UCI one of nation’s greenest colleges

High school seniors today have one more factor to consider when they choose their college: Which is the most environmentally friendly?

Now they have a guide.

The Princeton Review and U.S. Green Building Council teamed up to assess colleges and universities on their commitment to sustainability in their infrastructure, activities and initiatives.

The result is a new listing from the Princeton Review that includes 286 above-average schools, including UC Irvine. Other Southern California schools that made the list included Claremont McKenna College, UCLA, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, USC and Whittier College.

“Our research has shown that students and their parents are becoming more and more interested in learning about and attending universities and colleges that practice, teach and support environmental responsibility,� said Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher of the Princeton Review.

UCI has three buildings that are LEED-certified, meaning they meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s criteria for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED certification was not one of the criteria for the Princeton Review listing, but it’s an indication of a university’s green credentials.