Nowadays, about two-thirds of college applicants are interested in environmentally responsible schools and whether the campus is ‘green’. Prominence, location and vibrant social life are not the only criteria.
Many employers have become aware that to recruit and retain college and university graduates, the sustainability maturity of the company, its ‘greening’ programs, and committed social responsibility initiatives - all play an increasingly significant role. In fact, recruitment and retention are one of the value creations of sustainability best practices among leading organizations. Read more about sustainability best practices among leading companies.
As high school senior students are waiting to hear back from colleges, this article looks at the higher education schools in the US that have a strong commitment to sustainability and have been working rigorously to reduce their environmental impact. Some of their initiatives are inspiring as the colleges go beyond recycling or using biodegradable tableware and utensils in the cafeterias, or retrofitting solar panels on roofs. Several have organic gardens, waste treatment centers, and programs to offset carbon emissions.
Based on the results of a survey sent to sustainability experts at hundreds of colleges and universities, the Sierra Club published last October a report called “Cool Schools – The Third Annual List” of the most eco-enlightened U.S. universities.
The survey included eight categories: efficiency, energy, food, academics, purchasing, transportation, waste management, and administration.
The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) led in waste management programs. The University of Colorado at Boulder rated highly in transportation. Harvard University lead in energy efficiency initiatives and Yale University transformed its food operations.
For additional information about colleges’ green ratings check the Princeton Review "Green Honor Roll"
Among the top eco-conscious schools were:
• University of California campuses
The 10 Universities of California (UC) have set the goals of:
• Using 50% of low and zero-emission vehicles by 2010
• Generating 10 megawatts of renewable energy by 2014
• Zero waste and carbon neutrality by 2020.
UCLA, Los Angeles has a remarkable waste management system. Also many of its dorms have solar-heated water. UC Berkeley implemented the first certified organic kitchen in a college setting. UC Merced has several green buildings. UC Santa Cruz is one of the eight UC schools that are part of the California Climate Action Registry, a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) registry and tracking system in an effort to protect and promote early actions to reduce GHG emissions by any organization. The California Registry members voluntarily measure, verify, and publicly report their GHG emissions.
• College of the Atlantic, Maine
The small College of the Atlantic lives has a dedicated academic field - human ecology, defined as the study of our species' relationship to the planet, conservation, environmental advocacy, and ecosystems.
In 2007 it was the first U.S. college to go carbon neutral. The campus is committed to green building, historic preservation, land conservation, and elimination of toxins. Organic food is the only option on campus.
• Warren Wilson College, North Carolina
This college is inspiring in its efforts to sustain (self-support) by getting food and lumber from its own organic gardens and managed forests. Along with comprehensive recycling programs, their vehicle fleet includes hybrids, solar-charged carts, and biodiesel-fueled cars. They are also committed to green building and design.
• Evergreen State College, Washington
The 1,000-acre campus includes mainly forests, native plants, and saltwater beach. The school has a 13-acre organic farm with composting facility. Furthermore, Evergreen buys 100% clean power, and has several electric vehicles. One of the buildings is Gold LEED certified and it has a green roof.
• Oberlin College, Ohio
This school houses the Lewis Center for Environmental Studies. In 2005, the school created a metering and monitoring system of energy and water use in dorms and saved operational costs. The campus includes green buildings, a geothermal heated building, green roofs, and solar technologies. Oberlin's Lewis Center introduced the "living machine" – a model that processes wastewater through a plant- and bacteria-based filtration system.
• Harvard University, Mass.
Harvard has installed motion sensors and other energy efficiency devices, and has converted school trucks to run on spare vegetable oil from the dining facilities. Harvard buildings have achieved up to 73% reductions in waste, and using recycled paper. Harvard is also committed to purchasing renewable energy.
• Yale University, Connecticut
The school is a leader in environmental and climate research. It has a one-acre garden, which supplies the dining halls with half of the local, seasonal, and organic food they serve. The university's leadership has demonstrated support for sustainability for many years.
• Arizona State University
Has the School of Sustainability, established in 2007, which offers interdisciplinary eco-related degree programs. The university has more solar panels than any other college campus in the US.
• Middlebury College, Vermont
Aiming for carbon neutrality and energy saving, it has a Green building. Middlebury's biomass gasification plant reduces the school's carbon dioxide emissions by 40% with the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2016.
• The University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Created an alternative transportation program for students, faculty and administrators. Promoting public transit it offers each student a bus pass for local transit agencies, a bike share program and using biofuels in its vehicle fleet. CU also created a student-directed recycling center in 1970 and has been demonstrating environmental stewardship since.
• Georgia Tech, Atlanta
The Georgia Institute of Technology offers extensive academic programs in renewable energy, sustainable technologies, environmental policy and ethics, sustainability management, and more. Their Engineering students focused on environmental innovations, such as fuel cells, reducing vehicle emissions, human water pumps for developing communities, and more.
• California State University, Chico, CA
Awarded the National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology Chill Out badge, the school was recognized for its certified green buildings, solar panels, using energy-saving software, and more initiatives.
How to engage students in sustainability programs? How can colleges and universities steer clear of ‘greenwashing’? What are the best practices? Transparancy is key.
In a corresponding manner, the following articles report on learnings in the business world, which can be applied to colleges and universities.
- Successful sustainability initiatives in corporate America
- How to engage employees in sustainability initiatives
- How to avoid ‘greenwashing’?
- It's your future - Green programs and resources for high school students and younger children
UC Berkeley photo from flickr.com
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