Purchase, NY - The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition has designated Purchase College, SUNY as one of the nation’s top ‘green’ colleges – especially timely during this month when Earth Day is being celebrated.

The Guide remarked that Purchase demonstrated “notable commitments to sustainability in its academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.”  While the 232-page comprehensive Guide does not rank the colleges, all receive a score of 83 or higher based on data from a 50-question survey.

“I signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2007 and since then, we have made environmental sustainability and conservation priorities in all aspects of campus life,” said Thomas J. Schwarz, President of Purchase College. “We are proud to have been selected once again for the Guide, and I salute all members of the college community for this wonderful accomplishment.”

Among the green/sustainability curriculum, programs and projects at Purchase College are: an environmental studies B.A. program; "green" lecture series and presentations; a student-run garden that uses compostable waste from dining services to nurture the plants and soil; a refillable mug program, biodegradable napkins and to-go containers, and compostable utensils; and an award-winning vegan cafe, Terre Ve.

The campus also has a new "green" roof on the Visual Arts building that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) U.S. Green Building guidelines; a convenience store with a redemption center comprised of three recycling machines (glass, plastic and cans); and new energy-efficient washers and dryers installed across the campus. In addition, caps and gowns worn at graduation ceremonies are made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles; the college is an on-campus Zipcar location; and major printing jobs are done on 30 percent post-consumer-waste (PWC) paper, which permits future recycling.

Five other SUNY schools also made the list:  University at Albany, Binghamton University, SUNY Brockport, SUNY ESF, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Potsdam, and Stony Brook University.

“The State University of New York takes great pride in the increasing sustainability efforts on our campuses, and contributing to an energy-smart New York is one of six primary focuses of our strategic plan, The Power of SUNY,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “We could not be more pleased that ten of our campuses have been recognized on the Princeton Review’s List of Green Colleges. Congratulations to each campus on this much-deserved national distinction.”

The Princeton Review reports that 7 out of 10 college-bound students told them that having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend a school. The survey was conducted in conjunction with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council.

For more information about Purchase College, visit www.purchase.edu.

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