GREENVILLE, S.C.—Furman University’s commitment to environmental sustainability was recognized again this month when the school was named one of the nation’s 50 most environmentally conscious colleges and universities by KIWI Magazine.
KIWI’s first “Green College Report” highlighted 50 schools around the country that offer eco-friendly campuses and programs. The report, which lists the colleges alphabetically, evaluated the schools on the level of their involvement in sustainability-focused endeavors.
Furman and the University of South Carolina were the only two South Carolina colleges listed in the report. Other schools receiving recognition included Arizona State University, Cornell University, Duke University, Northwestern University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“Academia is historically such a powerful force in setting the trends for future generations,” said Sara Gragnolati, KIWI’s editorial director. “It’s uplifting to know that institutes of higher learning are becoming champions of the planet and using their influence to instigate change.”
Furman president David Shi is among a group of college presidents who recently committed to address the problems of global warming and pursue the goal of making their campuses climate neutral. Shi serves in the Leadership Circle of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, and was one of three presidents asked to participate in the formal announcement of the program in Washington, D.C., this summer.
The campus will also serve as the location for a 2008 Southern Living Showcase Home that will be a model of “green” design, renewable energy and operating efficiency. “The Cliffs Cottage” is being built near the lake and will be among the first residential homes in America to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
All of Furman’s new and renovated facilities are also required to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, an organization that promotes buildings that are environmentally responsible. The university’s Herman N. Hipp Hall, completed in 2002, was the first building in South Carolina to receive LEED certification.
Furman has also received awards from the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and the state chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council for its commitment to sustainability and conservation education. The university is among 25 institutions of higher education that comprise the steering committee for the American Council on Renewable Energy’s Higher Education Committee.
The 2006-07 school year at Furman was designated as the “Year of the Environment. Throughout the academic session, the university sponsored a series of programs, lectures and events to emphasize environmental citizenship and develop greater environmental consciousness on campus and in the Greenville community. Among other things, the university worked with local farmers to provide fresh food in the dining hall, started an experiment in residential living that gives students a more complete understanding of environmental issues, began the restoration of the Furman Lake, and hosted a three-day conference on the environment that featured former U.S. Sen. John Glenn.
KIWI Magazine is dedicated to helping families live the natural and organic way. It is a bi-monthly publication from May Media Group, LLC.
To download the full ‘Green College Report’ from KIWI Magazine, go to www.kiwimagonline.com.
To learn more about Furman’s environmental priorities, visit the Web at www.furman.edu/sustain or contact the News and Media Relations office at 864-294-3107.
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9-25-07
