Colorado State University’s green leadership among universities is gold: CSU has been named the most sustainable university in the nation. BestColleges.com named CSU the Greenest University in a review of more than 240 universities across the nation, adding to the university’s already impressive list of recognitions for sustainability efforts.

The ranking cites the university as leading the nation in sustainability best practices. It comes on the heels of CSU obtaining the highest sustainability score ever through an independent rating system for universities.

“To be recognized by BestColleges.com as the No. 1 Greenest University in America is an honor. This is a reflection of CSU’s commitment to sustainability across academics, research, and engagement. While we celebrate what we have accomplished, our students, faculty, and staff continue to advance new sustainability initiatives and research on our campus, in our community, and across the globe,” said Tonie Miyamoto, director of Communications and Sustainability for CSU’s Housing and Dining Services.

The Greenest University title follows Colorado State University’s recent climb this spring to the coveted Platinum rating, the first university in the world to do so through the STARS rating system. The Greenest University ranking is based on academics, operations, planning and administration, and engagement, scored by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, or STARS, a sustainability rating system for universities. Colorado State University obtained the highest STARS rating ever of any university.

“While improving sustainability on campus is always a goal, it is great to take a moment to celebrate the achievements we have made,” said Carol Dollard, the university’s energy engineer. Dollard and Miyamoto co-chair the President’s Sustainability Committee, which oversees sustainability initiatives across the breadth of the university. “We are very honored to be recognized as the Greenest University by BestColleges.com.”

The university will be featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History exhibit, Places of Invention, which started July 1. Highlighted with places such as Silicon Valley, Hollywood and the Bronx, the installation on Fort Collins highlights energy inventions, including the Prieto battery developed at CSU, as well as collaboration between CSU, the city and local businesses.

“The entire CSU campus community is fully engaged in increasing CSU’s efforts to improve our sustainability endeavors,” said Lynn Johnson, vice president of Operations. “I look forward to the creative ways in which we resolve these issues as we move into the future.”

In addition, the university is committed to providing alternative transportation options to students, faculty, staff and guests, with public transit passes, purchased by the university or included in student fees, as well as access to and through campus via miles of bike trails and routes.

BestColleges.com is a prospective college student resource that compiles and rates universities based on student surveys, faculty surveys, independent research, ranking systems and the input of highly credible and authoritative sources.

CSU sustainability facts:

• Sustainability-related research is conducted in more than 90 percent of the academic departments at CSU
• CSU earned the first ever platinum rating ever awarded by STARS in 2015, making it the first institution to do so on an international scale.
• Online and on-campus, the university offers 962 credit courses with sustainability content and an additional 532 non-credit continuing education courses.