Alternet.org recently ranked the top ten colleges in terms of environmental friendliness:
- Oberlin College
- Harvard College
- Warren Wilson College
- The University of California system
- Duke University
- Middlebury College
- Berea College
- Penn State University
- Tufts University
- Carnegie Mellon University
Yes, that's right. UCLA is on the list, and USC isn't. But that's because the UC system has specific plans for implementing renewable energy and offsetting waste in the next few years. Oberlin gets half of its energy from green sources, and uses locally produced food in dining halls. Berea has a residence area called Ecovillage, with uses solar fixtures, efficient appliances and rainwater collection.
Several other organizations have ranked American universities on sustainability, and the rankings very. But USC is not on any list I've seen.
To read about what USC has done so far, visit http://uscgreenaction.blogspot.com/2008/10/usc-makes-efforts-to-be-environmentally.html
Grading universities
The Endowment Institute publishes a college sustainability report card each year. USC most recently received an average grade of a C+. Specific grades were:
- Administration: B
- Climate Change and Energy: C
- Food and Recycling: B
- Green Building: B
- Student Involvement: D
- Transportation: B
- Investment priorities: A
Clearly, there is more work to be done. What is surprising is the low student involvement grade, given the array of environmentally-focused groups on campus. UCLA received a B- on their most recent report card.
What USC could do better
USC is improving, but there are still some aspects that need work. For one, DPS drives gas-guzzling SUVs around campus nearly 24 hours a day. Lights and computers are often left on in classrooms when no one is there. Recycling bins are available on campus and in dorms, but many say there aren't enough. And the recycling programs in off-campus housing are
seriously lacking.
If USC hopes to one day be among the elite green universities, it will have to do more. That's not to detract from what it has already done, but student involvement must increase, as well as an awareness of what students can do to contribute.
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