Keene State College Selected as One of the Country's Greenest Schools by Princeton Review and U.S. Green Building Council
College Also Receives Prestigious Silver Sustainable Assessment Rating; Celebrates Earth Day with Week of Events
Keene, NH, April 17, 2012: Keene State College has recently been widely acknowledged for its sustainability efforts. The College has been selected by The Princeton Review and the U.S. Green Building Council as one of the country’s 322 green colleges. Additionally, Keene State was awarded a silver rating for a recent campus-wide sustainability assessment by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or AASHE, an independent, national organization. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Keene State will be celebrating Earth Week with myriad events from April 21 through April 27. Earth Day is celebrated around the world on Sunday, April 22.
“Sustainability is a value that Keene State College instills into everything it does as an academic institution,” said Mary Jensen, Keene State College Campus Sustainability Officer. “Faculty, staff and students all have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability - from Ashuelot River cleanups to student research projects that help inform city governments. The most exciting part is that the College incorporates sustainability in the curriculum, operations, student life and the College’s mission and values. It is truly a collaborative effort across campus.”
Keene State College is included in the third annual report titled “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition”, which profiles higher education institutions in the United States and Canada that demonstrate distinguished commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation. This is the third consecutive year that Keene State College has been selected. The report can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/green- guide and www.centerforgreenscho ols.org/greenguide.
The second recognition, from AASHE, is the result of data submitted by Keene State College on the College’s sustainability initiatives. The report includes the social, economic and environmental benefits to the College and our community. Keene State College garnered the silver rating for completing STARS, the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System. Keene State is one of only 182 colleges and universities in the United States that are recognized by AASHE for its efforts. The rating is valid for three years. More details on Keene State’s STARS results can be found here.
At Keene State College, sustainability is an integral part of the campus community and way of life. Dedication to sustainability is apparent in the LEED Silver certification for the Pondside III residence and LEED Platinum for the soon-to-be-completed TDS Center, the cogeneration capability in the College’s steam-heat plant, the installation of energy-efficient lighting, water-saving bathroom fixtures and programmable HVAC systems in renovations and new buildings, and efforts to provide an accessible and diverse campus. In addition, the Keene State President’s Council for a Sustainable Future has offered grants to faculty, staff and students to fund their sustainability projects.
Keene State will be celebrating Earth Day with a week of activities open to the public. More information about Earth Week events on Keene State’s campus can be found here.
About Keene State College
Keene State College is a preeminent public liberal arts college that ensures student access to world-class academic programs. Integrating academics with real-world application and active community and civic engagement, Keene State College prepares graduates to meet society’s challenges by thinking critically, acting creatively, and serving the greater good. To learn more about Keene State College, visit www.keene.edu.
Keene State College: Wisdom to make a difference.
