Top 10 Green College Towns

In the struggle to create a sustainable future, cities and their residents are beginning to wonder how to play a part. Earth-conscious college towns consider elements like sustainable energy use, green space and design, public health, recycling programs, and more.

College Towns Going Green

Whether a student wants to live close to the green policies they study, or simply aspires to support a city with carbon-neutral goals, college towns across the country are ready to accommodate their needs. Check out these ten cities that have surged ahead of the environmental curve.
  1. Eugene, OR. Over 85% of Eugene's power derives from hydroelectric and wind resources. Students at local schools can also appreciate the bike-friendly commute and work opportunities with local sustainable businesses.
  2. Austin, TX. Live music isn't the only draw for college students in Austin, which houses an inexpensive mass transit system. The city's local colleges and universities often host environmental and sustainable business summits, drawing discussion from around the world.
  3. Portland, OR. Over a quarter of Portland residents rely on bicycling, carpooling, or public transportation to get to work. The city additionally composts residential yard waste and food scraps from businesses and dormitories.
  4. St. Paul, MN. Affordable sustainable housing is a perk in this large city. Students of local colleges enjoy environmental studies with a real impact, often completing internship work at environmentally conscious local businesses.
  5. Berkeley, CA. California's long history of progressive environmental thought extends to its college towns. Students in this thriving locale enjoy over 20 community gardens and participate in one of the city's many environmental organizations.
  6. Honolulu, HI. Protecting the environment isn't the only perk of living in paradise, but it is a big draw. Students can enjoy the clean air and pure water of one of healthiest cities in the nation.
  7. Huntsville, AL. Unique environmental practices increase the appeal of this southern college town, where all water runoff is bio-filtered before reaching the aquifer. Also, a third of city land is dedicated to green spaces.
  8. Denver, CO. Students love the light rail system, which stops at many local colleges and provides an efficient alternative to driving. New solar installations should further increase the city's renewable energy supply.
  9. Cambridge, MA. Local colleges integrate organic food service into their cafeterias and energy conservation into their campus buildings. Furthermore, many construction projects in the area are making the switch to sustainable practices.
  10. Albuquerque, NM. A citywide commitment to sustainable living pulls students to this college town, where a smoking ban keeps local air cleaner, and pollutants to groundwater and landfills are closely monitored.

Putting Green into Practice

Students of green college towns see themselves as an integral part of the earth's future. By making a commitment to green living, they put environmental education into practice.

Sources
Albuquerque Environmental Health
Denver Light Rail
Green Colleges and Universities
Macalester College
"The Top 10 Green Cities in the U.S.: 2006" by P.W. McRandle and Sara Smiley Smith for National Geographic