SUSTAINABILITY is becoming increasingly important to individuals around the world and the efforts that an institution makes to be ‘green’ can offer a strong draw for prospective students. Universities are all expected to do their bit for the environment, but which universities go above and beyond green standards?
The UI GreenMetric 2016/17 rankings were released in December. Designed to rank universities on efforts to reduce their carbon footprints, the system goes some way to help in the fight against climate change. The international scoring system takes six key areas of ‘greenness’ into consideration: Setting and Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation, and Education.
The table makes it easy for students, staff, and stakeholders alike to see how different universities are performing and is expected to encourage universities to boost their efforts to be environmentally sustainable.
1. University of California Davis
Knocking the University of Nottingham from the top spot, the University of California Davis has scored the highest this year. The university attained the highest scores for three of the key indicators: Setting and Infrastructure, Transportation, and Waste (a score that was shared by the University of Nottingham and Wageningen University & Research).
The University is amidst a large-scale sustainability project, with an overall aim of being completely carbon neutral by 2025. Sustainable 2nd Century, as the movement has been named, involves commitments in virtually every area of sustainability. All new buildings on the California Davis campuses will be water and energy efficient, with environmentally friendly design and construction. A great proportion of the waste generated at the university is recycled and the buildings are undergoing retrofits to improve energy efficiency.
Staff and students of the university are encouraged to walk, cycle, carpool, or utilise public transport to get to campus and in 2009, the university boasted that more than 75% of commutes to the university were made in these ways. Research programmes are constantly underway, helping the University of California Davis to lead the way for other universities.
2. University of Nottingham
Despite losing its crown as the world’s greenest university, the University of Nottingham has maintained its sustainability efforts and remains second in the rankings. The University of Nottingham ranks best in the United Kingdom and in Europe; it scores highest in the world for the Energy and Climate Change indicator. Recycling and transport are both areas of focus for the university, but it is the green campuses and student action that are at the heart of the University of Nottingham’s environmental campaign.
With its appealing landscaped campuses, the university is thought to be one of the most attractive in the country. The huge main campus is home to beautiful lakes and numerous well-kept gardens. The Jubilee campus, despite its origins as an industrial site, has been designed with the environment in mind and in turn, has won several sustainability awards.
Nottingham University is working to increase environmental awareness. The students union, for example, has an Environment and Social Justice Network that runs programmes to support a range of relevant societies. Gardening sessions are available at a centre on campus and there is even an allotment scheme on offer.
3. Wageningen University & Research
Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands is probably the biggest surprise in the rankings this year, having jumped a whopping 29 places since the previous GreenMetric release. The university is now top of the rankings worldwide for Education and is outperforming all other universities in the Netherlands on most fronts.
The university claims to stand for sustainability, stating a mission to ‘explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’. In 2015, the institution proudly announced that it had reached climate neutrality, exhibiting greater CO2 compensation than emission.
A great range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in sustainability are offered by Wageningen University & Research as part of their Lifelong Learning programme. Those who study at the institute will probably be aware of the ‘green man’ (literally a man in a green morph suit), who patrols the campus with the aim of raising awareness about sustainability.
4. University of Connecticut
Following closely behind is the University of Connecticut. This institution runs an Office of Environmental Policy, which, first devised in 2002, has grown to be a comprehensive programme with focuses on all aspects of sustainability and development. Amongst many other aims, the university hopes to improve natural landscaping and local ecosystems, boost local food production, and heighten green purchasing standards.
Sports teams are involved in recycling events and there is a Co-Generation facility on site that helps the campus to reach its low-energy targets. The University of Connecticut has developed an action plan with the eventual aim of reaching carbon neutrality in 2050.
Water is a key initiative at the University of Connecticut, and consequently, the university scores best in the world on this front. Residents are reminded of the importance of water use through everything from doorknob hangers to public service announcements on the university’s television service. Water conservation tips are given to students and staff, and a competition is run to reward the buildings with the lowest water use. Moreover, projects are underway to improve water quality and conserve drinkable water.
5. University of Oxford
Environmental sustainability is a key priority at Oxford University, which is consistently ranked amongst the top five universities in the world in general listings. The university has developed an Environmental Sustainability Policy, which it is working towards step by step.
Amongst the sustainability plans are improving cycling and running facilities and undertaking energy audits of buildings. By 2021, the University aims to have reduced carbon emissions by 33% (compared to 2005/6). Their energy programme is comprehensive, involving research in a range of areas, from teaching to transport.
The university has scored particularly highly for Transportation. As well as undertaking research on the energy consumption of transport worldwide, Oxford University encourages people to choose sustainable travel options when visiting the campus. An interest-free loan is available for the purchase of a bicycle or bus pass and discounts are offered for public transport, including certain bus and train routes.
