Auburn University only university in state to be featured in 'The Princeton Review's Guide to 361 Green Colleges'

Auburn University is once again the only university in the state to be recognized in The Princeton Review's 2016 Guide to 361 Green Colleges. In the recently released seventh annual edition of its book, the education services company selected Auburn for inclusion as one of the most committed to sustainability.

Schools were chosen for the guide based on a 2015-16 survey of administrators at hundreds of four-year colleges to measure each school's commitment to the environment and to sustainability. The survey included questions on schools' course offerings, campus infrastructures, activities and career preparation.

"The university has set bold energy conservation goals and is rapidly achieving increases in energy efficiency and conservation," the guide's profile of Auburn University reads. "The campus is pedestrian-friendly; hybrid buses transport riders anywhere on campus; and bike-, car- and ride-sharing programs are available. The Auburn campus features four LEED Gold buildings, including the first to be built in Alabama, with more on the way. The living master plan for campus buildings and landscape has made sustainability a primary goal."

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, buildings are resource efficient and use less water and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The four buildings on Auburn's campus are the Gorrie Center, Aquatic Resource Management Center, Auburn Research Park building and the Office of Information Technology building.

"We are deeply gratified to be included again this year in the Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges," said Mike Kensler, director of Auburn's Office of Sustainability. "Auburn understands the importance of sustainability in creating a flourishing future and this recognition validates Auburn as one of the leading institutions in higher education when it comes to teaching and implementing the principles and practices of sustainability."

The school profiles in the guide also feature information for college applicants including facts and statistics on school demographics, admission and financial aid, as well as write-ups on each school's sustainability initiatives. A "Green Facts" sidebar reports on a wide range of topics from the school's use of renewable energy sources, recycling and conservation programs to the availability of environmental studies and career guidance for green jobs.

"We strongly recommend Auburn University to the many environmentally minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges," said Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher, The Princeton Review.

Franek noted his company's recent survey findings indicating significant interest among college applicants in attending "green" colleges.

"Among nearly 10,000 teens who participated in our 2016 College Hopes & Worries Survey, 61 percent told us that having information about a school's commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the college," Franek said.

The 218-page guide can be downloaded free at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide. For information about sustainability at Auburn, go to www.auburn.edu/sustainability.