Green College Spotlight: University of Vermont

The University of Vermont is located on a 451-acre campus in Burlington, which includes the historic University Green and the Dudley H. Davis Center, which was the first student center in the nation to receive LEED gold certification. This public research university, which has an enrollment of just over 10,000, is currently developing a proposal for the Lewis Foundation to transform the University into “a driving force that leads society by design to a sustainable and desirable future.”

UVM, as it’s often referred to by the abbreviation of its Latin name Universitas Viridis Montis, has an active environmental council and employs several full-time sustainability staff members including an environmental coordinator and a green building coordinator. President Fogel signed the Presidents Climate Commitment and in 2008, the President’s Commission on Sustainability was created to support the university’s efforts in sustainability. The University’s recent accomplishments earned it an A- on the 2009 College Sustainability Report Card.

UVM is committed to green building. President Fogel signed a green building policy in 2005 that requires all new buildings to be certified LEED silver or higher. The university has also implemented several measures to improve energy efficiency in existing buildings. Staff have been tracking emissions since 2002, and a clean energy fund financed by student fees uses $200,000 annually to fund renewable energy projects recommended by a committee made up mostly of students.

The University of Vermont is a member of the Farm-to-College program and the Vermont Fresh network. UVM purchases 30% of its food from Vermont-based companies and diverts about 35% of its solid waste through a recycling and composting program. Dining services offers biodegradable to-go packaging and turns kitchen waste into biofuel. A student-run farm grows organic produce both for the dining hall and for research, a local CSA and donating food for hunger relief.

UVM’s six shuttles run on biodiesel or compressed natural gas and several fleet vehicles are electric or hybrid. Students, faculty and staff at UVM are also encouraged to use public transit through a commuter incentive program that provides free bus passes. The UVM campus is also bike- and pedestrian-friendly.

Student involvement in sustainability iniatives and programs at UVM is also impressive. The Eco-Reps program employes more than 30 students to promote environmental stewardship on campus, and there are several student organizations that focus on sustainability. Students have driven some of the most successful green projects at UVM, including influencing university policy so that all copier paper is 100% recycled and chlorine-free.

It won’t take much to push the University of Vermont’s green report card score to an A or A+ for 2010. Great job, guys – keep the momentum going!

Link [University of Vermont]

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