SwampFox

LEEDing Green Colleges

Submitted by: Dan Gerst on Apr 22, 2010 at 2:58 pm Tagged with: Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, Furman University, green, Schools, University of South Carolina—Columbia, USGBC, Wofford College Source: USGBC, SC Chapter

In celebration of Earth Day 2010, the Princeton Review partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council to publish the first-ever Guide to Green Colleges to help students and parents select schools that are making green a priority.

According to a recent Princeton Review survey, 64% of college applicants and their parents said having information about a school's commitment to the environment would impact their college decision.

In 2008, the Princeton Review began collaborating with the USGBC to help make the Green Rating survey questions as comprehensive and inclusive as possible.

Of 697 schools surveyed, 286 received scores in the 80th or higher percentile. Five of these Green Colleges are in South Carolina and three are here in the Upstate.

Upstate
Clemson University
Furman University
Wofford College

Grand Strand
Coastal Carolina University

Midlands
University of South Carolina—Columbia

The guide looks at the college's commitment to sustainability by evaluating the number of college buildings that achieved USGBC LEED certification; environmental literacy programs; formal sustainability committees; use of renewable energy resources; recycling and conservation programs. For more information on the criteria used in rating these schools and a listing of the schools with LEED certified buildings: http://www.princetonreview.com/uploadedFiles/Editorial_Content/Green_Mat...

For a listing of these Green schools by state: http://www.princetonreview.com/green-schools-by-state.aspx

For specifics on each college: http://www.princetonreview.com/uploadedFiles/Editorial_Content/Green_Mat...

For information on the USGBC SC Chapter: www.usgbcsc.org