Sierra Magazine, the official publication of the Sierra Club, has named the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ one of the top 20 colleges and universities for its initiatives to operate sustainably and limit its contributions to global warming. This is the third year the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ has been named to this elite group.
For the second year in a row, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is ranked within the top five schools for campus sustainability. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is #4 on “Cool Schoolsâ€� list with Evergreen State College at #3. . The complete list is available at . Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ leads the list in large, public research universities.
“We are thrilled to be included again among the most environmentally responsible universities in the country,â€� says Provost Phyllis Wise. “It is an honor to be included among the very best schools, all of which have excellent environmental records. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is committed to continue to innovate in ways that are environmentally conscious.â€�
Schools were ranked on ten factors: efficiency, energy, food, academics, purchasing, transportation, waste management, administration, financial investments and other initiatives.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is a founding member of the Seattle Climate Partnership and the Seattle campus electrical purchases are 100 percent renewable. It is a charter signatory to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) is guided by the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee that is supported by the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Office. The University established a formal policy on environmental stewardship and has developed an ambitious Climate Action Plan, a document laying out the broad strategies the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ will use to become climate neutral.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ also has implemented wide-ranging energy conservation projects. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Housing & Food Services emphasize local organic and natural foods; it recently became a pilot site for the first compostable paper cup designed specifically for soft drinks and made from renewable resources. The University has committed to build all state-funded, federal stimulus funded, and specific client goal directed new construction and major renovation projects to at least LEED Silver standards.
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ encourages the community to use alternative transportation and maintains a fleet of more than 300 alternative fuel, hybrid, electric and biodiesel-powered vehicles and trucks. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Creative Communications, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ’s in-house design and production department, currently uses 100 percent post-consumer recycled content Harbor 100 paper (Grays Harbor Mill) as house stock in all five high volume copy centers. Creative Communications is Forest Stewardship Council certified and promotes a wide range of paper stocks that have been produced under FSC established standards of sustainability.
This spring, student activists created the Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF), which dedicates a portion of the Student Activities Fee to support projects that increase campus sustainability, prioritize student leadership and involvement and include outreach and education components