This is the time of year where universities are bombarded with high school juniors and seniors looking into the universities they want to apply to or have already been accepted to. Parents and students alike come prepared with tons of questions to ask campus representatives. One question that previous representatives haven’t had to prepare was the sustainability question: Is your campus a green campus?
The leaders of tomorrow have realized they’re inheriting a world that needs a major facelift in the environmental department. In fact, according to a 2006 MTV/CBS poll, most Americans aged 13-24 think environmental degradation will be the biggest challenge their generation will face. A huge chunk of that population is now looking into a collegiate career. Being an eco friendly campus has developed from a mere afterthought to a very important aspect in recruiting students.

The green campuses that are taking hold of this trend have recognized there is a difference between having recycling bins outside classrooms and a full-fledged sustainability campus initiative.

What are some tips that colleges have learned from readings and studies? When looking for an eco friendly campus, take these into consideration…

• Both the visible and non-visible evidence that a campus is a green campus is essential, but not necessarily equal. Studies have shown potential students look for visual proof of an eco friendly campus. However, it is just as important to highlight the invisible green efforts produced by the school like carbon footprint reduction measures.
• Digging below the surface of what is seen at a campus visitation is important – colleges have educated their staff to know all the environmental issues their school has prevented or been a part of, so make sure to ask them!

Here are some questions to ask representatives about how green their campus is. The following questions were put together by the research of the Rocky Mountain Institute, a group who recently published the book “Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives”.

• Has the college signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment?
• Are they completing or have they completed a carbon inventory?
• Have they developed an actionable sustainability plan?
• Does the school have any achievements or recognizable qualities for environmental commitment?

Remember, if the campus reps for the green campus initiatives don’t know the answers to those questions, ask someone else! Making sure your university is a green university will not only help your generation take what they were given and turn it into something better, but make a mark for future generations to enjoy Mother Earth.

Traveling by bike is one of the healthiest ways to get around a campus. Many universities that pride themselves on being a green campus promote the use of bikes. Not only do they help decrease emissions of cars or buses, but they help with the personal health of the rider. Nokia has come up with another incentive to bike around campus. While biking, charge your phone!

Nokia has turned to the eco-friendly campus market and has created a cell phone charger that powers up from pedaling a bike. The faster you ride, the more juice flows to your phone. The chargers can be attached to any bicycle and only work with Nokia phones that use a 2mm power jack. The charger connects to the middle part of the handlebars of any bike, and takes the energy and green electricity of the front wheel to the charger.

The $18 wonder is not the first of its kind, but it is definitely the cheapest, which makes it the most accessible to college students trying to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. Although the charger is currently being marketed to developing countries with limited access to electricity, the advantages of the phone in bike-friendly countries of Europe and green campuses in the US hold real potential.

“We are targeting the initial rollout in the developing markets, but we do, of course, see the potential outside of these countries,” said Nokia spokesman Leo McKay.

The installation process of the charger is simple:

• Attach one bracket (provided with the kit) to the middle area of the handlebars
• Attach the cell phone holder and charger to the bracket
• Use the other bracket to secure the small electric generator to the bikes fork
• Place your phone in the holder and bike away

Nokia, the world’s leader in cell phone production, said this new product will provide “free and environmentally friendly electricity for mobile phones” and will likely be welcomed in areas of the world where bicycles are a transportation staple. Although the US is not one of those known areas, students in green campuses around the country would benefit from this eco-friendly development.

With the added sense of environmental awareness, The Princeton Review, a program dedicated to helping students succeed by giving them information on tests, college prep and college statistics, has added a list to the countless amounts of information they have on colleges; The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges.

The Princeton Review took surveys of parents, students and college employees and found out in 2009 having an eco friendly campus and living an eco-lifestyle was important to 66% of high school-age college applicants. Students today feel the urge to learn more about environmental issues and to make their college a green campus.  Rachel Gutter, director for the Center for Green Schools at the Green Building Council said students realize the environmental problems they are inheriting and feel empowered to make a change.

The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges covers all the aforementioned aspects as well as countless others in its detailed report. The ranking is on a 60-99 scale; the colleges receiving above 80 being profiled in the report. The rankings were based on the green universities ability to excel in the following factors:

•    Ability to provide students a healthy and sustainable quality of life
•    Ability to prepare students for green jobs and responsible green citizenship
•    How well the school used environmentally responsible policies

Colleges around the country are heeding the call of their eco friendly students and creating aspects of their college to turn it into a green university. Universities have the largest number of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings, outnumbering any other industry. Turning into a green campus includes recycling programs, green buildings, natural fuel for green transportation and serving natural foods at campus diners.

The green campuses that flourished the most under the Princeton Review’s guide received a score of 99 and are as follows:

1.    Arizona State University (Tempe, Az)
2.    Bates College (Lewiston, Maine)
3.    The College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, Maine)
4.    Colorado College (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
5.    Dickenson College (Carlisle, Pa)
6.    The Evergreen State College (Olympia, Wash)
7.    Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Ga)
8.    Harvard College (Cambridge, Mass)
9.    Middlebury College (Middlebury, Vt)
10.    Northeastern University (Boston, Mass)

The full 200-page report is available online at the Princeton Review site. Each review has the same categories so as to make the report fair. A sampling of the different data fields are as follows:

•    Percentage of food budget spent on local/organic food
•    Available transportation alternatives
•    New construction must be LEED certified or comparable third-party rating system
•    Waste diversion rate
•    School provides guidance on green jobs
•    Percentage of school grounds maintained organically
•    Percentage of school energy from renewable resources

There are plenty of things that universities have been doing, but there are also items that individual students can do to make a green campus thrive and support having an eco-lifestyle. Here are 10 environmentally friendly ideas for dorm rooms, apartments and campus life in general to make your campus a more eco friendly campus.

Universities around the country are doing everything they can to become a green campus. From the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ campaign to using naturally fueled buses, being an eco friendly campus is not only the “in” thing, but the smart thing.

There are plenty of things that universities have been doing, but there are also items that individual students can do to make a green campus thrive and support having an eco-lifestyle. Here are 10 environmentally friendly ideas for dorm rooms, apartments, classrooms and campus life in general to make your campus a more eco-friendly campus.

1.    Recycle everything, especially paper!
The amount of paper a college student goes through per semester is insane; between class notes, scrap copies, term papers, student newspapers, graphs and pictures printed out plus countless other random items add up. We know that these things can’t be avoided, but the way you handle the use of all the paper can really help create a better green campus. Look for recycling bins by garbage bins, dorms, restaurants and classrooms.

2.    Use your printer wisely
Teachers usually don’t mind if they read papers that are printed using both sides of the paper. This is a huge way to save on paper. Also, to save ink, use the low quality settings on items that don’t need to look too nice or that are just text. Lastly, think about what you’re printing out. If you can show someone the website on a screen, do it. You don’t need to print it out.

3.    Limit the use of disposable cups and plates
Whether you’re in a dorm or moving into your first off-campus apartment, the temptation to buy disposable cups and plates is huge. However, this not only is bad for the environment, but it’s bad for your student finances as well. Buy cheaper plastic plates and cups; one package usually has four sets which are generally enough for one set of roommates. Wash these by hand or throw them in the dish washer if you have one (and remember to only run the washer when it is full to save water).

4.    Limit the use of paper napkins
We’re not telling you to eat cleaner, but we’re telling you to not overdo it. Generally, a lot of fast food and take out is eaten by college students, which means a lot of napkins get grabbed on the way out. Limit the amount you grab!

5.    Use compact fluorescent light bulbs
This is a good bit of advice for those college students who are paying their own electric bills. These bulbs might be slightly more expensive than regular ones, but will decrease your energy intake, last longer and ultimately save you money. These are good for dorms as well. Lamp light is a lot more pleasant and environmentally efficient than overhead dorm lighting.

6.    Walk, bike, and limit the use of your car
Most campuses, especially those that are trying to become a more eco friendly campus, have pretty good public transit. On top of that, almost all universities are pedestrian friendly. Walking or biking will not only help make your campus a green university, but will help you avoid the freshman (or sophomore, or junior) walkers. If you must drive, try to find others who need to as well, and carpool to save emissions.

7.    Buy green
Buy recycled goods as much as possible. Paper, cleaning products and water are products that can be purchased as a recycled good. They’re slightly more expensive than the normal products, but it’s worth it to make a green campus.

8.    Use refillable binders instead of notebooks
This is a simple way to save waste. Whenever the semester is done you can take out your notes, staple and save, then use the binder for the next semester. If you really want to take an extra step to make your campus greener, use your laptop to take notes at class.

9.    Carry a water bottle
Not only will this save the environment by decreasing the amount of plastic waste on your campus, but will also help keep you hydrated and your metabolism high. A water bottle can be refilled at any water fountain and can easily be drank in class or while riding a bike.

10.    Buy used clothing
Usually thought of as something to do to save money, it is also good for the environment! Recycling clothes minimizes the use of resources to make clothing and puts a dent in the problem of worldwide sweatshops.

Even though you may think that the desert is no place for anything green, the students at California’s College of the Desert located in Palm Desert are determined to prove you wrong.

Working with the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, an organization aimed to enhance the economic growth of the surrounding county, and using $2 million in economic stimulus funds, the college will train students in several projects for renewable energy. These projects will focus on wind energy and solar energy.

Even though you may think that the desert is no place for anything green, the students at California’s College of the Desert located in Palm Desert are determined to prove you wrong.

Working with the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, an organization aimed to enhance the economic growth of the surrounding county, and using $2 million in economic stimulus funds, the college will train students in several projects for renewable energy. These projects will focus on wind energy and solar energy.

The renewable energy projects

What type of renewable energy projects will the students at California’s College of the Desert be working on? They will learn the ins and outs of large-scale solar energy plants, as well as how to build and safely climb wind turbines.

Some other facts about the renewable energy projects:

• Students can take a seven-week program to gain wind-turbine technician skills
• College hopes to train 120 solar techs to build solar energy plants within 18 months
• Students will learn electrical, pipefitting and mechanical skills for alternative energy jobs
• Students will learn how to climb on a wind-turbine’s 80-foot high tower
• Future plans for classes on solar panel rooftop installation

These renewable energy products are designed to not only prepare students for a future green career, but also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our nation’s reliance on natural gas and oil imports.

Source: PE.com

This past September the University of Denver started a new on-campus bike sharing program that was created by the school’s sustainability committee. This new program allows current DU students, faculty and staff to rent high-tech bikes for free from a special bike-lending library…all with the swipe of their DU identification card.

The bike share program offered at the University of Denver is part of a citywide bike sharing program that is set to launch in April of 2010. By then, the city of Denver hopes to have 600 bikes offered at 50 solar powered kiosks around the city.

This past September the University of Denver started a new on-campus bike sharing program that was created by the school’s sustainability committee. This new program allows current DU students, faculty and staff to rent high-tech bikes for free from a special bike-lending library…all with the swipe of their DU identification card.

The bike share program offered at the University of Denver is part of a citywide bike sharing program that is set to launch in April of 2010. By then, the city of Denver hopes to have 600 bikes offered at 50 solar powered kiosks around the city.

More about the bike share program

So far the bike sharing program has been a success for the university. Students can rent the bikes for free and must return them by 7pm that same night. There is a late charge if the bike is returned after 7pm, and if it’s still not back after 3 days the student must pay the retail cost of the bike (which costs a pretty penny at several hundred dollars).

Here’s a video that explains more about the program:

Denver is already a green city, so this new bike share program is only making it greener and more sustainable in the long run.

You can check out these other blog posts on bike sharing programs:

Eco-Friendly Vehicles at the University of Miami

More Colleges Offering Bike Rentals to Students

Ripon College in Wisconsin Gives Away Free Bikes

Source: DUClarion.com

Middlebury College, which we have mentioned in previous 2008 Sustainability Report Card and Sierra Club’s Cool Schools posts, is considered to be one of the greenest colleges in our country. After switching a few years ago to burning wood chips in addition to oil to heat the campus, the college is now going for a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative green energy fuel resource: willow shrubs.

The college currently buys 20,000 wood chips a year from local loggers to heat half of the campus, and the other half is heated by oil. By switching to willow shrubs as an alternative fuel source the school will save over $1.5 million a year in oil costs.

Middlebury College, which we have mentioned in previous 2008 Sustainability Report Card and Sierra Club’s Cool Schools posts, is considered to be one of the greenest colleges in our country. After switching a few years ago to burning wood chips in addition to oil to heat the campus, the college is now going for a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative green energy fuel resource: willow shrubs.

The college currently buys 20,000 wood chips a year from local loggers to heat half of the campus, and the other half is heated by oil. By switching to willow shrubs as an alternative fuel source the school will save over $1.5 million a year in oil costs.

Why the Switch?

Middlebury College decided to test the willow shrub as an alternative fuel resource because it grows faster than other types of trees, can reach heights of up to 16 feet tall and can be harvested in the cold winters that are native to Vermont, which is where the college is located. Plus, Vermont has many open farm fields that are perfect for planting the willows.

Right now the first experimental crop of willow shrubs is planted and should be harvested in the winter of 2010-2011. So far they are growing well, but only time will tell if they will be the go-to alternative fuel source for the college!

Source: BurlingtonFreePress.com

As the world continues to face environmental and sustainability issues head-on, more college students are becoming interested in what they can do to be a part of the green future, and a large portion of these students are in New Jersey.

While these students follow sustainable practices on their own, like recycling, conserving energy and reducing their carbon footprint, they are also starting to incorporate these practices with what they learn from green classes that focus on science, technology and politics.

As the world continues to face environmental and sustainability issues head-on, more college students are becoming interested in what they can do to be a part of the green future, and a large portion of these students are in New Jersey.

While these students follow sustainable practices on their own, like recycling, conserving energy and reducing their carbon footprint, they are also starting to incorporate these practices with what they learn from green classes that focus on science, technology and politics.

NJ Colleges Going Greener

It is projected that there will be over 4.2 million green jobs in the U.S. by the year 2028, so here are a few New Jersey colleges that are starting to prepare their students for a green future by offering going green classes:

• Bergen Community College - Partnered with local electricians to teach students how to install solar energy panels, and introduced classes for energy-efficient home construction and sustainable design.
• New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark - Recently created a “green careers” database with over 100 college majors related to green careers, such as sustainability science studies.
• Ramapo in Mahwah - Hoping to open a new sustainability center on campus and to get approval for new Masters degree in sustainability issues.
• Kean University in Union - Has new bachelor’s degree in sustainability.
• Montclair State University in Little Falls - Developing undergrad and grad classes in sustainability science.

Although New Jersey students are becoming more interested in green classes, so are students from around the world. Issues concerning the environment are something that everyone can relate to, so we hope that more colleges will be inspired to offer green classes.

Source: NorthJersey.com

For the past 3 years the Sierra Club, one of the largest environmental organizations in the world, has put together a “Cool Schools” list of the top eco-friendly universities in America, and it has been published in the organization’s Sierra magazine.  These schools represent the best in green energy efficiency, waste management and food operations.

For the past 3 years the Sierra Club, one of the largest environmental organizations in the world, has put together a “Cool Schools” list of the top eco-friendly universities in America, and it has been published in the organization’s Sierra magazine.  These schools represent the best in green energy efficiency, waste management and food operations.

According to Princeton Review survey statistics on the SierraClub.org website, “two-thirds of university applicants say that a school’s environmental report card would influence whether they’d enroll.” A green campus is definitely a factor in the college application process, so the universities on this list offer both academics and environmentalism in their curriculum.

The Sierra Club Questionnaire

So, how did the Sierra Club calculate its Cool Schools list? Members of the organization sent emails to the sustainability directors of hundreds of schools with questions in these categories:

• Efficiency
• Energy
• Food
• Academics
• Purchasing
• Transportation
• Waste management
• Administration

Using the above criteria, schools could get 10 points for each category. In the end, the schools closest to the perfect 100 score would make the list.

Here are the top 10 eco-friendly universities:

• University of Colorado at Boulder
• University of Washington at Seattle
• Middlebury College
• University of Vermont
• College of the Atlantic
• Evergreen State College
• University of California at Santa Cruz
• University of California at Berkeley
• University of California at Los Angeles
• Oberlin College

You can see the entire Sierra Club Cool Schools list of 135 universities here.

The Cool Schools list is a great way to inform the public about green universities across America, and hopefully it will encourage students to become involved in the green movement. We hope that the Sierra Club keeps up the great work!

In an effort to inspire incoming freshmen students to go green, the University of Virginia Bookstore and Housing Division have filled demonstration green dorm rooms full of eco-friendly products.

These green dorm rooms, which have everything from Seventh Generation trash bags and paper towels to green energy efficient microwaves, will be an alternative to traditional dorm rooms, which usually ignore sustainability efforts.

In an effort to inspire incoming freshmen students to go green, the University of Virginia Bookstore and Housing Division have filled demonstration green dorm rooms full of eco-friendly products.

These green dorm rooms, which have everything from Seventh Generation trash bags and paper towels to green energy efficient microwaves, will be an alternative to traditional dorm rooms, which usually ignore sustainability efforts.

So, what are some of the eco-friendly products that will appear in the green dorm rooms? Here are a few:

• Fabric softener
• Trash bags
• Paper towels
• Multi-surface cleaners
• Computers
• Refrigerators
• Microwaves

Most importantly, all of the electronic products will be top-rated for energy efficiency, so the students will see firsthand the benefit of energy conservation. Plus, students can purchase all of the products displayed in the green dorm rooms at the UVA Bookstore.

This is a great way to get incoming students to realize the benefits of going green, so we hope that other college campuses will do the same thing! Oh, and as an added bonus, the UVA website also offers Green Move-in Tips for new students.

Check out these other blog posts on colleges that have also gone green:

• Bates College Turns Trash to Treasure with Annual Trashion Show
• California College Students Hope to Win Solar Decathlon
• Warren Wilson College EcoDorm Goes LEED Platinum
• Montana State University to Store CO2 Underground

Source: UVA Today