Princeton Review Names UMaine to Top Green Schools List

Princeton Review Names UMaine to Top Green Schools List
Editor: David Mills


ORONO, ME -- The University of Maine has been named one of the top scorers in the annual "Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition," and was one of only 16 profiled institutions named to its "Green Honor Roll" for receiving energy-efficiency and sustainability ratings of 99 -- the highest possible score.

Created by the Princeton Review in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org), "The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges" is the only free, comprehensive guidebook profiling institutions of higher education that demonstrate a notable commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. The Princeton Review chose the schools for this guide based on a survey of administrators at nearly 800 colleges in the U.S. and Canada about their school's sustainability initiatives.

Released April 17, days prior to the April 22 celebration of the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, the guide has profiles of the colleges that provide application information plus facts, stats and write-ups reporting on the schools' environmentally related policies, practices and academic offerings. The free guide can be downloaded at princetonreview.com/green-guide and centerforgreenschools.org/greenguide

UMaine's energy-saving efforts also were recognized in Princeton's Green Guide in 2010 and 2011.

"The University of Maine has long recognized its leadership role in promoting and actively pursuing environmental stewardship," says University of Maine President Paul Ferguson. "At UMaine, going green is not just a philosophy, but a way of life, from our four LEED-certified buildings to our Green Campus Initiative."

The Princeton Review's Honor Roll profile of UMaine cites initiatives such as the university's longstanding green and blue bicycle program for faculty, staff, students and members of the public visiting campus, the Black Bear Express shuttle bus between campus and downtown Orono, UMaine's full-time sustainability coordinator and a sustainability council made up of students, faculty and staff.

The University of Maine "has made a commitment to avoid sprawl, restore local habitats, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2040," the Princeton profile says. "UM's new student orientation includes sustainability programming, and Eco Reps in residence halls coordinate recycling programs and lead other environmental initiatives. UM recycles over 500 tons of paper products per year, and every office and classroom has at least one paper-recycling bin. All new buildings on campus must meet LEED Silver standards, and existing buildings are going green - two are already outfitted with residential - scale solar thermal systems."

In addition to UMaine, six other Maine institutions are included in the guide. They are Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, College of the Atlantic, Unity College and the University of Maine at Farmington.