“Go green” is a slogan you here a lot from organizations that purport to be eco-conscious as they go about their business. Most companies’ dedication to going green comes from the desire to cultivate an ethical image to attract customers, and is usually half-hearted. The University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, as their slogan goes, “Mean Green”. UNT builds green buildings and green football stadiums. Princeton Review ranks The Mean Green as one of the top twenty “green campuses” in the nation and one of the top three in Texas. Their Sustainability Program is a model for all college campuses
The University has spent millions of dollars to make their campus more energy efficient. New facilities have more windows in them to provide natural heating. Rain water is collected in cisterns and recycled to water the grounds. The recreation center has two types of exercise machines that, when used, produce electricity to help offset the buildings’ energy cost. Their new football stadium, the Apogee Stadium, is the first Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified Sports Stadium in the nation. The stadium is designed with lighting arrangements that light the entire field with only half as much energy as would normally be required. The business leadership and health science buildings are also LEED certified.
The university has also applied for grants that would give it the money required to power the Willis Library and Apogee Stadium with solar power. Recycling programs have been on campus for years, and thanks to student and faculty efforts, are only getting more advanced. Uniquely, the University also offers a vegan dining hall, which fits into their sustainability mission; producing vegan food is more energy efficient. The dining facilities also use safer, less harsh chemicals for cleaning, as well as reusable utensils and trays.
UNT’s devotion to a sustainable future sets the standard for colleges and universities across America. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly campus where you can live and learn, then you can’t go wrong with the UNT Eagles.
