Sierra Magazine, the official publication of the Sierra Club, has awarded the University of California, Davis with the “Coolest School” moniker for its sustainability efforts. 96 colleges and universities were surveyed for this year’s award.
Reading about UC Davis’ environmental and sustainability initiatives, it’s clear why it came out on top of the rankings. It goes far above and beyond just reducing emissions and energy use, the easy pickings of facilities looking to clean up their act. The school also diverts nearly 70 percent of its trash from landfills to recycling and composting, has built 42 miles of bicycle paths and 20,000 bicycle parking spaces, provides natural-gas-powered student buses which serve the campus and local community, and spends more than 20 percent of its food budget on local and organic products.
“At UC Davis, sustainability is one of our core values,” said UC Davis chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. “I am very proud of the students, faculty and staff who have worked so hard to make this achievement possible and to invest in a more sustainable future for our campus.”
Campus buildings aren’t immune to high eco-standards, either. Four of its building complexes have been certified LEED Platinum, and one of them is the world’s first LEED Platinum winery, brewery and food processing facility. In addition, the 130-acre UC Davis West Village will be the nation’s largest zero net energy housing development once complete. It will utilize a 4 MW solar power system and a biodigester to generate as much electricity as it uses each year for the 3,000 students and faculty who will call it home.
Coolest School, indeed.
Ranking right behind UC Davis and filling out the top 5 from Sierra Magazine are the Georgia Institute of Technology, Stanford University, the University of Washington, and the University of Connecticut.
[via UC Davis]
Image Credit: UC Davis