If you’re the type of person who carries reusable grocery bags and has a hybrid car, you’re probably also interested in attending an eco-friendly university. Of course, “going green” is a trend that’s becoming increasingly popular, so you’re not going to be impressed by a school that’s rife with recycling bins. No – a green school has to truly go above and beyond, but don’t worry, the United States is home to plenty that do.
Which Earth-conscious college will you choose? One that runs entirely on solar energy? Or maybe one that features trayless dining? Here are a few of the United States’ greenest colleges that are definitely worth considering.
Warren Wilson College
This Swannonoa, NC-based school does more than give it the Old College Try when it comes to going green – it brings self-sustainability to a whole new level. Staff and employees manage on-campus organic gardens and forests, so while they learn the practice of nurturing the Earth, they can also benefit from their very own renewable resources. The garden and forest provide nearly all the food and lumber the school needs. Don’t worry – the chainsaws used to collect the wood are run on soy oil and brought back in hybrid, bio-fueled, or solar-powered vehicles. They’re a national leader in green building and design due to their solar-powered streetlamps and low level of light pollution.
Evergreen State College
True to its namesake, this Olympia, WA campus is about 1,000 acres – 800 of which are woods, forests, and beaches. It makes for the perfect home for a huge organic farm and compost facility. On this thirteen-acre garden, students taking classes at the college can get hands-on experience in farming, ecology, composting, and more. The school runs entirely on clean energy and one of the main buildings, the roof of which is a picturesque “green roof,” is even Gold LEED certified.
Oberlin College
This Ohio school is a pioneer when it comes to green campuses, having invented a computer system to monitor the amount of energy and water consumption of the on-campus dorms almost ten years ago. Now, it’s home to the largest array of solar panels in the state and a beautiful building dedicated entirely to studying the environment. This building is heated geo-thermally, which is still an up-and-coming green building modification that requires only 20% the energy of typical heating systems. Oberlin continues to make eco-conscious breakthroughs through endeavors such as their “Living Machine,” which is a waste-water filtration system comprised of only plants and bacteria.
Berea College
Located in Kentucky, Berea college has set itself an ambitious goal of reducing 75% of its total energy and water consumption. They also plan to reduce 50% of their solid waste. In an effort to do so, the college has implemented an Ecovillage for providing food, clean energy, and waste solutions. All on-campus housing at Berea use eco-friendly appliances and energy sources, and are also home to rain collectors and a water filtration living machine. Due to its beautiful trees and greenery throughout the campus, it’s also an incredibly pleasant and relaxing place to live and study.
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