W&L Recognized in 2020 Sustainable Campus Index A publication from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, the Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities.
Washington and Lee University’s Sustainability and Energy Education Programs are recognized for its work in the 2020 Sustainable Campus Index.Washington and Lee University’s Sustainability and Energy Education Programs are recognized for their work on campus in the 2020 Sustainable Campus Index. A publication from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
“Sustainability professionals across the world widely read the Sustainable Campus Index, and to be listed there is a huge compliment to W&L and recognition of our ongoing efforts,” said Kim Hodge, director of sustainability initiatives and education at W&L.
Specifically, W&L’s individualized energy dashboards were highlighted in the publication. Following the installation of Lucid Energy Dashboards and submeters in upper-division housing, W&L energy specialists created dashboards for each on-campus housing space and shared custom dashboard links with student residents. Students can now regularly review statistics on energy usage and see how they rate against neighbors in their village and across campus. In addition to showing electricity use and CO2 equivalents, the Village dashboards also show the expense in dollars, offering students a real-world picture of their energy use and costs.
In other recent recognition of its sustainability efforts, W&L was listed in the Sierra Club’s annual Cool Schools ranking again – #176 out of #312 institutions, up from #190 in 2019. W&L was also featured in the 2021 edition of Princeton Review’s annual Guide to Green Schools.
In 2019, President Will Dudley announced the approval of an update to W&L’s Climate Action Plan, which was developed and recommended by the University Sustainability Committee. The updated plan outlines the steps W&L will take in the coming decade toward meeting the university’s climate commitment, adopted in 2007, of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
“Congratulations to Washington and Lee for their incredible work in creating a more sustainable world,” said Meghan Fay Zahniser, AASHE’s executive director. “Through the leadership and action of change agents within W&L, I’m encouraged and hopeful that a just and equitable society will soon be realized.”
Read more about W&L’s sustainability efforts here.
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