When it comes to sustainability, this Grand Rapids, Mich., school gets right down to business. Literally. Aquinas bills itself as the first college to offer an undergraduate major in sustainable business -- a four-year curriculum that combines formal biz training with environmental studies. Growing interest in green biz led to the creation of the Center for Sustainability, an online resource center.
Glasgow
Glasgow University
The first Scottish university to get energy-efficiency accreditation (in 1998), Glasgow draws almost 45 percent of its electricity from renewable sources and is constantly on the lookout for new ways to reduce overall energy use. Recognized by HEEPI for its sustainable procurement practices [PDF], the school has ensured that construction of new buildings involves energy assessments and energy-saving designs.
University of Maryland
Students at this College Park campus recently sent a loud-and-clear message about sustainability: some 91 percent of undergrads voted to raise student fees in order to pay for clean energy, when tuition and fees are already at record highs. If implemented, the fee increase would eventually raise enough money to make UM the largest higher-ed purchaser of renewable energy in the U.S. UM -- one of the many schools committed to going carbon neutral -- is also doing what it can to reduce energy use: a combined heat-and-power plant completed in 2003 received the U.S. EPA's Energy Star award, and motion sensors that automatically shut down unused office equipment are currently undergoing testing.
Runners-Up
Photographic Services
University of New Hampshire
Forget organic eaters, the University of New Hampshire hopes to educate future organic farmers with a multimillion-dollar dairy farm on 30 acres near Lee, N.H. The project is funded in part by Stonyfield Farm, an organic yogurt maker based in the state. As part of the school's effort to be a Climate Protection Campus, UNH also sponsors programs like WildCAP, which offers student discounts on Energy Star and other energy-efficient products.
Stanford News Service
Stanford University
The school's recently built Global Ecology Research Center was named one of the American Institute of Architects' Top 10 Green Projects in 2007. The two-story structure features walls made of redwood salvaged from century-old wine casks, rainwater collection, and a number of recycled building materials. Stanford's cutting-edge climate and energy research has also garnered quite a bit of interest (and some controversy); the university had to turn away attendees at a recent student-organized renewable-energy symposium that attracted more than twice as many people as expected.
Arizona State University
With one of the nation's largest enrollments on a single campus, sustainability is a huge issue for ASU. And it's a degree program, too, via the newly opened (and world's first) School of Sustainability, which will serve both undergraduate and graduate students. Located in the Phoenix area, ASU is well aware of the effects global warming could have on the city's hot, dry clime -- which is why the school's Biodesign Institute will focus on emulating natural systems to innovate for tomorrow's environment.
University of California, Berkeley
Last year, UC-Berkeley served up an organic salad bar. Though many schools are moving in this direction, Berkeley's dining hall is the first in the nation to feature an officially certified organic kitchen. And it's not just food these students are hungry for: demand for introductory energy courses at Berkeley has almost tripled in recent years.
St. Olaf College
Is this Minnesota school into sustainability? Ya sure, you betcha. For 2005-2006, it was the theme for the whole school year, making its way into courses, lectures, and campus tours. A "college of the church," St. Olaf is invested in creation care from a spiritual standpoint as well and created a black & gold & green website to give "an honest accounting of [its] successes and failures" in sustainability.
Sarah van Schagen contributed to this list.
The night I slept with Jim Hansen
4.5 things I learned at my energy audit
Comments
View as Flat
pesky Posted 11:24 am
10 Aug 2007
As Vinod Khosla pointed out during a recent Caltech renewable energy summit, economic factors will hasten the adoption of the green ideas that research generates.
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srusso Posted 1:25 pm
11 Aug 2007
http://www.prescott.edu
I was surprised not to see Prescott College on this list or even on the runner up list. I was surprised to see two other colleges in the Eco-league, Green Mountain College and College of the Atlantic, but not Prescott College.
The Mission statement is:
"It is the mission of Prescott College to educate students of diverse ages and backgrounds to understand, thrive in, and enhance our world community and environment. We regard learning as a continuing process and strive to provide an education that will enable students to live productive lives while achieving a balance between self-fulfillment and service to others. Students are encouraged to think critically and act ethically with sensitivity to both the human community and the biosphere. Our philosophy stresses experiential learning and self-direction within an interdisciplinary curriculum."
Anyways, I felt a little let down when reading this article at the crossraods center, which was constructed using eco-design practices and outfitted with solar panels that bring energy back to the grid. Maybe next time grist will pick a college of 500 people that fits into a town, not expands it ,such as ASU.
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mihan Posted 8:04 am
12 Aug 2007
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Parmesan Posted 10:48 pm
12 Aug 2007
The table generated quite a lot of interest in the British media, with the Guardian and Independent running stories, and it was published in the Times Higher Education Supplement.
I helped to select some of the parameters for the table and developed the original Go Green campaign, to improve universities' environmental performace, for P&P.
I'm surprised that the South Carolina Sustainable Universities Initiative has not been mentioned, nor Harvard's efforts.
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jesswac Posted 1:55 am
14 Aug 2007
its home to the first on campus all organic restaurant
recently purchased acres to have an organic farm run by students
has a sustainable living themed house for students
certified green academic buildings and is building more!
students are active in embodying what it means to be sustainable while incorporating its ideas into their studies
Really the list only goes on and on and on...
Check it out!
http://www.coloradocollege.edu
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agulling Posted 6:42 am
14 Aug 2007
CONGRATS to every college and university listed OR NOT.
We ALL are the solution and we ALL need to join together. It is time to reach out to other universities, colleges, and community colleges.
If you are a univeristy in the United States, get involved with FOCUS THE NATION. It is way past time.
Check out http://www.focusthenation.org/main.php
--Amelia Gulling
Chico Green Campus Program Director
Contact us at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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Aklemm Posted 3:13 am
16 Aug 2007
http://blogs.calstate.edu/cpdc_sustainability/
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cneutralcolorado Posted 4:25 am
16 Aug 2007
Began the nations first college recycling program (1973)
Began the nation's first student bus pass program (1991)
Funded the nation's first campus wind energy purchase (2000)
Became the first student government to commit to climate neutrality for student run facilities (2007)
UCB was one of the earliest signators of the President's Climate Commitment to achieve climate neutrality--which many of your alleged top schools(like Harvard and Yale) have refused to do. And UCB each year is among the top campuses for funded environmental research--if not at the top of those rankings.
The top five achievers are likely, in no partucular order: Oberlin, Middlebury, UCB, UBC, and Tufts. They have all been doing it for a while. The rest in your list are great, but are probably not among the early leaders.
It is indeed difficult to cover all the good things college campuses are doing--espicially lately; but nobody in the know denies UCB has been setting the pace for decades. Please do better research in the future.
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Tambone Posted 7:04 am
16 Aug 2007
Clearly a lot of folks have advocated for their institutions with their comments, and I agree that this work is important regardless of who is among the chosen. However, I still think it's strange to omit every single one of the institutions selected last year by AASHE, which is considered the premiere national association for sustainability in higher ed.
Oh well... I was interested to learn about the initiatives at some schools I haven't even heard of!
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kelmoose Posted 8:56 am
16 Aug 2007
See what else we've been doing at http://www.sustainable.ufl.edu/
Look out for the Gators next year, Grist! We win a lot more than just NCAA National Championships!
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Summer Rayne Oakes Posted 9:54 am
16 Aug 2007
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Miriam Weinstein Posted 1:35 am
17 Aug 2007
I would think your readers would be more interested in a "green education" than a green campus (though that is esssential too.) Then one must look much further and evaluate the strength and number of environmental majors, the ethos of the campus, the opportunities for applied and field studies the encouragement of critical, long term and holistic thinking.... Are there organic gardens, green dorms, service-learning programs? How long has the institution had a commitment to the environment? Is it part of it's mission statement? How strong are the administration's and faculty's commitment?
To learn about colleges and universities that have long fit these criteria (and more), to also learn about institutions with a central ethos of social change, peace and service, I encourage readers to pick up a copy of Making A Difference Collleges (10th ed) published by SageWorks Press. You can also get for more info at http://www.making-a-difference.com
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annaprizzia Posted 5:08 am
17 Aug 2007
Sustainability Committee:
UF¡¦s sustainability committee is composed of faculty members elected by the faculty senate, faculty or staff appointed by the President's designee, and student members selected by the dean of students. The director and an academic officer appointed by the provost serve as nonvoting ex-officio members.
The committee¡¦s role is to promote sustainability within the university and with the larger community and to enhance the university's standing as a global leader in sustainability. It assesses the progress of the university's sustainability efforts and pursues their implementation when appropriate. It aids in the development of policy with the Office of Sustainability.
The sustainability committee has developed three task forces to address goals within the university. Following are the missions of those task forces.
,,X Zero Waste by 2015: to assess the university¡¦s solid waste streams and to suggest policies and create user incentive programs to dramatically reduce solid waste on campus to nearly zero by the year 2015.
,,X Energy and Climate Change: to assess the energy system of the university, including the supply and consumption sides, for the purpose of minimizing both energy costs and environmental impacts in order to recommend measures to accomplish these goals.
,,X Education and Research: to facilitate ideas and methods in order to integrate sustainability into the research and educational fabric of the university, using the university as a living laboratory for sustainability research and education.
Office of Sustainability
The mission of the Office of Sustainability is to make UF - in its operations, education, research, and outreach - a model of sustainability, integrating the goals of ecological restoration, economic development, and social equity.
In pursuing this mandate, the office encourages and facilitates the collaborative efforts of faculty, students, and staff to generate knowledge, acquire skills, develop values, and initiate practices that contribute to a sustainable, high quality of life on campus, in the state of Florida, and across the globe.
The office supports faculty, students, and staff in assuming leadership to transform the university¡¦s fourteen guiding principles for sustainability into practices.
Energy and Buildings
1n 2001, UF adopted the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design (LEED) standards for all major new construction and renovation projects. In 2006, this commitment was re-confirmed and strengthend by requiring LEED-silver criteria for design and construction for all major new construction and renovation projects to deliver high performance and sustainable building design. To date we have two Gold Certified buildings, 8 certified buildings, and a number registered. Currently, the Facilities, Planning, and Construction Department, which administers this program, is beginning a pilot LEED existing building program.
The Campus Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the university is committed to preservation of the campus in a manner that meets its goals for energy efficiency. Toward this effort, UF has a Preservation of Historic Buildings and Sites Committee.
Food and Dining
Since the early 1970¡¦s, the university has administered organic garden plots on campus. These 75 plots are cultivated by some 100 faculty, staff and students year round.
UF has worked with its dining services provider, ARAMARK, to develop an action plan for implementing principles of sustainability into food service operations, including regional sourcing of food, green catering, waste management and diversion, energy conservation, transportation impacts, sustainable procurement, and communication and marketing. To Date, two dining halls on campus are now sourcing locally grown food and offer vegan options. ARAMARK at UF is also in the process of switching over all of its disposable service items to biodegradable and reduced waste options.
Parking and Transportation
The EPA has named UF one of the best workplaces for commuters among colleges and universities: a national list of innovative college and university employers committed to improving air quality, saving energy and reducing traffic congestion while improving quality of life for employees.
The university has committed to purchasing only hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles, whenever possible. The purchasing department maintains a listing of available vehicles to assist departments with choosing a vehicle for purchase. Additionally, the university stocks biodiesel and E85 ethanol for use in its fleet vehicles.
In 2007, Flexcar was implemented at UF. Eight low-emission vehicles, including 3 hybrids, are available for use by anyone in the UF community. Flexcar members pay $5.50 an hour or $55 a day for the vehicle, gas, insurance, maintenance, a reserved parking space, 150 free miles per trip, roadside assistance and 24-hour customer service.
UF GreenRide, helps commuters to campus find carpool partners by searching for other employees who live near them and have similar schedules and lifestyle preferences. It's easy to use and offers anonymity until the user decides to make his/her contacts formal. People can use your UF or Shands email address to create an account. Users even get to see a map of the general area showing locations of potential carpoolers near them. Registered carpool members purchase their own annual carpool decals at about one quarter the cost of a regular faculty/staff decal.
UF students, faculty, and staff can ride the RTS bus system fare free with a UF ID. Buses run 7 days a week with routes on campus and throughout the city of Gainesville. Many routes serving campus have buses that come every ten minutes or less. Several bus routes offer service after 5:00 PM, and ¡§Later Gator¡¨ routes provide service in select areas beyond midnight. Many buses have bicycle racks so riders can take their bikes with them. Since 1998 when the unlimited bus pass for UF students became available, RTS ridership has risen from less than a million people per year to 8.6 million. Ridership continues to grow and is up 5% from the record 2006 level.
UF provides bicycle lanes on heavily traveled roads and many bike racks for parking throughout campus. UPD offers bicycle registration in order to aid in recovery in the case of bicycle theft. Student Government offers free bike repair on campus.
Land Use
In 2005 the university achieved designation as an Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary. Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs promote ecologically sound land management and the conservation of natural resources through education and certification programs that are tailored to a diversity of land uses.
Purchasing
The university has instituted a sustainable purchasing policy to support the purchase of products that will minimize any negative environmental or societal impacts of university operations. UF recognizes that the purchasing decisions of its employees can make a difference in favor of environmental quality and the fair and equitable treatment of workers worldwide.
Waste
UF, through waste reduction and recycling initiatives, achieves a waste recovery rate of nearly 40%. Using a mixture of in-house and contracted resources, the University recycles over 6,500 tons of material annually. Additionally, UF strives to recycle at least 70% of its deconstruction debris.
To assure that equipment that could create environmental contamination is properly managed, UF established an Electronics Reuse/Recycling Policy as well as an accompanying step-by-step guide for disposal and recycling and a recovery program that is administered by Asset Management.
Water
UF¡¦s three million gallon a day Water Reclamation Facility enabled the shift from well and potable water to reclaimed water for irrigation. With the exception of some distal areas, over 90% of the University¡¦s campus is served by the reclaimed water system.
Social Equity
The University of Florida has set aggressive hiring and retention goals to ensure the university reflects society¡¦s racial, ethnic and gender diversity. UF also strives to ensure that all personnel are rewarded with a livable wage and benefits, including benefit packages for spouses and domestic partners of university employees. The university seeks to ensure that contractors affiliated with the university meet or exceed the wage policy established for university employees. Since 2006, the university¡¦s fulltime graduate students have been offered health insurance.
Academic Programs and Research
The University of Florida has a long-standing commitment to scholarly inquiry and the cross disciplinary academic training that defines the field of sustainability. Beginning with the pioneering systems ecology work of Dr. H.T. Odum in the 1970s, faculty members and students have made substantial contributions in fields as diverse as solar energy, community design, wetlands renewal, and public health. Since the late 1990s these research groups¡¦ efforts have been supplemented by programs targeting a full range of sustainable scholarship, from the education of individual undergraduate students to the development of campus-wide research initiatives.
As part of it¡¦s mission as a land grant university, UF has combined its research capacity with its outreach and extension mission to develop interdisciplinary institutes and programs that deliver important research science to the public.
The University provost has signaled her support of an academic focus on sustainability by creating a Provost¡¦s Fellowship in Sustainability, to be funded through her office. The Fellow will work with her to connect UF¡¦s rich and diverse current course and research offerings to create a dedicated course of study in sustainability.
The Water Institute, formalized in 2006, brings together research efforts in more than 50 existing programs to improve understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes in aquatic systems. Its mission is to enhance understanding of how human activities and attitudes affect aquatic systems and to develop and promote the adoption of improved methodologies for water management and policy development.
Additionally, the development of institutes for Integrative Land Use and Alternative Energy is underway. State government officials regularly seek advice from faculty in these interdisciplinary programs to inform policy for the sustainability of the state.
Completed in 2004 as part of the Florida Museum of Natural History, The McGuire Butterfly Pavilion is home to the second largest collection of butterfly specimens in the world and a world class exhibition of living butterflies. The museum¡¦s program teaches the public about the importance of these sentinel creatures in monitoring the quality of the planets ecosystems. The research and collections mission of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity serves to focus the work of a number of scientists from across campus that seek to understand butterflies and to protect them from development threats in increasingly urbanized environments.
Beyond research efforts, talented and committed undergraduate students are the great strength and pride of the University of Florida. Over the past decade, committed faculty members have introduced students to sustainability in a variety of ways, including semester-long lecture series. The first several series, entitled ¡§Conversations in Sustainability¡¨ fostered interest in and knowledge about sustainability. In 2005 the series was formalized as an interdisciplinary undergraduate class entitled ¡§Facets of Sustainability.¡¨
UF currently offers more than 100 courses that emphasize a thread of sustainability, some of which are organized into graduate or undergraduate concentrations, such as those in Building Construction, Environmental Engineering, and Architecture. With the guidance of the sustainability committee, the provost has commissioned a study of all existing coursework and degree offerings, with the goal of amplifying current strengths and finding new opportunities for student engagement in this important discipline.
Community Service and Outreach
Like other elements of the University of Florida¡¦s sustainability efforts, community outreach is simultaneously widespread and focused. Three avenues for outreach have proved most successful to date. First, local conferences, exhibits, performances, and storefront clinics are visible gateways which allow the larger local and state communities to engage UF¡¦s sustainability resources. Second, individual students work within the local community, providing service as part of coursework or in conjunction with extra-curricular activities. Third, academic programs provide enrichment to underserved portions of the local and state communities through grants and state appropriations. UF¡¦s agricultural extension service is a particularly powerful example of the latter outreach avenue. Examples of each type of outreach follow:
The university hosted a statewide conference on October 25-26, 20067 to coincide with national Campus Sustainability Day. The conference, titled ¡§Campus and Community Sustainability: Sharing Best Practices and Visions for Florida¡¦s Future¡¨ focused on UF¡¦s practice of using the 2000 acre campus as a living laboratory, and also provided opportunities for members of the state¡¦s higher education community to share best practices. The conference provided an opportunity for establishing stronger relationships between institutions and their communities, and emphasized the role of higher education in creating a more sustainable future. With the goal of empowerment through distributed leadership, UF asked the Council for Sustainable Florida to take the lead in identifying a host campus for this annual statewide conference in following years. The 2007 conference will be held at Florida State University on October 14-16.
Service learning opportunities are a unique chance for students to engage through coursework, as individuals, or through clubs, to address issues of social equity, environmental protection, and economic development in the future, and to get involved in a real-world setting in which they observe and work to address some mix of these issues. A program to support service learning at UF exists within the Center for Leadership and Service, which helps introduce students to the value of community service and service learning opportunities, provides information to students on existing opportunities, and supports faculty in developing new service learning courses by connecting them to community contacts and current faculty teaching such courses. Students working through the Office of Service Learning provided over 175,000 hours of service in the Gainesville community during the past academic year.
Institutional outreach also occurs through academic programs. The University of Florida is the state¡¦s land grant institution, and thus has the opportunity to provide outreach across the state. Each of the state¡¦s 60 counties has an extension office, and many provide education and research benefits which focus on sustainable agriculture, energy efficiency, and reduced impact landscaping. The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program and the Program for Resource Efficient Communities are just two examples of the sustainable education provided though extension. In addition, targeted educational outreach is promoted by, among others, the College of Education, which partners with under-performing local elementary schools, and the College of Engineering, which works through grant-funded faculty to introduce children from low income families to the fields of science and engineering.
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Macreena Doyle Posted 4:20 am
21 Aug 2007
You need to seriously check out St. Lawrence:
http://www.stlawu.edu/green/
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choadie26 Posted 6:43 am
29 Aug 2007
http://www.facilitiesnet.com/bom/article.asp?id=3912& ...
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klyons Posted 11:06 am
30 Aug 2007
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Greta Posted 2:48 am
05 Sep 2007
Sadly, my own University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did not make the list. And I thought they were so innovative to offer polystyrene recycling bins in the food court 10 years ago.
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Lloyd Wright Posted 4:01 am
05 Sep 2007
Other than a single Canadian university and two UK universities, there is nothing else outside the 50 states. Is it possible that Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, continental Europe, and elsewhere have no green universities worthy of mention? Would it be so difficult to track down such institutions?
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moonwatcher Posted 4:08 am
05 Sep 2007
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filups Posted 4:41 am
05 Sep 2007
The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers lists EMU as one of the three national leaders in efficient energy use out of 90 colleges and universities surveyed (Link).
They're committed to building green (Link).
They switched to green cleaning supplies several years ago (Link).
Recyclables across campus are picked up by bicycle (Link).
A student club started the recycling program for the campus and the entire city of Harrisonburg back in the day.
Last year I helped feed cafeteria scraps to several pigs.
The President is one of 86 Christian leaders to sign a statement calling all Christians to fight climate change (Link).
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mgosling Posted 5:26 am
05 Sep 2007
As a member of the Prescott College RDP program (college is indepthly described by srusso below) I urge us all instead of feeling put out by not being included, feel grateful that there are TOO many colleges for Grist to choose from.
Keep up the good work!
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Zeth Posted 5:46 am
05 Sep 2007
Northfield, MN, is home to TWO of the more green-focused colleges in the country. You gave Saint Olaf props for it's focus and mission, but what about the school-run farm(StoGrow) that supplies food to the cafeteria in season? In a kind of strange move, the Olaf chem department "greened" thier chem lab to fit the new uber-green science center that is currently under construction. Both STO and Carleton College have aptly placed wind turbines on the property and both schools are involved in on-going savannah restoration projects.
The law school at Lewis and Clarke in Portland has the nation's #1 environmental law program, but no mention here.
Deep Springs, anyone?
Just check 'em out.
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Hynesight Posted 7:34 am
05 Sep 2007
http://www.northland.edu/Northland/
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kyotousa Posted 9:16 am
05 Sep 2007
For those institutions that have built some internal capacity on this issue, I would encourage you to reach out to the cities and towns in which you are located to form partnerships that will help local government and its residents to step up their efforts to address climate change. Issues such as transportation, housing, purchasing, and community offset projects, are examples of common issues that are more effectively addressed by collective action. It's working here in Berkeley and is opening up additional opportunities that may not have been otherwise possible.
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zacaroni Posted 7:45 am
06 Sep 2007
I attended a small Mennonite liberal arts college in my hometown that is probably greener than all of these colleges by virtue of being smaller. You should consider true cost accounting when calculating the so-called "greenness" of something. DUH!
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morethangreen Posted 2:50 pm
06 Sep 2007
This is a trend we're seeing in all industries. What's the "greenest" whatever? What's the best town to live in? These aren't definitive lists, and we'd be better off just calling them "highlights." It seems like that would still sell magazines (or get people to visit your website).
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Julephenia Posted 3:25 pm
06 Sep 2007
Connecticut College has worked very hard to be a 'green' campus - from "Lights Out" events, to recycling cans in every room, to buying green energy, to the 750 acre "Arbo," to the academic focus on sustainability, to the Earth House dormitory. Conn has won recognition in the Northeast for its efforts, and while there, I was so proud of my school for taking the steps many other schools wouldn't. I hesitate to say that Conn is the epitome of green schools, but it tries darn hard, and I applaud the efforts.
~A Camel Alum
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Its GEtting Hot in Here Posted 5:37 pm
06 Sep 2007
The 10s of thousands of student activists working on the Campus Climate Challenge deserve some credit for their role in creating these green campuses.
Check out their work at: http://climatechallenge.org/
Also, read their stories firsthand at It's Getting Hot in Here - dispatches from the youth climate movement: http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/
Just wait for next year! We are organizing the second year of the campus climate challenge and kicking it off with Power Shift 2007 - Rising to the Climate Challenge: http://powershift07.org/
This fall, youth from across the country will convene in Washington, DC to change the climate on global warming in the United States. Together, we will create a shift in the fight for a clean and just energy future.
Guess Where? The University of Maryland!
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Stephanie Ogburn Posted 12:13 am
07 Sep 2007
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bradgallant Posted 7:23 am
10 Sep 2007
Lakehead University's commitment to energy conservation is a model for North American public institutions. Faced with aging facilities and limited capital restoration budgets, Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, ON, parlayed guaranteed energy savings into a vital source of campus renewal. Over the course of a two-phase $23.3- million energy performance contract with Johnson Controls, Inc., Lakehead decreased its deferred maintenance liability by over $20 million. This decrease was achieved through a reduction in electrical consumption on existing buildings dramatically by 23% and gas consumption by a stunning 43%. With its deferred maintenance partially addressed, Lakehead University will continue to make the effort to achieve a sustainable campus.
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carlmacki Posted 2:19 am
11 Sep 2007
o Sustainability Report
o Food
o Investment
o Landscapes
o Purchasing
o Transportation
o Waste
o Energy
More info at:
http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/sustainability/
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rajan Posted 4:53 am
11 Sep 2007
Stop ripping on other schools. Every school on this list has a strong record of responsible policies and the fact that people bother to mention their schools on this message board means that these same policies are equally important at their schools.
I think the discussion should be focused on which innovations can help a school most cost-effectively. Here are my 2cents:
partnership with a coop, or actually having a coop on campus if land issues are not a concern.
wind turbines/alternative energy generators
campus planning .... make the campus easier to go car-free.
energy saving-appliances. I put this one last because I think most schools made this move in the 70s.
if you're about to post something negative about another school, take a big drink of your boiling hot latte and save us all the time.
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nickdobric Posted 3:29 pm
11 Sep 2007
Nick Dobric
Nevada Wilderness Project
Northland Alumni '05
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ddelongpre Posted 1:59 am
13 Sep 2007
That's why AASHE (http://www.aashe.org) is developing a reporting framework for sustainability in higher education. The framework is the result of a multi-stakeholder, collaborative effort. It will be beta tested by institutions of representative shapes and sizes in 2008 and will hopefully be ready to launch by the end of next year.
Hurray for higher education -- we're all leading the way in creating models for a more sustainable future.
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JBaldy Posted 4:27 am
14 Sep 2007
Two climate champions at Tufts have recently published a book called
Degrees That Matter on university greenhouse gas emissions reductions, based on the success at Tufts. As a former student of the university, I can attest that campus greening here goes far beyond facilities. If you have an interest in decreasing the carbon footprint of your college or alma mater, take a look at this book.
Degrees That Matter is a terrific guide for universities that want to reduce their global warming footprint. Rappaport and Creighton explain the causes and effects of climate change and present a road map based on their own successful struggle to reduce emissions at Tufts University. This is a practical handbook for faculty, staff, and students on the methods for, and the politics of, reducing emissions on campus."
--Jonathan Lash, President, World Resources Institute
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wildleaf Posted 8:53 am
22 Sep 2007
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siahtam Posted 7:00 am
26 Sep 2007
I do think it's fair to say that both Carleton and Saint Olaf have been leaders on sustainability issues.
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davisst Posted 3:37 am
18 Oct 2007
One of my sisters is an alumna of COA - yes, in Human Ecology. We lived just down the coast from Bar Harbor, in Maine.
However the vast majority of those students came from long distances to attend.
Did they all come by bicycle? Organically fed mule?
I think almost this whole list is colleges with a national - read long distance - student body.
If energy use were your real concern (as opposed to a peculiar form of snobbery) wouldn't you do better to attend your local community college?
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sharkgirl65 Posted 7:01 am
31 Oct 2007
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ivytwine Posted 4:36 am
06 Nov 2007
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vpops Posted 4:45 am
06 Nov 2007
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brittleigh Posted 3:23 am
19 Nov 2007
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forttfn97 Posted 3:23 am
19 Nov 2007
State University of New York College of Environmental Science, Forestry
Warren Wilson College
Northland College
Cornell
These schools not only have Green Programs, Green Campus and work for Greener Communities, they are all High end intellectual centers that focus on real world solutions to the problems rather than just celebrating loafty ideals..
Additionally, one commenter noted the Americanistic approach and that certain universities in other countries may be more deserving.. I agree, I just don't know any.
Finally, What were the criteria for this list?? or did you not have one??
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OGR3 Posted 5:31 am
19 Nov 2007
In spring 2004, the student body passed an initiative to give themselves another fee in return for making WWU run on 100% green energy. In 2006, we were the second largest user of renewable energy in higher education, right behind Penn (http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/documents/top10ed_2006.pdf) and in 2007 are still in the top ten, despite the addition of much larger universities to the list. (http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top10ed.htm).
We have also instituted a universal bus pass program that gives all students taking over 6 credits a bus pass and access to a student only late night shuttle, this has drastically cut single occupant vehicle trips to and from campus.
The Associated Students has an office devoted solely to environmental issues, (http://earth.as.wwu.edu/resources.php). Staffed with salaried student employees, and focusing on increasing awareness and participation in green initiatives.
Huxley also produces a quarterly magazine called The Planet (http://planet.wwu.edu/) which is also a great resource for those wishing to further our commitment to green energy.
Oh, and we've had a student run organic farm for years now (http://outback.as.wwu.edu/), as well as STUDENT-RUN recycling (http://recycle.as.wwu.edu/) and composting programs.
If anyone should be on this list, it most certainly should be Western Washington University.
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Cyrano Posted 6:05 am
19 Nov 2007
You people at Grist ought to give them a call.
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SOUsweetie Posted 2:22 am
22 Nov 2007
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rugbygolfer Posted 11:34 am
22 Nov 2007
http://www.warren-wilson.edu/environmental/initiatives.ph ...
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econpolyeco Posted 11:57 pm
26 Nov 2007
I am not an alum but I am very surprised Prescott College didn't make the list.
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Juan Mendoza Posted 12:32 pm
02 Dec 2007
Es la primera institucion en Costa Rica en ser declara neutra en cuanto a emiciones de dioxido de carbono.
Tiene dos grandes reservas forestales en el campus y mucho enfoque educacional en area de conservacion del medio ambiente.
Ademas de estar situada en corazon del tropico humedo costarricense, con una gran biodiversidad y un clima muy agradable.
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bereababe Posted 11:22 am
03 Dec 2007
They are promoting sustainable lives! Debt free students, serving others, and environmentally-friendly practices! What more could you want?
http://www.berea.edu/sens/sustainabilityinitiatives/defau ...
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GreenAshley Posted 3:25 pm
06 Dec 2007
They're now offering business degrees that are commited to sustainability. They also have committed to an organic food menu, along with the entire town of Fairfield. They deserve some green credit eh?
This is a great website for transfer students who have committed to the efforts of sustainabilty. It makes a big difference to my college choices!
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manoaboi Posted 5:29 pm
05 Jan 2008
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BSchott Posted 1:41 pm
26 Jan 2008
Founded in 1911, SUNY ESF is the nation's oldest and most respected school dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies and building a sustainable future. The ESF campus occupies 12 acres in Syracuse and 25,000 acres on its regional campuses throughout Central New York and the Adirondack Park.
Founded in 1911 to "help in the solution of forestry problems" the New York State College of Forestry was founded in partnership with Syracuse University.
As ESF heads toward its 100th anniversary, the College is at the forefront of developing the technologies to create a sustainable future. Under the direction of President Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr., ESF has taken a leadership role in the development of alternative energy, helping restore endangered species, and fostering a sense of service in the student body.
Vision 2020: In April 2001, the college community engaged in a strategic planning process aimed at renewing shared values, building on current strengths, and positioning ESF competitively to embrace the challenges and opportunities the future will bring. The college's history of exploring and responding to society's needs and environmental issues has prepared ESF to pursue these new initiatives we have 'dared to dream.'
This outstanding institution needs to be recognized on Grist's Green Colleges and Universities. I can't even begin to list all of the green initiatives at the College. I mean, the very existence of the University itself is in the spirit of the Earth's wellbeing. This is truly a special and unique place...I'm unspeakably proud to be a student here.
...for the record, I used content from http://www.esf.edu
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BSchott Posted 1:42 pm
26 Jan 2008
focusthenation.syr.edu
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conncoll07 Posted 11:27 am
28 Jan 2008
Going back to 2003 Connecticut College has been a leader in colleges going green. "Connecticut College, one of the founding members of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership" http://www.eadenvironmental.com/news/index.asp?n=429
"In 1999, Connecticut College became the first college or university in the nation to join a program affiliated with Reforest the Tropics, headquartered in Mystic, Conn., as part of a "carbon offset" project. The goal? To compensate for the 593 tons of carbon dioxide emitted annually by electricity use at the College Center at Crozier-Williams over the next 30 years."
http://aspen.conncoll.edu/camelweb/index.cfm?fuseaction=p ...
Last year alone Conn Coll, attempted to put a wind turbine on campus, was a finalist in the MTV green contest, was (i'm fairly certain) the first college in the nation to have students start and pass through the budget committee and Board of Trustees, an incentive based approach to energy reduction, in which the college's student activities board, retained 25% of energy reductions calculated over a three month average, which consequently reduced consumption by 12%....
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atreyger Posted 12:54 am
31 Jan 2008
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youthquake08 Posted 2:02 am
07 Feb 2008
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khansen Posted 3:57 am
28 Feb 2008
To learn more, visit http://www.pointloma.edu/recycling
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GreenforGood Posted 1:29 am
24 Jul 2008
Plastic, glass, aluminum, and cardboard are recycled throughout the four dining facilities on Concordia's campus. In fact, 50% of the cardboard, 25% of the mixed plastic and 100% of the steel/tin collected and recycled on campus comes from Dining Services. Dining Services also works directly with a local organic farm to recycle fryer oil into fuel for bio diesel farm equipment.
At Concordia, recycling is just the beginning. This fall the Korn Krib, an on-campus convenience store, will be plastic bag free, encouraging the use of Chico reusable bags, available on site for purchase. First year students will receive a complimentary Chico bag courtesy of Dining Services and Hands for Change.
Other green friendly products can be found throughout Dining Services, including straws, napkins, and various other items that are made from renewable resources. Even coffee has been affected. Only Fair-Trade Certified coffee is served, guaranteeing that the coffee was purchased at a set minimum price from farmers, ensuring fair wages for coffee growers and profits that flow back into their communities.
A main component of Concordia College's Dining Services green initiative is becoming energy efficient. Anderson Commons, Concordia's residential dining facility, features a special light setting that optimizes the use of the sun, saving electricity. Lights in Anderson are on in the few dark areas while the remaining seating area takes full advantage of the sunlight.
Behind the scenes things are more energy efficient than ever. In the kitchen, special stove hoods were installed that improve indoor air quality and efficiency up to 50%. Freezers were equipped with curtains to stop cold air from escaping and compact fluorescent light bulbs became equipped with motion sensors so electricity is only used when need be.
During some points of the academic year, Dining Services runs a large percentage of its stoves and kitchen equipment on steam from the neighboring physical plant, reducing electricity use dramatically.
Cleaning methods have also changed. Over half of all cleaning chemicals used in Dining Services are green friendly. In the main dish room, water is filtered and recycled, saving hundreds of gallons of water a year. The dish machine is also energy efficient, capturing steam and using the energy to heat water through a heat waste recovery system, a system that is required in Europe due to energy savings. Energy savings in this machine are 50% a year.
All grease is recycled, including all grease from pots and pans, thanks to a sink-installed grease inceptor. The inceptor captures grease and keeps it from draining into the sewer. The grease is then collected and recycled.
We all have an opportunity to change the world for the better and at Concordia that is exactly what they are doing
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ml black Posted 4:59 am
02 Sep 2008
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smuzzy Posted 3:35 am
16 Oct 2008
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inter215 Posted 5:17 am
01 Nov 2008
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