Hello all! I'm a junior beginning to research colleges, and I'm really interested in sustainability and environmentalism. I'd love to know more about colleges with green, eco-friendly campuses. Thanks in advance!
You've certainly picked an important factor to consider in your college search, and it's great that you're invested in sustainability. Some colleges have really embraced the eco-friendly movement, and that's reflected in their curriculum, campus initiatives, and the behavior of the student body.
Colleges such as Middlebury College in Vermont, Greensboro College in North Carolina, and University of California, Santa Barbara are known for their sustainability initiatives. Middlebury, for example, committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2016 and has an organic farm on campus that provides food to the dining halls. Greensboro College, on the other hand, has integrated sustainability into its curriculum and engages in many green initiatives, such as recycling programs and environmental volunteering. UC Santa Barbara, in addition to offering more than 100 courses that address sustainability, also has the highest percentage of bike commuters for a university in the US.
Then there's Colorado State University which boasts a number of eco-friendly honors, including being the first ever STARS Platinum rated institution, which is the highest possible rating for campus sustainability. They have over 20 sustainability-related programs of study and the campus itself is very green with 92% total waste diversion.
Moreover, Oberlin College in Ohio is another Eco-friendly institution. They implemented an Environmental Studies program back in 1990 and they have a Living Machine, which is a system that treats and reuses water from one of their buildings.
Each of these schools has made significant contributions to the environment, but they express their commitment to eco-friendliness in different ways. So you might find it useful to consider what kind of eco-friendly initiatives and programs you are most interested in. For instance, some schools emphasize sustainable food, while others focus on renewable energy or curriculum integration. Also, see what extracurricular opportunities each institution provides, such as eco-clubs, sustainable entrepreneurship, or volunteer activities. That way, you could choose a school that aligns with your interests in sustainability and environmentalism. Happy searching!
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