BOONE—Appalachian State University has placed 12^th on Sierra magazine’s fifth annual ranking of the nation’s top “Coolest Schools.”  The rankings salute the efforts of colleges around the country helping to solve climate issues and operate sustainably. The cover feature spotlights the schools that are making a true impact for the planet.

Sierra is a publication of the Sierra Club.

The magazine considered an institution’s efficiency, energy supply, food, academics, purchasing, transportation, waste management, administration, financial investments and other initiatives that contribute to its efforts toward sustainability.

“We are so proud of Appalachian’s high ranking in Sierra Club’s ‘Coolest Schools’ program and thank our campus community for their active engagement and leadership in this shared effort. This accomplishment represents Appalachian’s broad commitments to sustainability and brings worthy recognition to our community’s hard work,” said Crystal Simmons, sustainability specialist.

Sustainability initiatives at Appalachian include several renewable energy installations on campus, such as a wind turbine near the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center, and photovoltaic arrays on several campus buildings. Solar thermal systems provide hot water to a campus residence hall and student union. One building (Frank Hall) is LEED® certified, and as many as seven more are being constructed or renovated to LEED® standards with the goal of receiving recognition for energy efficiency.

Almost 85 percent of campus lighting has been retrofitted with energy saving LED fixtures or with either a light sensing or timer-based automatic shutoff feature. All washing machines in campus residence halls are Energy Star-rated appliances. All buildings are monitored for electricity or steam usage. Eighty-five percent of academic departments have classes with subject matter related to sustainability or environmental issues.

The university also purchases paper with a minimum 30 percent recycled content, with some departments often choosing a higher recycled content. The majority of paper towels in university restrooms are 100 percent recycled.

In addition, Appalachian has sustainable purchasing policies that include the purchase of cleaning products. Recently, the university began using 100 percent environmentally preferable products for housekeeping purposes. These products have a reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to others that serve the same purpose.  They are biodegradable with low or no VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), low toxicity and no phosphates.

“When students take what they’ve learned in the classroom and proceed to get their hands dirty in the real world, they realize the potential they have to make a difference,” said Bob Sipchen, Sierra magazine editor-in-chief. “We’re thrilled to highlight these forward-thinking schools for emphasizing environmental responsibility, and for teaching, inspiring, and empowering students to affect real change.”

The complete list of schools included in the ranking is available at www.sierramagazine.com/coolschools.

Sierra magazine’s top 20 schools of 2011 are:

1. University of Washington (Seattle, Wash.)
2. Green Mountain College (Poultney, Vt.)
3. University of California San Diego (San Diego, Calif.)
4. Warren Wilson College (Asheville)
5. Stanford University (Stanford, Calif.)
6. University of California, Irvine (Irvine, Calif.)
7. University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
8. University of California, Davis (Davis, Calif.)
9. Evergreen State College (Olympia, Wash.)
10. Middlebury College (Middlebury, Vt.)
11. University of New Hampshire (Durham, N.J.)
12. Appalachian State University (Boone)
13. Colby College (Waterville, Maine)
14. Western Washington University (Bellingham, Wash.)
15. University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.)
16. University of Connecticut (Storrs, Conn.)
17. Clark University (Worcester, Mass.)
18. Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.)
19. Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine)
20. University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)

Sierra also featured the stories of educators and students who are committed to immersive learning, and who take their lessons outside the confines of the classroom and into the real world, to places like Bali in Indonesia, New York’s Adirondack Mountains and Utah’s Navajo Nation.

According to a 2010 Princeton Review report, 64 percent of prospective college students take a university’s commitment to environmental issues into consideration when deciding where to apply and enroll. Students care deeply about green issues and are attracted to institutions that are taking the initiative to solve environmental problems.

Sierra is the official publication of the Sierra Club, America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 1.4 million members and supporters nationwide. The Sierra Club works to safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation.

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