Keene State College Named One of Nation's Most Green Schools Princeton Review Publishes 2011 Report
Keene, NH, May 06, 2011: Keene State College (KSC) today announced its recognition as one of the nation’s most environmentally responsible green colleges in the second annual edition of The Princeton Review’s Guide to 311 Green Colleges: 2011 Edition.
Developed by The Princeton Review in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, the guide profiles those higher education institutions that demonstrate a remarkable commitment to sustainability.
“Keene State College is proud to, once again, be recognized as a green college,” said KSC President Helen Giles-Gee. “Environmental stewardship is not only a core value of our College, it’s also our responsibility as a public institution. Being green is a part of Keene State’s institutional DNA and is expressed across our academic curricula, co-curricula, administrative practices, grounds, and facilities.”
In July 2011, the College will begin construction of a new, state-of-the-art Technology, Design, and Safety Center. The facility - designed to achieve zero-net-energy performance and LEED platinum certification - presents an opportunity to enhance student learning and demonstrate the disciplinary values of sustainable design and energy efficiency.
At Keene State, sustainability is infused into every aspect of the campus community, from the development of a cogeneration capability in the College’s steam-heat plant to the installation of energy-efficient lighting, water- saving bathroom fixtures, and programmable HVAC systems in major renovations and new buildings.
For the past six years, the President’s Council for a Sustainable Future has offered grants to students to fund their sustainability research projects.
A student-designed closed-loop biodiesel system, the Ashuelot River cleanup, green bikes available for student use, a LEED silver certification for our Pondside III residence hall, reduced campus water usage, and an arboretum that is integrated into the campus are all further examples of a commitment to awareness of, and protection of, the environment.
