Goucher College Named in "The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges"

April 20, 2010 |

Goucher College was included in The Princeton Review's Guide to 286 Green Colleges for its "exemplary commitment to sustainability."

The guide was compiled using data that was solicited from colleges nationwide last summer. Each college was given a "Green Rating," a numerical score from 60 to 99 that is based on several data points, including percentage of food expenditures on local and organic food, waste diversion rates, environmental literacy requirements, and sustainable transportation options. The colleges profiled in the guide received scores in the 80th percentile or higher. Goucher was one of eight schools in Maryland that are included in the guide.

Goucher was cited for:

• Spending 30 percent of its food budget on local/organic food
• Offering transportation alternatives, such as carpool systems and free bus services
• Purchasing 25 percent of the school's energy from renewable resources
• Using cleaning products that are 98 percent green-certified
• Maintaining 100 percent of the grounds organically
• Working to develop an environmental studies major
• Making environmental sustainability a core educational requirement.

The review also highlighted Goucher's policy that requires all new buildings and renovations of existing ones be certified at least the Silver level under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green-Building Rating System. Goucher's Athenaeum-which features a high-tech library, a public forum, classrooms, a café, an art gallery, a radio station, a center for community service and multicultural affairs, and places to meet and converse-will be the campus's first LEED Silver-certified building.

The Goucher Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council's efforts in helping the college fulfill its requirements under American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment were also mentioned. The advisory council advises the president and administration on environmental issues and policies raised by members of the Goucher community.

To see Goucher's profile in the The Princeton Review's Guide to 286 Green Colleges, please click here.