Green College Spotlight: Willamette University

Which college or university engages in the most sustainable activities? That would be Willamette University of Oregon, which beat out 1,067 other schools to take the crown in a National Wildlife Federation survey.

“Willamette is committed to energy efficiency and conservation, greener transportation, environmentally friendly landscaping practices, as well as to orienting personnel and faculty to the sustainability goals of the campus”, said the WWF report.

Willamette’s enthusiasm comes from a solid core of committed students, faculty and staff including President M. Lee Peldon, who signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. A sustainability council oversees the many sustainability activities on campus, and a number of student groups like the Environmental Community Outreach Society help make going green a priority.

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) praised Willamette University last year for its remarkable initiative.

“People at Willamette take their motto and mission seriously and genuinely try to walk the talk,” said Judy Walton, AASHE executive director. “I’ve rarely seen so much honest engagement and reflection on the issue of sustainability. It’s a sincere commitment, not just lip service. The university takes time to make sure its efforts are deep and thoughtful.”

Earning a B on the 2009 Green College Report Card – a full grade higher than the previous year’s – Willamette has a long list of green projects and accomplishments, on campus and off.

All future buildings at Willamette will be required to reach LEED Silver or higher, and a new building under construction is currently seeking Gold certification. Double-glazed windows and low-flow plumbing are among the efficiency improvements that existing buildings have undergone. Solar panels have been installed on one building, and another building will get a 40-kilowatt solar array.

Students can rent bicycles and have their own bicycles repaired at the campus bike shop, and are also given free bus passes. The university uses hybrid campus security vehicles. In the dining hall, organic and local food options are abundant and half of all food waste is composted for use at local farms.

Check out a full list of Willamette University’s notable accomplishments at the WU Sustainability website.

Link [Willamette University] + [Green College Report Card]

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