By Jasmine Lee SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — SUNY ESF has been named on the top five list of Sierra Magazine’s Cool School List this year. The school received the highest level of rank, platinum, in the rank that Sierra Magazine pulls its information to put the list from. It is the first time the university has received this rank.
SUNY ESF’s Sustainable Facilities Manager Sue Fassler said the green roof, new trash bins, and the power plant are some of the things that contributed to the school’s high ranking. There are very rare and natural plant species in the green roof. The trash bins that sit across the campus were built as students began a zero waste program. There are three labeled bins: trash, recycle and compost bins. The power plant reduces carbon footprint and saves money for the university.
Associate professor in the environmental studies department Shari Dann said she is thrilled to see the school in the top five list.
“Quite honestly, I am so proud of SUNY ESF. About two years ago, I left a big 10 university and came here because of the emphasis on sustainability and the collective work that SUNY ESF and Syracuse University do to make a positive impact,” said Dann.
As a part of the state university system, SUNY ESF is able to affect the other 64 SUNY campuses in their environmental and sustainability efforts. Fassler says the university’s decisions can affect the entire New York State as well.
“SUNY can say ‘Hey New York State, let’s get behind that with our full state power.’ And that’s how you can really start driving change at higher levels as well,” Fassler said.
SUNY ESF ranked number six in last year’s Cool Schools list. In the meantime, another Upstate New York college, Cornell University, ranked in number four in this year’s list.
