Back to School: Five Colleges Leading the Way in Campus Sustainability

Elytus
Elytus
Sep 7, 2018 · 5 min read

Colleges are beginning to focus their efforts to create a better, more sustainable future on campus — not only for their students, but for the environment, too. Sustainability on campus promotes good health, a clean and safe place to learn and opportunities for personal growth.

Leading by example, the sustainable actions that college campuses take help to shape our future leaders by encouraging them to habitually make eco-friendly choices to better the environment. A sustainability commitment from a school makes its students aware of their personal actions and how community practices affect our world. A focus on eco-friendliness make students appreciate their school as these measures improve the quality of campus life. When a campus embodies sustainability, students are more likely to have healthier food options, multiple community service opportunities and overall, a different approach to lifestyle behaviors. It’s beneficial to attend a college that emphasizes sustainability, because it will prepare pupils for challenging future experiences in our evolving world.

There are many college campuses that provide exemplary case studies for other schools who want to make their own sustainability commitments. This article explores five of the top campuses making a difference:

1. University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine vowed to enhance its energy efficiency by 20 percent by 2020. However, it reached that target seven years early, making it the first U.S. school to attain that goal and become only the fourth campus in the world to achieve a platinum rating through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System. In 2017–18, the university became the first to convert its buses to an all-electric fleet, providing 2.15 million pollution-free rides annually. UCI also implemented cutting-edge energy efficiency technology with campuswide sensors that monitor 465,000 data measurements for energy management, indoor air quality and building system performance every five seconds. This results in reduced campus energy consumption by over 50 percent. Additionally, UCI wanted to expand recycled water usage beyond landscape irrigation, so the school partnered with the Irvine Ranch Water District to convert the campus’ central cooling plant, which will conserve more than 80 million gallons of drinkable water annually. The campus leads in sustainability learning as well, inside and outside of the classroom. UCI offers sustainability-related courses in more than 85 percent of its academic departments and offer many co-curricular opportunities for students.

2. Colorado State University

Colorado State University is one of the greenest higher-learning institution in the United States as it earned a Platinum ranking in the STARS rating system in 2015, making it the first institution to do so on an international scale. This green campus leads the nation in sustainability best practices and is home to the first solar-heating/air conditioned on-campus building. CSU worked with NASA to create a cloud-profiling radar system, CloudStat, which provides students with unbelievable research opportunities regarding its own energy usages. In addition, this campus provides easy access to mountain biking, skiing, rafting and other outdoor sports in this scenic location. Most importantly, CSU conducts sustainability research in more than 90% of the academic departments. The university offers programs in ecosystem science, sustainability, alternative fuels, conservation and many more.

3. Stanford University

Stanford University makes sustainable living a part of the Stanford experience. The Stanford Energy Systems Innovation Program plans to reduce carbon emissions by 68% and cut potable water usage by 15% in the future. With its waste-diversion rate rising steadily, the university’s goal is 75% waste diversion by 2020. Open to students in any major, the university boasts more than 20 “green” clubs, which offer a chance to made an impact on sustainability at Stanford and beyond. The Stanford Gleaning Project harvests fruit and organic vegetable, which are then donated to local hunger-relief organizations. In Stanford’s 30 dining halls, about 47% of the food served is either organic or locally sourced, promoting healthy eating habits. Moreover, 65% of solid waste produced on campus is recycled or composted. The university offers nearly 500 courses on sustainability, which involves 640 different departments and disciplines.

4. College of the Atlantic

College of the Atlantic leads the way with a focus on zero waste, renewable energy and a sustainability-minded curriculum, ranking the school in both the Princeton Review and the Sierra Club as the top sustainability-focused college in the nation for 2016 and 2017. The school has innovative academic programs and sustainable campus initiatives. COA regularly conducts energy audits of the campus to make buildings more efficient. The dining program focuses on providing local, organic food to its students and staff, and it even has an organic school-sponsored farm off-campus. All of the campus’ food waste is composted, and its solar charger is open to the public for free. COA has developed and implemented policies and practices for the school’s sustainable operations, including fossil fuel divestment, policies on meat procurement, paper purchasing, zero waste and eliminating containerized water. COA also became the first carbon-neutral college in 2007; the college owns and oversees 300 acres of forest and farmland, which provides research and opportunities for students and faculty. The school’s goal is to become a fossil fuel-free campus by 2030.

5. Hampshire College

Hampshire College is rising steadily to become 100-percent solar for its electricity on an annualized basis; campus leaders believe Hampshire is actually the first U.S. residential college to go 100-percent solar from on-campus sources. For up to 20 years, the project is estimated to save the college almost $400,000 a year in electricity costs, for total savings of up to $8 million. The greenhouse-gas emissions eliminated 3,000 metric tons per year, which is equal to taking almost 650 cars off the road. The project is part of Hampshire’s Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Initiative. The sustainability initiative is focused on four key transitions in its food systems, campus operations, creative curriculum and campus culture.

Sources:

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/slideshow/top-ten-coolest-schools-2014?slide=#1

https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/greenest-universities/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2017/09/20/americas-top-green-colleges/#6aefaa85ffaa

https://www.hampshire.edu/news/2017/12/01/hampshire-conducts-final-test-for-100-solar-campus

Waste Nothing

“Waste Nothing” is a publication from Elytus, a leading provider of waste-related technology services. With its transparent solutions and commitment to sustainability, Elytus helps its clients #wastenothing, from procurement to payment.

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Elytus

Software to procure & manage a sustainable solid waste & recycling program, nationwide. #WASTENOTHING

Waste Nothing

“Waste Nothing” is a publication from Elytus, a leading provider of waste-related technology services. With its transparent solutions and commitment to sustainability, Elytus helps its clients #wastenothing, from procurement to payment.

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