Top Schools Putting the Green in Campus Green
January 23, 2015
We know you've got your grades on point. But does your college get an A+ in environmental friendliness? More and more, students (and their parents) are looking beyond the basics of dorm life, class size, and academic cred when it comes to choosing their schools.
For those who like their colleges the way they like their unroasted coffee beans (that would be, ahem, green), these nine eco-friendly universities prove that it’s cool to care about your carbon footprint – and that getting elbow-deep in dirt and handy with a solar panel may just be your next core requirements.
AMERICAN: Think being in the middle of a city would make it harder to be green? American University proves otherwise with its plethora of Mother Nature-loving policies — like a 20-year solar power deal that will supply half of all its electricity. Or a timeline that puts it at carbon neutrality by 2020. Or 30 campus buildings tracked for LEED certification. The future certainly looks bright.
Photo courtesy of American University
Photo courtesy of American University
GEORGIA TECH: Leave it to the great minds at Georgia Tech to work towards solving all our eco woes at the school's new Carbon-Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory. (And with a name like that, you've got license to practice your best evil scientist chuckle.) Then there's the million-plus-gallon rainwater cistern, the rooftop solar system...oh yeah, and the eco-friendly Camaro.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech
HARVARD: From green buildings to carbon-neutral transport, locally sourced food to energy retrieved from steam, solar panels, and wind, Harvard is taking a multi-pronged approach when it comes to turning their crimson to green. Just goes to show that even the most historic of institutions can make heaps of new, forward-thinking changes.
Photo courtesy of Harvard
Photo courtesy of Harvard
LOYOLA: Thanks to Loyola's pretty stellar Institute of Environmental Sustainability, the Chicago-based university has put green initiatives in the fast lane. They've already cut energy consumption by a third, opened the largest geothermal heating and cooling system in the city, and continue to enroll students in courses that teach them skills like converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel. Then there's the campus bottled-water ban (swoon).
Photo courtesy of Loyola University Chicago
Photo courtesy of Loyola University Chicago
MIDDLEBURY: On track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2016? Middlebury certainly deserves a tip of the hat. But being green isn't just a benefit for the earth: it's also good for the students of this eco-friendly university, who enjoy delicious, local cafeteria eats (thanks to the college's Real Food Challenge) and totally swanky and sustainable, LEED-approved design.
Photo courtesy of Bob Handelman
Photo courtesy of Bob Handelman
PORTLAND STATE: In the heart of the SoMa EcoDistrict, one of five such experimental neighborhoods in crunchy Portland, Portland State is doing its part to transform its campus into a hub of all things green (all the rain helps, too). For evidence, look no further than the aptly named Electric Avenue, a street filled with gratis electric car charging stations. Then there's the student bike repair shop for those on two wheels, LEED-certified buildings, and dedicated campus green teams.
Photo courtesy of Portland State University
Photo courtesy of Portland State University
STANFORD: Thanks to leadership from Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI), the university is poised to cut its emissions by a whopping 50 percent in 2015. But the California campus's eco policies don't just come from the top down: Stanford also implements the Student Green Fund, which awards students with creative ideas about sustainability with grants of up to $30,000.
Photo courtesy of Wolterk/iStock/Thinkstock
Photo courtesy of Wolterk/iStock/Thinkstock
UC IRVINE: Highlighted by the esteemed Sierra Club as top among the country's eco-friendly universities, UC Irvine is the very first to hit its energy reduction target early (even receiving firsthand congrats from President Obama for doing so). Five campus buildings are currently zero-waste, hydration stations abound, carbon "foodprint" labeling can be found in the cafeteria, and the Summer Institute for Sustainability Leadership sends students on green missions.
Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Communications
Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Communications
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON: Overlooked by snowy Mount Rainier, it's only fitting that U Washington subscribes to an eco-friendly philosophy. Since 2000, UW has cut water use by 40 percent, greenhouse gas output by 15.6 percent, and has bestowed LEED certification on every new building since 2005. It's also been designated a Gold level Bicycle Friendly University, for those more comfortable on two wheels than two legs.
Photo courtesy of Katherine B. Turner/UW
Photo courtesy of Katherine B. Turner/UW
AMERICAN: Think being in the middle of a city would make it harder to be green? American University proves otherwise with its plethora of Mother Nature-loving policies — like a 20-year solar power deal that will supply half of all its electricity. Or a timeline that puts it at carbon neutrality by 2020. Or 30 campus buildings tracked for LEED certification. The future certainly looks bright.
Photo courtesy of American University
Photo courtesy of American University
GEORGIA TECH: Leave it to the great minds at Georgia Tech to work towards solving all our eco woes at the school's new Carbon-Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory. (And with a name like that, you've got license to practice your best evil scientist chuckle.) Then there's the million-plus-gallon rainwater cistern, the rooftop solar system...oh yeah, and the eco-friendly Camaro.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech
HARVARD: From green buildings to carbon-neutral transport, locally sourced food to energy retrieved from steam, solar panels, and wind, Harvard is taking a multi-pronged approach when it comes to turning their crimson to green. Just goes to show that even the most historic of institutions can make heaps of new, forward-thinking changes.
Photo courtesy of Harvard
Photo courtesy of Harvard
LOYOLA: Thanks to Loyola's pretty stellar Institute of Environmental Sustainability, the Chicago-based university has put green initiatives in the fast lane. They've already cut energy consumption by a third, opened the largest geothermal heating and cooling system in the city, and continue to enroll students in courses that teach them skills like converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel. Then there's the campus bottled-water ban (swoon).
Photo courtesy of Loyola University Chicago
Photo courtesy of Loyola University Chicago
MIDDLEBURY: On track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2016? Middlebury certainly deserves a tip of the hat. But being green isn't just a benefit for the earth: it's also good for the students of this eco-friendly university, who enjoy delicious, local cafeteria eats (thanks to the college's Real Food Challenge) and totally swanky and sustainable, LEED-approved design.
Photo courtesy of Bob Handelman
Photo courtesy of Bob Handelman
PORTLAND STATE: In the heart of the SoMa EcoDistrict, one of five such experimental neighborhoods in crunchy Portland, Portland State is doing its part to transform its campus into a hub of all things green (all the rain helps, too). For evidence, look no further than the aptly named Electric Avenue, a street filled with gratis electric car charging stations. Then there's the student bike repair shop for those on two wheels, LEED-certified buildings, and dedicated campus green teams.
Photo courtesy of Portland State University
Photo courtesy of Portland State University
STANFORD: Thanks to leadership from Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI), the university is poised to cut its emissions by a whopping 50 percent in 2015. But the California campus's eco policies don't just come from the top down: Stanford also implements the Student Green Fund, which awards students with creative ideas about sustainability with grants of up to $30,000.
Photo courtesy of Wolterk/iStock/Thinkstock
Photo courtesy of Wolterk/iStock/Thinkstock
UC IRVINE: Highlighted by the esteemed Sierra Club as top among the country's eco-friendly universities, UC Irvine is the very first to hit its energy reduction target early (even receiving firsthand congrats from President Obama for doing so). Five campus buildings are currently zero-waste, hydration stations abound, carbon "foodprint" labeling can be found in the cafeteria, and the Summer Institute for Sustainability Leadership sends students on green missions.
Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Communications
Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Communications
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON: Overlooked by snowy Mount Rainier, it's only fitting that U Washington subscribes to an eco-friendly philosophy. Since 2000, UW has cut water use by 40 percent, greenhouse gas output by 15.6 percent, and has bestowed LEED certification on every new building since 2005. It's also been designated a Gold level Bicycle Friendly University, for those more comfortable on two wheels than two legs.
Photo courtesy of Katherine B. Turner/UW
Photo courtesy of Katherine B. Turner/UW
