Auburn University only university in state to be featured in 'The Princeton Review's Guide to 353 Green Colleges'

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Auburn University is the only university in the state to be recognized in The Princeton Review's 2015 Guide to 353 Green Colleges. In the recently released sixth annual edition of its book, the education services company selected Auburn for inclusion as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges.

Schools were chosen for the guide based on a survey conducted in 2014 of administrators at hundreds of four-year colleges to measure each school's commitment to the environment and to sustainability. The survey included questions on schools' course offerings, campus infrastructures, activities and career preparation.

"The university has set bold energy conservation goals and is rapidly achieving increases in energy efficiency and conservation," the guide's profile of Auburn University reads. "The campus is pedestrian-friendly; hybrid buses transport riders anywhere on campus; and bike-, car-, and ride-sharing programs are available. The Auburn campus features five LEED Gold buildings, including the first to be built in Alabama, with more on the way. The living master plan for campus buildings and landscape has made sustainability a primary goal."

"Auburn is honored to be among those acknowledged for our efforts toward sustainability in academics and other campus initiatives," said Mike Kensler, director of the Office of Sustainability. "We understand how important sustainability is to our future as a university and a society, and it is important that our efforts are deemed worthy of recognition."

Published April 16, only days before the celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 2015, the 218-page guide can be downloaded free at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.

The school profiles in the guide also feature information for college applicants including facts and statistics on school demographics, admission and financial aid, as well as write-ups on each school's sustainability initiatives. A "Green Facts" sidebar reports on a wide range of topics from the school's use of renewable energy sources, recycling and conservation programs to the availability of environmental studies and career guidance for green jobs.

"We strongly recommend Auburn University to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges," said Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher, The Princeton Review.

Franek noted his company's recent survey findings indicating significant interest among college applicants in attending "green" colleges.

"Among nearly 10,000 teens who participated in our 2015 College Hopes & Worries Survey, 61 percent told us that having information about a school's commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the college," Franek said.

For information about sustainability at Auburn, go to www.auburn.edu/sustainability.

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Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.