UCSD voted one of greenest campuses by Sierra Club

UCSD's Geisel Library

True to its California roots, the University of California San Diego received a green star this past week, the most recent in a string of impressive recognitions the campus has received for its forward-thinking environmental conservation measures.

The Sierra Club’s Sierra Magazine has ranked UCSD the 15^th greenest campus in the nation in its September issue, citing the schools considerable efforts to promote sustainability and impede global warming. The campus was chosen based on its responses to an 11-page survey sent out by the Sierra Club to 900 American colleges and universities. Of the institutions of higher education in California, only Stanford, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Cruz made the list above UCSD. In a statement to the Union-Tribune, Michael Brune, the executive director of the Sierra Club, had this to say: “With all of the environmental challenges we face, it’s heartening to see the leadership that schools like UC San Diego demonstrate when it comes to protecting the planet.”

UCSD has long been known for its strides in environmental friendliness, with initiatives in solar and photovoltaic panels, reduction of energy usage, and the creation of biofuels. In addition, the  campus has been making strides in promoting sustainable agriculture and farming techniques, utilizing locally grown produce,  promoting meatless days in its on-campus dining facilities, and welcoming a thriving Farmer’s Market to the center of its campus every Tuesday of the school year.

The green star news has been heralded at UCSD as proof of a job well done. According to the Union-Tribune, Gay Matthews, the university’s vice chancellor for resource management and planning, stated, “This recent recognition by the Sierra Club is a testament to the continued, collaborative efforts between faculty, staff and students who bring sustainability to life through education, research and campus operations.”

Photo from auxesis via flickr