Virginia Tech is among the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to "The Princeton Review." The well-known education services company selected Virginia Tech for the second year in a row for inclusion in its second annual edition of its onlinr book, "The Princeton Review’s Guide to 311 Green Colleges: 2011 Edition." 

Created by "The Princeton Review" in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, "'The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges" is the only free, comprehensive guidebook profiling institutions of higher education that demonstrate a notable commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. "The Princeton Review" selects schools for this guide based on a survey the company polled in 2010 on sustainability initiatives.

Virginia Tech joins the ranks of outstanding universities and colleges nationwide that are leading the “green” movement through their own special programs and initiatives.

“Virginia Tech is committed to being a leader in campus sustainability and this publication shows that we are nationally recognized for doing just that. It is a tribute to the commitment from our board of visitors, President Steger and our senior leadership, our faculty and staff, and especially our students,” said Denny Cochrane, Virginia Tech’s sustainability program manager.

The key for Virginia Tech’s qualification includes the Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan which set goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, and the commitment to pursue LEED Silver certification standards or better for new campus buildings. 

The integration of sustainable programs into the academic curriculum and research also was a significant consideration. The program focused on careers in sustainability offered by Virginia Tech’s Career Services and the numerous opportunities for student involvement on campus combined with the participation levels in alternative transportation, recycling, composting, and more boosted Virginia Tech as a leader in sustainability.

“College-bound students are increasingly interested in sustainability issues," said Robert Franek, senior vice president at "The Princeton Review". “Among 8,200 college applicants who participated in our spring 2011 'College Hopes & Worries Survey,' nearly 7 out of 10 said having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the school."

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.

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