Students initiated recycling at Knox and collect materials from academic and residential buildings campus-wide.

For the fifth year in a row, Knox College is ranked by the Sierra Club as one of the nation's "Cool Schools." The rankings -- including energy saving initiatives, environmental impact and academic programs -- were published in the club's monthly Sierra Magazine.

Areas where Knox has scored in the rankings include:

Instruction and Research

• Sustainability-focused and sustainability-related courses, including Urban Agriculture and Political Ecology: Biodiversity, Sustainability and Development.
• Support for research in sustainability by faculty and students
• Real world example: Theatre production prioritizes reuse, reusability

Energy

• Reduced 'greenhouse gas' emissions by making buildings more efficient and reducing heating
• Testing use of timer for temperature control
• Installation and retro-fitting of lights with high-efficiency LEDs
• Real world example: From the KnoxWorks blog -- LED lights installed and other sustainability-related construction.

Food

• Donations of unused food to a local shelter
• 100% of napkins made of recycled content
• Incentives for diners to purchase reusable containers
• Real world example: Farm to Fork program teaches grade school students about local food

Transportation

• Completed a campus-wide transportation survey
• Discourage air travel whenever possible
• Decrease vehicle idling
• Real world example: From the Knox Flickr channel: Support for Bike to Work Week

Water

• Close monitoring of water use on campus
• Installed rain barrels at Eco House and Community Garden
• Expanded use of native and drought-resistant plantings
• Real world example: Water line repair saves thousands of gallons a year

In Pictures: Sustainability initiatives at Knox, including energy conservation, tree planting, research and campus events