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" Green College Rating Methodology This rating, on a scale of 60-99, provides a comprehensive measure of a school&amp;#039;s performance as an environmentally aware and prepared institution. Specifically, it includes 1) whether students have a campus quality of life that is both healthy and sustainable 2) how well a school is preparing students for employment in the clean energy economy of the 21st century and for citizenship in a world now defined by environmental concerns and opportunities, and 3) how environmentally responsible a school&amp;#039;s policies are. We asked schools to answer several questions about their efforts to provide and continually develop an environmentally beneficial student experience. The questions were developed in consultation with ecoAmerica, a research and partnership-based environmental nonprofit that convened an expert committee to design this comprehensive ranking system. Questions it covers include\u2026 \u2022 The percentage of food expenditures that go toward local, organic, or otherwise environmentally preferable food?  \u2022Whether the school offers programs including free bus passes, universal access transit passes, bike sharing/renting, car sharing, carpool parking, vanpooling, or guaranteed rides home to encourage alternatives to single-passenger automobile use for students. \u2022 Whether the school has a formal committee with participation from students that is devoted to advancing sustainability on campus? \u2022 Whether new buildings are required to be LEED Silver certified or comparable? \u2022 The schools overall waste diversion rate?  \u2022 Whether the school has an environmental studies major, minor or concentration? \u2022 Whether the school has an &amp;#039;environmental literacy&amp;#039; requirement? \u2022 Whether a school has produced a publicly available greenhouse gas emissions inventory and adopted a climate action plan consistent with 80% greenhouse gas reductions by 2050 targets?  \u2022 What percentage of the school&amp;#039;s energy consumption, including heating/cooling and electrical, is derived from renewable resources ( this definition included &amp;#039;green tags&amp;#039; but not nuclear or large scale hydro power) \u2022 Whether the school employs a dedicated full-time (or full-time equivalent) sustainability officer.  Note: Colleges that did not supply answers to a sufficient number of the green college questions for us to fairly compare them to other colleges receive a Green Rating of 60*. The schools have an opportunity to update their green data every year and will have their green ratings re-calculated and published annually. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.seventeen.com/life/school/advice/a8342/college-guide-green-methodology-2008/>