What UConn does to be a green campus
The University of Connecticut has been acknowledged for its efforts in creating a sustainable campus, as well as the projects underway to further this environmentally conscious action in the future.
The university has already won a handful of awards, as well as ranked highly for its progress in becoming sustainable. Most recently, UConn ranked eighth out of 328 schools on the Sierra Club’s “Cool Schools 2021 Full Ranking” list, something that measures universities’ level of sustainability efforts.
Additionally, according to the UConn Office of Sustainability, it was the 29th school in the country to be recognized as a Bee Campus in 2017 and has been recertified with this honor each year. UConn was also the third college in New England to be named a Tree Campus USA in 2013 with recertification every year as well.
“OUR RANKINGS CAN SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, CURRENT STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ALUMNI TO COMPARE COLLEGES’ COMMITMENTS TO ENVIRONMENTALISM. IT ALSO SERVES TO SPUR HEALTHY COMPETITION AMONG SCHOOLS, RAISE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS ON CAMPUS, AND PUBLICLY REWARD THE INSTITUTIONS THAT WORK HARD TO PROTECT THE PLANET.”
Sierra Club, via website
UConn received these awards as a result of its efforts in keeping a clean campus and spreading awareness to students, staff and the community about the importance of taking care of the environment.
According to the Office of Sustainability, the university is part of the Presidents’ Climate Commitment stating it strives to be carbon neutral by the year 2050. The university is tracking its progress through a greenhouse gas inventory which is closely monitored by the Office of Sustainability every year.
