Green Power

CSU is one of the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges, according to the 2018 edition of The Princeton Review’s Guide to 399 Green Colleges.

The education services company chose the schools for its green guide based on data from a 2017-18 survey of 648 four-year colleges. The schools on the list were chosen for their green rating score (on a scale of 60 to 99) based on a school’s sustainability-related policies, practices and programs. Green rating scores of 80 or higher made the list.

In addition, for the second consecutive year, CSU was named by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the Horizon League Conference Champion in the 2017-18 College and University Green Power Challenge. CSU uses more than 18 million kilowatt-hours of green power per year, more than any other school in the Horizon League. This represents 30 percent of the school’s electricity use and is equivalent to the electricity needed to power 2,000 average American homes.

Cleveland State’s green energy effort is a component of a broader sustainability plan which is designed to reduce waste, increase efficiency and conserve water and energy across campus. This includes CSU Dining transitioning from disposable tableware to 100 percent plant-based compostable products. Last year, 20 tons of waste were composted, thanks to a kitchen compost program which contributed to a total of 287 tons of waste diverted from landfills in 2017. Other efforts include the launch of a battery recycling program, the addition of new labels to recycling bins across campus, and the development of a Green Event Guide to assist planners to reduce waste at campus events.