September 9, 2014
Athletics, sustainability ranked in top 25
The Associated Press released its annual preseason Top 25 NCAA Football rankings on Aug. 17, announcing the top 25 football schools during the 2014 football season. These universities may perform well on the football field, but how well do they "go green"?
The SaveOnEnergy.com team reviewed and ranked the schools listed in the Associated Press rankings on their sustainability efforts. Kansas State University is ranked No. 23. See which top football schools also top the sustainability charts.
SaveOnEnergy used the following criteria to rank universities on sustainability:
- Stadium sustainability efforts
- Number of active green organizations
- Waste diversion rate
- Percentage of budget spent on locally grown or organic foods
- Level of environmental studies degrees offered
K-State has two active green organizations; a waste diversion rate of 26.7 percent; 5.6 percent spent on organic foods; and offers various degrees in environmental studies. K-State has two campus green initiatives, competing in Recyclemania and Gameday Challenge. The university has four building LEED-certified and has specific sustainability plans underway as well as a free shuttle service.
K-State's Bill Snyder Family Stadium gameday recycling kicked off in 2008. Student groups and various sororities volunteer numerous hours to distribute and collect purple recycling bags during tailgating and collect glass and plastic bottles after games. On Sundays the fraternities sort numerous truckloads of recyclables at the Recycling Center.