Sierra Magazine named CU the Top Green University in the nation. (CU Independent Illustration/Adam Milner)
CU has been named America’s top “green” university for 2009 by Sierra Magazine.
Sarah Haynes, programs assistant at the Environmental Center, said the Environmental Center staff was glad to be recognized.
“We were excited, after being ranked number two last year, for our efforts,” Haynes said. “I think that we had a lot to be proud of after last year’s zero-waste football game season where we diverted over 40 tons of materials from landfill. No one had ever done that before.”
The September/October issue of Sierra Magazine ranked the top 10 “green” universities based on categories such as efficiency, energy, transportation and waste management. CU scored perfect tens in the transportation and waste management categories, and received five bonus points.
Haynes agreed that these two programs were some of the most laudable initiatives on campus, but stressed they would not be possible without the partnering between the campus and the city of Boulder.
“We have a very strong partnership between Facilities Management and Housing and Dining,” Haynes said. “I think that as a model for what’s possible when you work with the city and other campus departments; it’s something we are very proud of.”
Haynes noted that another “green” strength at CU is the involvement of students on campus.
“I think that there is a strong campus identity and pride with being affiliated as progressive in sustainability,” Haynes said. “This is what we do and we do it really well. Our students take note and I think that’s why they are so involved and have questions.”
Joshua Miller, a 19-year-old sophomore environmental studies major, said he believes there is still room for improvement at CU.
“The recycling system is good but the problem with that is if you go up to the Hill it’s so dirty,” Miller said. “Right on campus it’s good, but on the Hill it’s really not that good, and that’s where it’s lacking.”
Miller said that he felt the school could do a better job reducing waste by spreading the eco-friendly attitude beyond the campus, noting that more students live off-campus than on it.
Aaron Vimont, a 20-year-old junior computer science major, highlighted the success of certain LEED gold-certified buildings on campus, such as ATLAS, as another product of CU’s commitment to being green.
“I take classes in the ATLAS building, and its one of the greenest buildings on campus,” Vimont said.
Vimont pointed out that the ATLAS building includes new, greener technologies.
“The lights are always turned off and I think some of them are even automatic, and some of the toilets in the bathroom don’t use water, they just drain,” Vimont said.
Vimont suggested two other ways CU might improve its sustainability and energy efficiency. He said that triggering some lighting at night with motion sensors and adding more hybrid busses to the Buff Bus fleet would help.
Haynes stressed that the Environmental Center knows it has room for improvement, but said that they needed to be smart in how they proceeded.
“It was good to be recognized for our efforts but I think internally we also know how much work there is left to do,” Haynes said. “We want to keep growing but we want smart growth.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Maria DiManna at Maria.dimanna@colorado.edu.
