Green Campus
College campuses are usually on the forefront of progressive ideas and programs, and that's certainly the case when it comes to protecting the environment. Let's take a look at the 10 greenest college campuses in the United States.
American University
WhereWashington, D.C.Educational opportunitiesGreen Teaching Certification Program rewards professors for incorporating sustainability content into curriculumWaste reductionRecycling programs include diverting 13% of paper waste from landfills by composting paper towelsRenewable energy2,150 solar photovoltaic modules on six buildings (largest solar power system in the District of Columbia)
174 solar thermal energy panels added to four buildings provide showers to more than 2,000 campus residents and hot water to the university's largest dining hall
Facilities and vehiclesPilot program to certify 25 buildings under LEED systemOther programs36% of food purchased meets organic, fair trade or other sustainability measure
College of the Atlantic
WhereBar Harbor, MaineEducational opportunitiesMajor areas of study focus on sustainability and ecology (all students study under what the university calls a system of human ecology)Waste reductionAll food waste is compostedRenewable energyStudent-led projects have resulted in solar panels and wind turbines on campusFacilities and vehiclesCollege has its own organic farm 12 miles from campus that supplies the cafeteria with produce and two livestock farms
Electric van with solar panels provides transportation between the farms and campus
Other programsIn 2007, CoA became the country's first carbon-neutral college
University of California Los Angeles
WhereLos Angeles, CaliforniaEducational opportunities200 courses that focus on sustainabilityWaste reduction69% of waste diverted from landfills; 100% by 2020Renewable energyPhotovoltaic solar panels help power massive student union buildingFacilities and vehicles38% of vehicles run on alternative fuelOther programsAll computers are Energy Star-rated
Cornell University
WhereIthaca, New YorkEducational opportunities300 courses and 28 majors to study sustainabilityWaste reduction63% of waste is recycled or composted, including 823 tons of food from dining hallsRenewable energy$46 million investment in energy conservationFacilities and vehiclesFree bus passes to freshmen and staff and other incentives to use car and bike share programs, vanpools and public transportation
3,500 acres of biologically diverse natural land on and around campus
1 LEED Platinum and 8 LEED Gold buildings
Carbon neutral by 2050
25% reduction in carbon emissions by not using coal
Georgia Tech
WhereAtlanta, GeorgiaEducational opportunities264 courses on sustainabilityWaste reductionComposting programs help divert 900 tons of waste a yearRenewable energy1,400,000-gallon cistern collects rain and condensation for flushing and irrigation; the system is the largest on a U.S. college campus
Tech also has one of world's largest grid-attached rooftop photovoltaic solar systems
Facilities and vehiclesTech has the largest university residence hall in the world to achieve LEED Gold for existing buildingsOther programs40% of produce is locally sourced
Green Mountain College
WherePoultney, VermontEducational opportunities46% of grads pursue careers in green jobsWaste reductionDuring 2013 spring move-out, students diverted more than 5,300 pounds of waste from landfillsRenewable energy100% renewable energy by 2020.Facilities and vehiclesBiomass facility allows for campus to be heated by woodchipsOther programsOnly second climate-neutral campus in the U.S.
Stanford University
WhereStanford, CaliforniaEducational opportunitiesSustainability research and teaching is done at all seven schools and key institutesWaste reductionRecycling program diverts 65% of solid waste from landfillsUniversity composts about 1,300 tons of food waste each yearRenewable energyEnergy retrofits of older buildings saves 176 million kilowatt hoursFacilities and vehiclesFree bus system powered by biodiesel and diesel-electric hybrids, commute club, free passes on public transitOther programs40% of produce is organic or regionally grown
10,000 gallons of waste oil from dining halls converted to biodiesel fuel
University of California Irvine
WhereIrvine, CaliforniaEducational opportunities350 sustainability-related classes offeredWaste reductionFood waste reduced by 58%Renewable energySolar power system that will produce 24 million kilowatt hours over 20 years; equivalent to offsetting 25.6 million pounds of carbon dioxideFacilities and vehicles8 buildings have LEED Gold, 2 have LEED Platinum
Reduces more than 39 million vehicle miles and 19,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually
University of Massachusetts Amherst
WhereAmherst, MassachusettsEducational opportunities25 of 90 undergrad majors are sustainability-related, 250 courses offer some sustainability emphasisWaste reductionRecycling and composting divert 53% of waste from landfillsRenewable energyAward-winning central heating plant provides 100% of heating and 73% of electrical needs on campusFacilities and vehicles13 LEED-registered projects underwayOther programs28% of food produced locally
University of Washington
WhereSeattle, WashingtonEducational opportunities550 courses related to the environment or sustainabilityWaste reductionRecycling and composting divert 57% of waste from landfillsRenewable energyEnergy conservation efforts saving $50 million over 10 yearsFacilities and vehiclesMore than 300 alternative fuel vehiclesOther programsReplaced 1,800 old toilets, saving 50 million gallons of water a year
53% of food served is organic, local or fair trade
Related:What is a Green MBA?The 23 Best Online MBA Programs in SustainabilityFive High Paying Green JobsFive Career Paths for Green MBA GraduatesHow to be More Environmentally Friendly
Sources:http://www.american.eduhttp://www.coa.eduhttp://www.stewardship.gatech.eduhttp://sustainability.greenmtn.eduhttp://sustainable.stanford.eduhttp://www.sustain.ucla.eduhttp://f2.washington.eduhttp://www.princetonreview.com
