ASU Named No.10 "Coolest School"


For the sixth year in a row, SIERRA magazine is releasing its annual ranking of the nation’s “Coolest Schools,” and this year Appalachian State University has moved into the No. 10 spot. The rankings salute U.S. colleges that are helping solve climate problems and making significant efforts to operate sustainably. This is the third year Appalachian’s focus on sustainability has been recognized by the magazine, but the first year the university has been listed as a Top 10 school. Appalachian first participated in the magazine’s “Coolest Schools” survey in 2010. According to their news release, SIERRA magazine found commonalities among universities they cited as making a difference toward improving sustainability, including the areas of energy sourcing, infrastructure, transportation and academics. In addition, substantial efforts are being made to meticulously quantify schools’ efforts to attain their environmental goals. At Appalachian, those steps include sustainability-focused or related courses, tracking of greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the university’s carbon neutrality plan, and a 46 percent reduction in water use, and a 16 percent reduction in electricity and natural gas use as measured against a baseline established in 2002-03