In a month that marked the annual Earth Day celebration, the University of California, Davis, received recognition for its environmental sustainability efforts from The Princeton Review and the League of American Bicyclists, reaffirming the school鈥檚 reputation as a green leader.
On Earth Day, April 22, the League of American Bicyclists announced 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis as the first university or college to receive the league鈥檚 platinum Bicycle Friendly Business Award for helping to lead America 鈥渢oward a greener future.鈥 The bicycle award came on the heels of The Princeton Review鈥檚 April 16 announcement that 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis was chosen as one of 322 environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada.
Both awards bolster 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis鈥 2012-13 designation by Sierra magazine as the nation鈥檚 No. 1 Cool School, a ranking based on measurable efforts toward improving sustainability, from energy and infrastructure, to transportation and academics.
鈥淪ustainability is a core value at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis,鈥 said 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. 鈥淥ur students, faculty and staff work hard to create a sustainable campus 鈥 from our bikes and trees to our green building and zero waste programs. We are proud to be recognized for our commitment to the environment.鈥
League of American Bicyclists
The League of American Bicyclists鈥 business awards program began in 2008 and has presented only eight platinum awards in that time 鈥 and never before to a college or university.
The awards recognize employer efforts to encourage a more bicycle-friendly atmosphere for employees and customers, or, in 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis鈥 case, students, faculty, staff and visitors.
David Takemoto-Weerts, coordinator of the Bicycle Program with 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Transportation and Parking Services, said 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis provides 鈥渁 safe, efficient and welcoming environment to encourage campus employees to choose cycling as their preferred commute mode.鈥
In applying for the Bicycle Friendly Business award, 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis cited such accommodations as restricting most vehicle traffic in central campus, and the Bicycle Education and Enforcement Program, an online education module.
The campus also offers 42 miles of bike paths, more than 20,000 high-security racks, free showers, safety programs and other measures that help make commuting by bike a viable option.
In addition, the campus鈥 Bike Barn offers bike sales and service, and the Transportation and Parking Services office provides do-it-yourself bike repair stations around campus.
Princeton Review
新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis is profiled in the fourth annual edition of the free, downloadable book, 鈥淭he Princeton Review鈥檚 Guide to 322 Green Colleges,鈥 published in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council鈥檚 Center for Green Schools.
The guide is intended as a resource for students who are seeking colleges that practice and promote environmentally responsible choices and practices.
The Princeton Review based its selection on 鈥済reen rating鈥 scores, which were tallied using data from a 50-question survey of hundreds of administrators from 806 schools.
Institutions selected for the guide earned green rating scores of 83 or higher. The Princeton Review does not report those scores or rank the schools numerically.
Other 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis sustainability efforts highlighted in the guide include:
- 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis is among the top 10 environmental studies undergraduate degree programs in the nation.
- The Unitrans community bus system is run by 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis students, and its fleet of clean buses runs on compressed natural gas.
- Green building practices include four LEED Platinum buildings, the highest ranking awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.
- 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis West Village is the largest planned zero net energy community in the nation.
- The campus has achieved four consecutive years of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- More than 20 percent of food served in campus dining commons is considered sustainable.
- The university鈥檚 career center emphasizes opportunities in a wide range of environmental fields.
Sierra Club
Sierra magazine in August named 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis the nation鈥檚 鈥溾 for its efforts to address climate change and operate sustainably.
The 5,300-acre campus ranked No. 1 among the 96 top colleges and universities surveyed.
In bestowing the 鈥淐oolest School鈥 ranking, the Sierra Club鈥檚 official publication praised 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis for establishing rigorous green purchasing standards; diverting nearly 70 percent of campus trash from landfills; and for its alternative transportation options, including the Unitrans bus service and extensive amenities for cyclists.
Media Resources
Kat Kerlin, Research news (emphasis on environmental sciences), 530-750-9195, kekerlin@ucdavis.edu