POTSDAM -- Clarkson University is one of the most environmentally responsible "green" colleges in the United States and Canada, according to The Princeton Review.

The company selected Clarkson for inclusion in the just-released sixth-annual annual edition of its free, downloadable guide, “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 353 Green Colleges: 2015 Edition."

Clarkson has a number of environmental initiatives, including a greenhouse to grow vegetables in cold climates, coupled with an anaerobic digester to convert food waste to energy and fertilizer.

Students learn how to integrate sustainability concepts into their lives and professions through a variety of curricular and extra-curricular programs. Most majors offer classes that are related to sustainability concepts and all students can direct their course choices to focus on sustainability by completing a minor in sustainable energy systems engineering or sustainable solutions for the developing world.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, Clarkson has also adopted green building policies, such as a commitment to meeting at least LEED Silver criteria on all current and future construction. Its Technology Advancement Center has achieved LEED Gold certification and its Student Center has achieved LEED Silver.

In 2014, Clarkson became a signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Major recent changes to meet the requirements of this commitment include a change in their source of electricity and efficiency of electricity that will substantially reduce the use of electricity generated from fossil fuels.

Clarkson partnered with Community Energy Solar to receive funding from NYSERDA for the installation of a 2-megawatt solar photovoltaic system on Clarkson property. On-going efforts also include buying more small-scale hydroelectricity and rebuild the air chilling and ventilation system in the academic buildings on campus. It is expected that these actions will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from electricity by as much as 25 percent.

Clarkson’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment sponsors workshops, seminars, and a small grants program, as well as undergraduate- and graduate-level research experiences on a variety of projects around renewable energy, clean water, and air quality. A new Sustainable Office Certification program has engaged more than a third of faculty and staff in challenges to reduce their energy and other resource use associated with their jobs.

Director of the Institute for a Sustainable Environment Philip K. Hopke, along with Associate Director of Sustainability Susan E. Powers, the Spence Professor in Sustainable Environmental Systems, help build sustainable practices into every aspect of campus life.

The free 218-page guide can be downloaded at http://www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.