The Daily Campus

Issue date: 10/19/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Nick Hart The Burton Family Football Complex contributes to UConn's sustainability grade. The building is UConn's first and only LEED certified building and was the first NCAA LEED certified training facility. [Click to enlarge]

Facing a battered economy and crippling budget cuts last year, UConn - along with many other U.S. colleges - maintained its commitment to going green.

On Oct. 7, the Sustainable Endowments Institute released the College Sustainability Report Card 2010. The report card is an independent evaluation of colleges' commitments to promoting environmental initiatives.

The Sustainable Endowments Institute looked at 332 schools through surveys that were completed by students and administrators.

"More than 95 percent of participating institutions agreed to share the inner workings of their green practices, resulting in over 10,000 pages of detailed data and descriptions," a press release from the Sustainable Endowments Institute said.

The surveys found that the schools became greener, as a whole, despite a 23 percent average drop in endowments.

UConn, which endured a 5 percent budget cut last year, earned a "B" average on the newly released report card.

Schools were scored in nine different categories. UConn earned three "A's," four "B's," one "D" and no grade for the shareholder agreement category.

Validating the sacrifice of students who bemoaned last year's initiative to go trayless, UConn earned an "A" in the food and recycling category.

The excellent mark was earned for its trayless dining halls, recycling practices, composting programs and its locally grown and organic food purchases.

The environmental policy that university adopted in 2004 helped UConn to an "A" in the administrative category as well.

UConn received its final "A" for its investment priorities, including investments in renewable energy funds and a natural resources manager.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools