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Greening UVM
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Tracking Progress

Keeping Track

Campus successes: The Office of Sustainability has two full-time staff and three half-time graduate fellows. The staff is responsible for tracking environmental performance; recommending environmentally responsible practices; working with students, faculty members and staff members on environmental projects; and connecting with Vermont and higher education communities.

Policy successes: President Fogel signed a pledge in 2004 in support of regional gas reductions. In 2005 he signed a green building policy aiming for LEED Silver certification for all new buildings and major renovations. In 2007, he signed onto the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging to move the campus toward carbon neutrality. 

Environmental Report Card

The report card: UVM's commitment to tracking its environmental performance was recognized in 2004 with a Vermont's Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for the UVM 2002 environmental report card, Tracking UVM. The report was developed by the original Environmental Council and local sustainability organizations. The Office of Sustainability is currently working on an updated version of Tracking UVM. Read Tracking UVM: 1990-2000 on the Office of Sustainability's website.

National Ratings:  Several prominent organizations review sustainability efforts.  Learn more about these reviews on the Office of Sustainability website.

  • In 2008, the Sustainable Endowments Institute ranked UVM among the top 15 schools  nationally for green practices and polics, giving the school an overall grade of A- in its annual College Sustainability Report Card.
  • Sierra magazine ranked UVM third in the country in its annual Green College Guide for the number and quality of the university's environmental initiatives in a feature titled "10 Coolest Schools"
  • University Business magazine named the University one of its 10 "Higher Education Sustainability Stars" for its "efforts to respect the environment and the communities that surround them in economically feasible ways."
  • UVM was also listed as one of the nation's "Top 25 Environmentally Responsible Schools" by the Kaplan College Guide 2009 for its wide range of environmentally significant initiatives and commitment to long-term sustainability.

Projects & Documents Archive: The Office of Sustainability website includes documents and spreadsheets about energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental indicators. Browse the library on the Office of Sustainability website.

Communicating with Our Community

Journalistic communications remain a high–profile form of checks and balances for UVM's environmental footprint. UVM's University Communications office established a news category for all "Environment News" so that the community can monitor our successes. Read the Environmental News on this website's homepage.

Connections with Higher Education and Environmental Groups

The University of Vermont is a member of the following environmental and sustainability leadership groups:

UVM has been host to the following environmental conferences: 

  • In February 2005, UVM hosted the third Annual Northeast Climate Conference, bringing together 400 college students from the northeastern U.S. to collaborate on effective ways of fighting climate change on their campuses.
  • In October 2006, UVM hosted the Society of Environmental Journalists National Conference bringing together policymakers and activists from every point of view with the world's most experienced environmental journalists.
  • In September 2008, UVM hosted the National Association of College Auxiliary Services conference that focused on campus sustainability efforts.

UVM will be hosting the following sustainability conference on campus:

  • On October 26-27, 2009, UVM will host the sixth Annual Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium, bringing together over a 150 sustainability practitioners, from university campuses in the northeast and maritime region, to advance education and action for sustainable development. 
Take Action:

Faculty, students and staff unite for one purpose at the Environmental Forum
Discuss environmental issues, learn about new research, and plan campus greening projects. The UVM Environmental Forum meets once a month, and gives all members of the community an opportunity to have a voice when it comes to environmental issues near and dear to UVM and its environs. Visit the Environmental Forum's webpage.

Last modified May 12 2009 04:04 PM

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