Michigan Photos
Buy Michigan Now
6,807 Download the Grocery Guide

Recent Tweets

Did You Know?

Michigan is the boating capital of the U.S. with more registered boats than...

Read More

What Can I Do?

Do your own research to discover Michigan products and services.

Read More

4th Annual Buy Michigan Now Fest
View All News

MSU Truly Goes Green

by Lisa Diggs

Michigan State University has been honored by the National Wildlife Federation as one of the “greenest.”  campuses in America.  The world renown conservation organization recently released its Campus Environment 2008 National Report Card, and identified MSU not only as having the greatest number of exemplary programs among colleges and universities within the state of Michigan, but as one of the top five campuses in the nation for such programs.

 
With more than 27 percent of the nation’s colleges and universities responding (1,068 institutions), this survey is the largest to gauge trends and new developments in campus sustainability.  The report evaluates performance on a number of conservation issues, including energy, environmental literacy, landscaping, transportation, waste reduction, and water, but does not rank colleges.  Instead it lists those that have exceptional programs in any of eighteen specific topics.  MSU was recognized in the following seven: environmental or sustainability goal-setting; environmental and sustainability personnel, orientations; interdisciplinary degrees; plans to do more with efficiency, conservation and renewables; on-campus clean energy sources and cogeneration; plans to do more with transportation programs; and plans to do more with recycling, solid waste and materials.
 
Other Michigan schools recognized as having exemplary programs in one or more of the eighteen categories are Central Michigan University, Henry Ford Community College, Kalamazoo College, Monroe County Community College, North Central Michigan College, Rochester College, Saginaw Valley State University, and University of Michigan. 

This isn’t the first time the Spartans have received national recognition for their efforts to promote sustainability on campus.  Last year the university earned the Campus Sustainability Leadership Award for schools with enrollments of more than 7,500 students from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.  Much of the credit belongs to the school's Be Spartan Green initiative which is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the campus-wide recycling program, following green standards for new buildings, conducting environmental research projects, and supporting eco-focused student activities.

Here are some specific actions that exemplify  MSU's commitment to conservationism: 
  • Maintains the lowest electrical consumption per square foot among Big Ten universities.
  • Participates in the Chicago Climate Exchange--the world’s first greenhouse gas emission registry.
  • Plans to construct a new $13.3 million recycling center.
  • Designs new facilities to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards.
  • Has a variety of academic programs and research initiatives related to sustainability.
  • Offers five times more courses on sustainability this year than in 2000 and is developing a new sustainability specialization for undergraduates.

Kudos to the Spartans for being green in substance as well as spirit!  To read the entire National Wildlife Federation Report or see how other Michigan schools faired, visit Campus Ecology.

User Comments (0)

No comments posted yet.

To post a comment you have to login. Login here