UNH Named In Kiwi Magazine's 2007 "Green College Report"
By Beth Potier, Media Relations
September 26, 2007
UNH was one of 50 colleges around the country named in KIWI Magazine’s
first ‘Green College Report.’ KIWI, a magazine dedicated to
helping families live natural and organic lifestyles, cited UNH for its
dining and composting initiatives, its climate change focused courses,
and its University Office of Sustainability, which is the nation’s
longest-standing endowed university sustainability program. UNH was the
only New Hampshire school included in the report.
“Sustainability is a core value at UNH and central to our mission
and identity,” said Tom Kelly, UNH’s chief sustainability officer
and a father of three. “Today’s parents are concerned about – and
in many cases working hard themselves to protect – the integrity
of the ecological, climate, food and cultural systems upon which the quality
of life for their children and grandchildren depend. We commend KIWI Magazine
for highlighting sustainability in this recent report and urge all parents
to take a closer look at the important role institutions like UNH are playing
in advancing sustainability.”
“Academia is historically such a powerful force in setting the trends
for future generations,” said KIWI Magazine editorial director Sara
Gragnolati. “It’s uplifting to know that institutes of higher
learning are becoming champions of the planet and using their influence
to instigate change.”
When evaluating campuses, KIWI took into consideration various aspects,
including degree programs, building functions and food options. The report
includes an alphabetical listing of schools, including information on tuition,
student population (for both undergraduates and graduates) and campus setting.
“One thing that parents and students alike will be happy to see
is that the list includes a variety of schools, both public and private,
so it is possible to find a college that suits the wallet and the eco-conscious,” said
Gragnolati.
Ranked by the U.S. Department of Energy as in the top five percent for
energy efficiency among similar colleges and universities, UNH is one of
the nation’s leading sustainable universities. UNH was the first
university in the nation to earn the Environmental Protection Agency’s
Energy Star rating for a residence hall; now seven residence halls and
one administrative building carry the Energy Star designation. Its Wildcat
Transit is the state’s largest public transit system and is fueled
almost exclusively by alternative fuels.
Education and purchasing campaigns have advanced energy efficiency among
students, faculty and staff, reducing the equivalent of more than 200 tons
of carbon dioxide emissions in the 2006 – 2007 school year. As one
of ten universities in the U.S. to have signed the international Slow Food
Principles, UNH is committed to procuring locally, regionally, and sustainably
grown and produced food, a composting program, and an annual Local Harvest
Dinner, which features local foods and gourmet dining at a campus dining
hall.
Guided by the University Office of Sustainability, UNH integrates sustainability
across the university’s curriculum, operations, research and engagement,
focusing its efforts on biodiversity education, climate education, culture
and sustainability, and food and society. For more information, go to www.sustainableunh.unh.edu.
To download the full ‘Green College Report’ from KIWI Magazine,
go to www.kiwimagonline.com.
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