Felician University‘s campus is going green by adding a solar charging station. The “Coop”, nicknamed by students due to its resemblance to a chicken coop, was the idea of Patrick Dezort, Director of Student Engagement. Dezort, along with several Felician University students, built the solar structure from wood and two solar panels. The solar panel transfers energy to a deep cycle battery, powering an inverter so that students can plug in and charge their devices such as phones and laptops. The “Coop” is one example of how ACCU member institutions promote sustainability and activities to protect the environment–for more examples, see the ACCU website.
Energy
Catholic Colleges Make List of US Eco-friendly Schools
Wondering how your campus measures up in sustainability and energy conservation? Perhaps your school was one of the eleven Catholic colleges and universities featured in a recent Sierra Club ranking of the top ‘cool schools’!
To determine the rankings, the Sierra Club administered a survey to a wide range of higher education institutions in the U.S. The responding schools were then ranked according to a long list of criteria, including co-curricular activities, energy, investments, innovation, academics, and more:
Depending on their responses to the questionnaire, schools were then given a score in a 1000 point system and ranked accordingly. The eleven Catholic colleges ranked included:
- Santa Clara University (no. 50)
- University of San Diego (no. 69)
- Loyola Marymount University (no. 81)
- Aquinas College (no. 95)
- St. Louis University ( no. 100)
- St. John’s University (NY) (no. 102)
- Gonzaga University (no. 109)
- Villanova University (no. 110)
- University of Dayton (no. 127)
- Creighton University (no. 138)
- Saint John’s University (MN) (no. 146)
Based on the criteria for the rankings, these eleven schools are officially ‘cool schools’! The Sierra Club reminds us that it is both important to celebrate success but remember that there is more work to be done:
“Our results suggest that while many universities are making admirable progress, no school has yet attained complete sustainability. In 2015, the top-rated university scored 859.75 out of a possible 1,000 points, indicating much work completed but also room for improvement.”
Want to learn more? A recent National Catholic Reporter article featured some such progress at the Catholic colleges and universities on the list.
What is your campus doing to promote sustainability and environmental justice? Let us know!
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