Richard W. Lariviere, President of University of Oregon, where treadmill workouts are converted to energy.

Treehugger just published their list of 10 greenest college campuses. While colleges bring prestige and the students generate income for the local community, they also use tremendous amounts of energy, water and landfill capacity. Colleges that pursue green practices demonstrate stewardship, become better partners with the community, and are more attractive to students.

The colleges identified by Treehugger vary from private to public institutions with populations from a few hundred to 39,000. The institutions are located on both coasts and in the middle of the country. When looking at their green practices it is obvious that the commitment must come from both the college and students.

These colleges go beyond LEED buildings and a recycling program. Just a few highlights from the article demonstrate how a green campus is good for the town. Energy use is reduced, money comes to local farmers and food producers, tons of waste are diverted from landfills, water usage is reduced and town people have opportunities to be educated about everything from recycling to climate change.

My favorite energy savings is the University of Oregon Eugene program that returns energy to the grid every time someone takes a turn on the treadmill.

Tufts University 10,000 students compost about 1 ton of food daily diverting approximately 62% of waste from landfills.

Every week all students at Warren Wilson College donate a few hours a week working on campus or community projects that support the philosophy, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

University of New Hampshire is the first college to run off of landfill gas, which covers 85% of needs and they buy food from 54 local farms thereby supporting local farmers.

The students at Middlebury College put their money where their mouth is. Students encouraged the college to set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2016 and the 2008 graduating class gifted the college $93,000 for future green projects.

The 1.9 megawatt solar array under construction and the wind credits that cover 10% of energy use will help the University of Colorado Boulder to reach their goal to reduce emissions 20% between 2005 and 2011.

Over 120 million gallons of water are saved annually as a result of Stanford University updating showerheads and faucets.

The University of Washington purchases 100% of their energy from renewable sources, and has an alternative, hybrid and electric fleet of over 300 vehicles as well as an electric bike share program.

Yale University cut emissions by 11%. Yale has attracted forward-looking green leaders, and invested in zipcars, fuel cells, and sustainability seminars.

The tiny College of the Atlantic students walks its talk serving local and organic food in the cafeteria. Dorms come with composting toilets, ultra-high insulation and heat comes from a wood burning pellet boiler.

Are green practices at your college saving resources?