Coe College recognized for sustainability by the Princeton Review
For the fifth time in seven years, Coe College has been named to The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges, a list of the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges. Coe’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and increasing options for students to engage in sustainability earned the college a spot on the list.
Coe’s sustainability practices are evident on campus. Green roofs on Gage Memorial Union filter rainwater and create additional space for native plants. Students, faculty and staff collaborate in the greenhouse to grow lettuce and microgreens. In the past several years, Coe’s Environmental Club initiated the planning, fundraising, implementation and maintenance of a permaculture garden on campus.
Some of Coe’s sustainability practices aren’t as visible — like the college’s cleaner energy practices. This includes utilizing solar power from the 1,114 384 kW solar panels that live on the roof of Clark Racquet Center!
Coe’s commitment to sustainability doesn’t end with energy. Across campus, faculty, staff and students work together to lower Coe’s carbon footprint. For 18 years, all food waste from the cafe has been composted. Each year, more than 6,000 pounds of electronic waste are recycled. Coe’s recycling program also recently expanded to include NexTrex, so that members of the community can safely and easily recycle plastic bags and film packaging.
“Sustainability is bigger than Coe. We’re proud to be a leader in incorporating green practices into the day-to-day operations of the college,” says President David Hayes. “I’m excited to see the new and innovative ways Coe grows this commitment to sustainability in the coming years.”