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Clarkson University named one of most environmentally responsible colleges in North America

Posted 4/18/12

POTSDAM -- Clarkson University is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to the Princeton Review. The company selected Clarkson for inclusion …

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Clarkson University named one of most environmentally responsible colleges in North America

Posted

POTSDAM -- Clarkson University is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to the Princeton Review.

The company selected Clarkson for inclusion in the just-released third annual edition of its free, downloadable book, “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition.”

Clarkson joins the ranks of outstanding universities and colleges nationwide that are leading the “green” movement through special programs and initiatives.

Clarkson environmental initiatives include a greenhouse to grow vegetables in cold climates coupled with an anaerobic digester to convert food waste to energy, and two new minors in its curriculum, sustainable energy systems engineering and sustainable solutions for the developing world.

Clarkson has also adopted green building policies, such as a commitment to pursuing LEED Silver certification on all current and future construction.

In 2011, the new Technology Advancement Center building exceeded that requirement, achieving LEED Gold certification.

Clarkson’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment sponsors workshops, seminars, and a small grants program, as well as undergraduate and graduate-level research experiences on a variety of projects around renewable energy, clean water, and air quality.

Associate Director of Sustainability Susan E. Powers, the Spence Professor in Sustainable Environmental Systems, ensures that sustainable practices are incorporated into every aspect of campus life. And the data shows that students support these initiatives.

“A recent survey of freshmen shows that Clarkson students are more concerned with protecting the environment than typical freshmen at comparable private universities,” says Powers. “Fifty-five percent think that adopting green practices to protect the environment is essential or very important. In contrast, only 38 percent of freshman at the comparison schools thought so.”

Created by The Princeton Review in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, the guide is the only free, comprehensive guidebook profiling institutions of higher education that demonstrate a notable commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. The Princeton Review chose the schools for the guide based on a survey of administrators at hundreds of colleges that the company polled in 2011 about their school’s sustainability initiatives.

Released on April 17, just a few days prior to the 42nd anniversary celebration of Earth Day, the guide has profiles of the colleges that provide application information plus facts, stats, and write-ups reporting on the schools’ environmentally related policies, practices and academic offerings.

The free guide can be downloaded at http://www.princetonreview.com/green-guide .