Grand Valley named a green college by Princeton Review

Grand Valley State University has been named one of the country's most environmentally responsible colleges by The Princeton Review for the seventh year in a row. The university is included in the 2016 edition of "The Princeton Review's Guide to 361 Green Colleges."

The guide profiles higher education institutions in the U.S. that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability based on academic offerings and career preparation for students, as well as campus practices, initiatives and activities. Grand Valley has been included in the guidebook every year since the first issue was published in 2010.

View the guidebook here.

This latest recognition reflects Grand Valley's commitment to sustainability. Some efforts that took place in 2016 are described below.

-- In March 2016, Grand Valley ranked first in the state and in the top 15 in the country in the composting category of the nationwide recycling contest Recyclemania.

-- By the end of 2016, Grand Valley will avoid utility costs of at least $2.3 million annually through the use of energy-efficient practices and procedures.

-- Thanks to a $55,000 grant from Consumers Energy, a Grand Valley team designed and built two solar-energy-producing modules that travel West Michigan to demonstrate the benefits of solar energy.

For more information, contact the Office of Sustainability Practices at www.gvsu.edu/sustainability or (616) 331-7366.