UNH Today

The UNH community can feel good about that old saying “you are what you eat” with the three campus dining halls and the popular Dairy Bar all receiving high honors from the Green Restaurant Association (GRA).

UNH Hospitality Services earned the prestigious recognition from the GRA thanks to its commitment to sustainable practices, with the Dairy Bar, Holloway Commons, Stillings Hall and Philbrook Hall all being designated as Three-Star Certified Green Restaurants.

“UNH Hospitality is pleased to be part of the overall efforts of the university in regards to sustainability,” notes David Hill '84, director of dining hall operations. “Collaboration with groups like The Sustainability Institute and Healthy UNH helps us achieve our initiatives and goals. It is these relationships that allow UNH to receive recognition such as a STARS Platinum rating from AASHE and our four Green Restaurant three-star rated operations. We are also close to being recognized by the Partnership for a Healthier America in meeting criteria for a healthier campus initiative.”

GRA recognition does not come easily. Previously, UNH won accolades for having two establishments reach two-star status. This latest achievement is the product of the full staff working together. As UNH Hospitality Services sums it up in their blog, the three-star certifications “are about the environment and everyone who benefits from waste elimination, energy conservation, extensive recycling and other sustainability efforts.” That includes locally sourced produce like apples and squash, locally roasted coffee and food waste being composted into fertilizer.

“For UNH Hospitality, sustainability is a core value to our mission and development of our culture,” Hill says. “We strive to incorporate the voice of sustainability in every decision we make.”

Slideshow: 20 Reasons Why UNH Is One of the Most Sustainable Universities in the Country