Newswise — Binghamton University, State University of New York, has received top recognition by The Princeton Review in its first-ever "Green Rating" of colleges. One of only 11 colleges recognized by this rating, Binghamton University is the only SUNY institution named to the honor roll.
"We are pleased to receive this significant recognition," said Binghamton University President Lois B. DeFleur. "Our entire campus works very hard on our environmental efforts and this achievement truly reflects our commitment to sustainability. These efforts have been a priority for me and we have put into place a number of initiatives to engage all of our campus constituents " from the student in the dorm room to our maintenance crews. Higher education has a unique role to play in addressing sustainability issues and we take this responsibility very seriously. Being named to this prestigious honor roll indicates our firm commitment."
The Green Rating is a numerical score on a scale of 60 to 99 that The Princeton Review tallied for 534 colleges and universities based on data it collected from the schools in the 2007-08 academic year concerning their environmentally related policies, practices, and academic offerings.
The "2009 Green Rating Honor Roll" salutes six public and five private institutions that each received Green Rating scores of 99 (the highest score). Along with Binghamton University, the honor roll includes Arizona State University at the Tempe campus; Bates College (Lewiston, ME); College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, ME); Emory University (Atlanta, GA); Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA); Harvard College (Cambridge, MA); University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH); University of Oregon (Eugene, OR); University of Washington (Seattle, WA); and Yale University (New Haven, CT).
Said Robert Franek, Vice President / Publisher at The Princeton Review, "The 'green'' movement on college campuses is far more than an Earth Day recycling project or a dining hall menu of organic food. The commitment that many colleges and their student bodies have made to environmental issues " indeed, to the environment -- in their practices, use of resources and academic and research programs is truly compelling. We are pleased to play a role in helping students identify, get into, and study at these schools. It is the students of today who will face and hopefully find solutions for the enormous environmental challenges confronting our planet's future."
Binghamton University's sustainability efforts range from an energy management system to wide-ranging recycling efforts that include organic gardening and composting. Other initiatives include a range of energy savings projects, LEED building standards, and educational efforts that include a residential community energy contest as well as regular programs and events that engage and educate the campus community in thinking about and changing energy habits.
In fall 2007, President Lois B. DeFleur was a charter signatory in endorsing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). To date, over 500 universities nationwide have signed on to work toward a goal of climate neutrality.
For more on Binghamton University's top 'green' initiatives, programs and campus environment highlights such as the Nature Preserve, and recycling and energy savings, see: http://urel.binghamton.edu/PressReleases/2008/Tipsheets/Greenefforts.html
For a selection of Binghamton University's sustainability research initiatives, including advanced sensors, watershed studies and materials research, see http://Research.binghamton.edu/green
For a range of energy savings suggestions, including tips for laundry and shower, heating and air-conditioning, see http://facilities.binghamton.edu/images/Energy/Energy%20Savings%20Tips%20(Rev1).pdf For more on the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/html/commitment.php For photos of Binghamton University's green initiatives, see http://www.binghamton.edu/home/green/
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