UofL featured in the Princeton Review’s 2018 Guide to Green Colleges
UofL is featured in the Princeton Review’s 2018 Guide to 399 Green Colleges, with a Green Rating of 88 out of 99. This represents a slight decrease in our rating of 93 in 2017. Two other Kentucky schools are featured in the 2018 Guide: Berea College and Western Kentucky University.
“University of Louisville is quite proud of its achievements regarding sustainability and with good reason! The university is whole-heartedly embracing the role of environmental steward. An ACUPCC signatory since 2008, UofL is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and, having already cut emissions 22 percent, plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. All new construction and/or building renovations are executed in accordance with Kentucky’s High Performance Building Standards using the LEED Green Building Program. The university currently boasts four LEED Gold facilities including the new geothermal Student Rec Center and four LEED Silver buildings including the newly renovated School of Dentistry. UofL is also happily exploring renewable energy. For example, Sackett Hall features a dual-axis tracking solar array (the only one of its kind in the state). This provides both electricity and hot water for the building and is 30 percent more efficient than fixed solar panels. Additionally, students and faculty are actively involved in converting Dining Services’ waste into resources for the campus. Food waste is collected, composted, and turned into fertilizer for campus gardens. Waste cooking oil is converted into biodiesel to power campus shuttles. Outside of these actions and policies, the university also hosts a number of events to encourage the Louisville community to get involved. For example, this past year UofL residents competed in Bluegrass Unplugged. This annual contest pits University of Louisville students against students from surrounding Kentucky colleges to see who can reduce electricity usage in residence halls the most. And many students eagerly attend monthly EcoReps workshops and the Sustainability Scholars Roundtable, a brown bag seminar series highlighting interdisciplinary sustainability research happening at UofL.”
Green rating: 88/99
AASHE STARS® rating: GOLD
School Has Formal Sustainability Committee: Yes
Public GHG inventory plan: Yes
% food budget spent on local/organic food: 31%
Available Transportation Alternatives:
Bike Share: Yes
Car Sharing Program: Yes
Carpool/Vanpool Matching Program: Yes
Condensed Work Week Option For Employees: Yes
Free Or Reduced Price Transit Passes And/Or Free Campus Shuttle: Yes
Indoor And Secure Bike Storage, Shower Facilities, And Lockers For Bicycle Commuters: Yes
Reduced Parking Fees For Car And Van Poolers: Yes
School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling: Yes
School Developed Bicycle Plan: Yes
School Offers A Telecommute Program For Employees: Yes
