Green College Spotlight: Emory University

Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia stands among the nation’s top sustainable schools. This Campus Sustainability Leader has made going green a major priority – sustainability is a main component of the university’s strategic plan and mission, and Emory has a sustainability advisory committee that sets goals like reducing energy consumption.

Not only does the Emory University campus house more square feet of LEED-certified green building space than any other university in the nation, but it’s also made up of more than half protected forested greenspace. Emory has six buildings with LEED certifications, and another 11 that are LEED-registered. Among the green features in these buildings are dual-flush toilets that use collected rainwater. Two new freshman residence halls have rooftop solar arrays.

Faculty and staff at Emory enjoy free public transit passes, and the university also has a free shuttle bus that runs on alternative fuels. The Cliff shuttle system is one of the largest shuttle fleets in the Atlanta metro area. Discounts on bicycles and equipment are available through the Bike Emory program.

Emory University has set an ambitious goal to purchase 75% of their food from local or sustainable sources by 2015, and they’re already making great progress. A dining sustainability director, sustainable food educator and farmer liaison help steer food purchasing decisions and early last year, the Sustainability Committee developed sustainability guidelines for food service purchasing.

Students, faculty and staff all lend a hand in making Emory a greener university. Sustainability is integrated into orientation for all first-year students and the university sponsors energy efficiency competitions. Faculty and staff also submit green ideas for the Sustainability Incentive Awards.

Emory University is also notably home to the Piedmont Project, a curriculum development project that seeks to build an intellectual community to address global issues and local environmental awareness. It’s the longest-running faculty development program in sustainability in the country.

Link [Emory University]

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