Issue Date: March 16, 2008

Eco-friendly on campus

Colleges aim to conserve.

Younger generations hold the future of the Earth in their hands, so it's no wonder that many colleges are adopting greener policies. In fact, 492 university presidents and chancellors signed on to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, in which they pledge to "exercise leadership in their communities ... by providing the knowledge and the educated graduates to achieve climate neutrality."

According to a recent list, here are some of the greenest:

Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt. The school plans to be carbon neutral by 2016. How will it achieve this? With a proposed biomass plant (to be powered by wood chips) and energy-efficient lighting. Students were the driving force behind the commitment.

Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. Students get real-time information about their energy usage through a Web-based system in the dorms. Students also worked to get a car-share program on campus to reduce pollution.

University of Maryland in College Park, Md. At this school, 91% of undergrads voted in favor of implementing a small annual fee (starting at $4) that would fund the purchase of "clean" electricity. An eco-minded student group is now trying to get a commitment from the administration to go carbon neutral.

-- Natalie Ermann Russell