Virginia Tech among the top 'green colleges' for fifth consecutive year
For the fifth consecutive year, Virginia Tech ranks among the most environmentally responsible universities in the United States and Canada, according to the Princeton Review.
The Princeton Review’s Guide to 332 Green Colleges profiles institutions of higher education that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability in their academics, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation. The Princeton Review selected 332 schools for this guide based on “green rating” scores of 83 or higher.
Virginia Tech earned a “green rating” score of 98 with the guide highlighting the university’s Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan, LEED certification of new buildings, Dining Services garden at Kentland Farm, integration of sustainability concepts into nearly 600 courses and 32 majors, and the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Gold Award.
More than 60 percent of all incoming freshmen include sustainability as a factor when making a decision to attend a specific college or university according to the Princeton Review.
“Virginia Tech is recognized as a leader in campus sustainability at the local, state, and national levels,” said Denny Cochrane, sustainability program manager, Office of Energy and Sustainability. “Receiving the 2013 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Gold Award for our sustainability program is a testimony of the dedication, hard work, and teamwork displayed by our students, facility and staff.”
In 2013, Virginia Tech reaffirmed its support for the Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan, which the university first adopted in 2009. The plan set goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, and the commitment to pursue LEED Silver certification standards or better for new campus buildings.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
