Top Green Universities: Making the Grade

Concern about our environment is no longer relegated to a small group of dedicated composters. Going green is popular these days, not only as a personal choice, but also for businesses, colleges, and universities.Though we hear the term “going green,” this is a broad term, which lacks a focused meaning. Most people think that going green is simply recycling; but it is so much more. Going green is a lifestyle change. It means trying to preserve the planet and taking steps to help minimize the harmful effects of our civilization to the planet.

There are several organizations, such as the Sierra Club, which survey and rate colleges and universities regarding how well they are adhering to a green plan. Some of the criteria that is considered includes transportation, student involvement, food and recycling, administration, energy and climate change, and green buildings. They also consider each university’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard ratings. Here, we’ve compiled the the schools that ranked highest overall in observation and implementation of green policies:

1. Yale University in New Haven, CT: This Ivy League university spends nearly half of its food budget on organically and locally grown produce. Any new construction has to meet LEED Gold Standards. They utilize energy-efficient lighting and have a trading initiative for clothes and household items in the living quarters.

2. Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH: New construction and reconstruction requires LEED Silver Standards in Oberlin. Their campus has three buildings which are heated with geothermal pumps. Over one quarter of the campus’ electricity comes from renewable sources. Various sustainable-source themes are offered in three of the student residences. One fourth of their food products for the cafeterias are bought locally. Oberlin also operates a thrift store that offers clothing and other items for swap.

3. Brown University in Providence, RI: Brown purchases twenty percent of its food produce for students from local sources. At least thirty percent of the campus’ energy comes from renewable resources. Brown also uses energy-efficient technology and requires new construction to meet LEED Silver Standards.

4. Luther College in Decorah, Iowa: Luther takes organic food one step further by growing a lot of produce in their own garden and food is composted on site. New construction requires LEED Silver Standards and most of the rubble left from demolition is not put into landfills. By 2012, they are committed to having their greenhouse gas emission cut in half. They manage their own rainwater with storm drains, retention ponds and absorbent pavement. Luther uses energy efficient management on their campus.

5. Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA: Dickinson has its own biodiesel plant and uses waste vegetable oil from the cafeterias to operate their central energy boilers. Half of the food budget is organically and locally grown. Like Luther College, Dickinson maintains a garden on campus that grows fresh herbs and vegetables. Food scraps are also composted in on-site bins. New construction requires LEED Silver Standards and three of their buildings have a LEED Gold Standard rating. Dickinson College also uses energy management systems in most of its buildings.

When you consider where to attend college or university it’s a good idea to consider these factors, along with their academic merits. It is one thing just to teach environmental responsibility; it is another to practice it on campus. These and other top universities are providing the examples for the others.

Photo credit: Arrival on the Quad by gc/flickr

Thomas Masterson is a career advisor and content contributor for thebestcolleges.org, a website providing a list of cheap online schools as well as college rankings for a multitude of specialty programs.