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Princeton Review’s green guide honors eco-conscious colleges
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Back in the day, kids used to look at course offerings, campus life and dining halls when deciding where to go to college. Now, it seems a new set of criteria is considered when making university decisions – the eco-friendliness of campuses is increasingly a priority for environmentally conscious students.
The Princeton Review has recently issued a guide to the greenest colleges. Mother Nature Network reports this is the first guide offered that assesses colleges based on a wide a variety of sustainability measures.
The guide considers institutional green practices – such as the number of school buildings that are LEED-certified, renewable energy use and sustainable foods offered – as well as green student cultures – including student-run activities and green courses of study offered.
In the Guide to 286 Green Colleges, Princeton Review officials explain that 66 percent of students who participated in its 2009 College Hopes & Worries Survey said they wanted information about a campus’ commitment to the environment when choosing schools. Nearly one-quarter of those 66 percent said a college’s sustainability ratings would impact their decisions.
The books’ authors say, "we recognize that there is a rising interest among students in attending colleges that practice, teach, and support environmentally responsible choices." The guide focuses on just the post-secondary institutions that have well-established sustainability programs.
It may not come as a surprise that a number of Colorado schools came out on top. Colorado State University was particularly commended for being the first institution of higher learning in the world to receive LEED for Commercial Interiors certification.
Perhaps more surprisingly, several major city schools were ranked as highly green. For instance New York University was acknowledged for its unique Climate Action Plan that aims to reduce the university’s greenhouse gas emissions. The school also boasts sustainability research programs.
All you high school seniors can pick up a copy to see where you can go for a green college experience, and all the eco-conscious graduates can pick one up to see how their alma maters ranked.
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