Going green is the latest trend to hit the globe. As the world awakens to the fact that time isn’t exactly on our side, experts and laymen alike are trying to come up with solutions to ease the energy crisis, pollution and water concerns. It is no mean task taking on such challenges but that hasn’t stopped them from plodding on with determination. From composting and car pooling efforts to harnessing the energy of the sun and wind, the time has indeed come to generate innovative concepts to sustain our planet. Check out this list of the top 10 colleges and universities who are trying their best to be part of the solution.
1. Oberlin College
Though not as large as many other universities around, Oberlin College has made huge efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Students, together with CityWheels, took the initiative of creating a car pooling program to reduce the number of cars on the road. The college also created a monitoring system that shows students how much energy and water they use in real time. The feather on the cap of the college has to be the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies that uses geothermal heating, recycled materials and a green roof.
2. Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College has made big efforts to live up to its moniker. Its food needs are met through the use of an organic farm with proceeds from leftover food sold to the campus food service going to farm projects. Massive composting is also undertaken by the college. And that’s not all. The EPA once voted the college eighth in the United States in recognition of its green power purchasing efforts.
3. College of the Atlantic
The first college in the United States to pledge carbon neutrality, College of the Atlantic strives to avoid or reduce carbon emissions that may be generated due to campus activities including commuting to and from the college.
4. Middlebury College
Located in Vermont, students of Middlebury College were responsible for making the board of trustees set 2016 as a target for the college to become carbon neutral. Thermostats in the campus are turned down to save energy and the college also advocates using public transport instead of private vehicles to commute to and from it.
5. EARTH University
Costa Rica’s EARTH University is dedicated to educating students who can work for sustainable development and environmental service. The college’s four-year agronomy degree will ensure that technology makes use of plants for food and fuel, leaving the need for non-renewable sources of energy far behind.
6. Harvard University
A leader in education, Harvard University makes use of biodiesel to fuel its college buses as well as maintaining a green cleaning service. This service ensures that products used are environment friendly and procedures must comply with environmental safety regulations. In fact, the Facilities Maintenance Operations of Harvard recently became Green Seal certified.
7. California State University, Chico
Students of California State University have come up with innovative projects to go green. The vending machines on campus have sensors installed that put the machines in sleep mode when not in use. Students and faculty are encouraged to take the stairs for at least a day during a semester and avoid using elevators. The college, meanwhile, has solar panels atop certain rooftops and LEED-certified buildings.
8. Leeds University
Leeds University’s students are actively involved in environmental efforts. Green Streets is an initiative taken to ensure reuse and recycle of items generated by student houses and student halls. Purchasing recycled goods is also favored by this UK university and its waste management practices have even earned it a Green Gown Award.
9. Yale University
Yale University has taken big steps to make its mark in the green world. By 2020, it hopes to reduce carbon emissions to 10% as well as use renewable sources of energy. It even plans to help China reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, which is no mean feat. Leeds was named among the top ‘20 coolest schools’ for its green efforts by The Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll.
10. University of Maryland
Students at the University of Maryland are working hard to ensure that they make a difference by approving a hike in fees so that the college can make use of green energy. If implemented, then this will make it the biggest higher education buyer of clean energy in the entire United States. It is also undertaking a project involving motion sensors that will shut down office machines when not in use.