UC Berkeley has emerged as the greenest campus in the world, according to a study conducted by the University of Indonesia (UI) published in the International Business Times.
Cal’s 2010 Campus Sustainability report highlights some of the university’s green achievements. In 2009, campus greenhouse gas emissions were down by 4.5% — their lowest levels since 2005. Total campus water usage (not including residence halls) has dropped by almost 20% since 1990. And the promotion of tap water as part of the “I Heart Tap Water” campaign on campus has reduced bottled water sales by at least 25%.
Finally, just four years after adopting the Campus Bicycle Plan, Cal has increased the number of bicycle commuters by almost 850, a 20% increase to 5,100 daily riders — perhaps one reason more bikers appear to be breaking campus cycling rules.
The “UI Green Metric Ranking of World Universities” for 2010 was based on information provided by universities around the world on their commitment towards going green and the development of sustainability initiatives. UI factored in the location, amount of green space, electrical consumption, waste management, as well as policies, actions, and communication related to sustainability.
Only two other US universities featured in the Green Metric Ranking Top 5: Northeastern and Cornell.
