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Sustainability in Higher Education focuses on the actions College's and Universities around the United States are taking to become more sustainable. Going "green" is one way to descirbe the efforts of promoting sustainability in Higher Education. Many College's and Universities are taking the first steps in an attempt to reduce their Ecological footprint and become more sustainable campuses. "Going "green" means more than turning down thermostats in unused classrooms and recycling old plastic bottles. As a small but growing cadre of colleges are discovering, it often requires a fundamental rethinking of how campuses are laid out and how new buildings are designed (and existing ones refurbished). Going "green" also requires fresh approaches to issues like parking, transportation, and even how students get and dispose of their dining-hall food."[1] From building techniques to programs in food service, Higher Education is making its move towards a more sustainable campus environment.
Sustainable Actions
Berea College
- 2006 AASHE Campus Sustainability Leadership Award winner
- Lincoln Hall 1st certified LEEDS building in Kentucky[2]
- Campus wide recycling program[3]
- Ecovillage:*Stack ventilation *Natural lighting by way of solar light tubes *Water efficiency by way of front loading washers in every appartment *Energy efficient by way of compact flourecent lights and ceiling fans *Gardens throughout community[4]
- Child Development Laboratory:*Built using recyclable materials *Controlled air circulation *Exterior built using "green" building materials *Roof consists of structural insulated panels *Natural lighting by way of large windows *Educational curriculum incoorporates gardening, recycling, and composting[5]
- Sustainability and Environmental Studies House:*combines the use of modern day solar power technology with simplistic living *solar generated heating *solar water heating *1500 watt photovoltaic array *Rain water is collected to suppliment water use for gardening *Utilize a greywater treatment system *Sun-Mar composting toilet[6]
- Various campus renovations to decrease energy use[7](under Catagory Eco-renovations)
- Dining Services:*About 200 pounds of food per day is collected and given to college farm for use as composting material *6 tons of aluminum cans and 10 tons of cardboard are recyled each year
Cornell College
- dorm showers and faucets have low water flow
- campuswide year around recycling program that is run through work-study
- some college departments use 30% post consumer content paper
- campus wide transition from incandescent light bulbs to florecent ones to conserve energy
- planning on implementing green building techniques
- provide vegetarian food option in food service[8]
UMass (Boston)
- "award winning" water and energy efficient retrofits
- building created utilizing "green" building techniques
- purchase biodegradeable bags for compost
- purchase environmentally preferrable paints, carpets, lighting and other furnishings
- anything that can be recycled is i.e. plastic bottles, cardboard, cans, paper, food for composting, furniture, bulk goods, etc.
- campus has diverted over 3 million lbs of recyclable items from ending up in landfills or incenorators
- campus uses hybrid, and low sulfur diesel fuels for buses/shuttles
- utilize carpooling, vanpooling, and bikes are encouraged
- Have styro-foam free outlets like cafes
- Won Sustainable University award in 2004 [9]