UArizona named a top green college!
The University of Arizona was recognized among the nation's top environmentally conscious institutions, according to The Princeton Review's 2024 Guide to Green Colleges!
At No. 50, it is the first time UArizona has been included among the Top 50 Green Colleges, which recognizes schools that "make the most exceptional commitments to sustainability from academics and career prep to campus clubs and initiatives."
Key focus areas include sustainable campus living, policy-driven environmental considerations, and preparation of students for the clean-energy economy of the 21st century.
In an article for UA News, Trevor Ledbetter, director of the Office of Sustainability at UArizona, highlights the university's rapid progress in sustainability. Emphasizing a student-centric approach, he said UArizona balances environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability through various programs and initiatives:
- Compost Cats: This program, in partnership with the City of Tucson, has diverted 20 million pounds of food waste from landfills in the last decade.
- 100% Renewable Electricity: UArizona has entered a 20-year agreement with Tucson Electric Power to source all purchased electricity from renewable resources, cutting down greenhouse gas emissions.
- Campus Sustainability Fund: Offering grants up to $100,000, this fund backs projects focusing on waste reduction, energy use, social justice, and other sustainability efforts on campus.
- Sustainability and Climate Action Plan: UArizona is developing its roadmap for achieving climate neutrality by 2040.
This ranking is both validation of the progress UArizona has made and motivation to continue strengthening sustainable programs and initiatives throughout the university.