Western's Awards
Western Washington University has been recognized by different national green-college rankings based on its commitment to green building techniques, sustainability, and the use of alternative energy sources.
| -- Western President Bruce Shepard |
The Washington State Recycling Association has selected Western Washington University to receive the 2013 Institution/Higher Education Recycler of the Year award.
The Washington State Recycler of the Year awards spotlight individuals, businesses, government organizations and community organizations that are making contributions to strengthening and expanding recycling and waste prevention practices across the state.
Sources: Western Today | The Western Front
Western Washington University is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the nation's top 20 green energy purchasers in higher education. Western, which is 20th on the EPA list, annually offsets 100 percent of its electrical consumption from green sources via purchases of renewable energy credits. Western was the only college or university in the State of Washington on the recently released EPA list.
In 2011, Western Washington University ranked 17th on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of the nation's top 20 renewable energy purchasers in higher education, and that year Western was the only college or university in Washington State to make this list. Each year, WWU offsets 100% of carbon emissions from electrical consumption through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates.
Western Washington University ranked #14 in the nation on the Sierra Club's fifth annual "Coolest Schools" roster, a list that lists colleges around the country according to their efforts toward solving climate issues and pursue sustainable operations strategies.
Western's rise into the Top 20 (it placed 48th in 2010) among the nation's thousands of colleges and universities was fueled by a host of initiatives on campus, such as being the first university in the nation to have a student-initiated green-energy fee that buys more Renewable Energy Certificates than any other institution in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho.
Source: WWU Ranked 14th on Sierra Club's Annual List of 'Coolest Schools' - WWU News
The Princeton Review's annual "Guide to Green Colleges"—published in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council—named Western as one of the nation's most environmentally responsible "green colleges," scoring a 96 on a scale range of 60-99.
Source: WWU Lands on Three National Green-College Rankings - WWU News
Western Washington University's Academic Custodial Services (ACS) staff has been recognized three times as being among the five "greenest" cleaning operations in the nation.
In 2009, ACS received the Grand Award in Green Cleaning for Higher Education, a national recognition program organized by the American School & University Magazine, The Green Cleaning Network, and Healthy Schools Campaign. Recognition categories include one Grand Award, three Honorable Mentions, and one Best New Program. Western's ACS earned an Honorable Mention in 2008 and 2011. Read more about Western's ACS.
The College of Business and Economics has been recognized for its efforts to integrate sustainability into the MBA program by ranking 75th globally within the Beyond Grey Pinstripes list of "green" business schools from the Aspen Institute.