The Princeton Review Releases 5th Annual Free "Guide To Green Colleges" In Partnership With The Center For Green Schools At USGBC

- Downloadable Book Profiles 332 Most Environmentally Responsible Colleges

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Apr 17, 2014, 06:00 ET

NEW YORK, April 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation gears up to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, The Princeton Review, in collaboration with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), today released the fifth annual edition of its free guidebook saluting the most environmentally responsible "green colleges."

"The Princeton Review's Guide to 332 Green Colleges: 2014 Edition" profiles 330 schools in the U.S. and two in Canada that demonstrate exemplary commitments to sustainability in their academics, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation. Among the many schools that have made the guide for the past five years are Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois / Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Oregon.

The 216-page book—the only free, comprehensive, annual guide to green colleges—can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/green-guide and www.centerforgreenschools.org/greenguide. The guide features:

School profiles with information on admission, financial aid, and sustainability initiatives, plus "Green Facts" sidebars reporting on everything from the school's use of renewable energy, recycling and conservation programs to the availability of environmental studies and career guidance for green jobs.
Lists of schools in the guide with LEED-certified buildings and of those that are signatories of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
Advice for living green on campus, plus a glossary of 40+ green terms and acronyms from AASHE to "zero waste."

The Princeton Review, one of the nation's leading education services companies, first published the guide in 2010 in collaboration with USGBC. That year, USGBC, widely known for developing the LEED green building rating system, launched the Center for Green Schools at USGBC to increase efforts to drive change in how campuses and schools are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated so that all educational facilities can enhance student learning experiences. The guide was initially developed with generous support from United Technologies Corp., founding sponsor of the Center for Green Schools.

Rob Franek, Senior VP/Publisher, The Princeton Review, commended USGBC and United Technologies Corp. for their generous support to help make this guide a free resource, particularly in light of the broad interest among today's college-bound students in environmental issues.

"Among 10,116 college applicants who participated in our 2014 'College Hopes & Worries Survey,' 61% said having information about a school's commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the school," Franek said. "To all students seeking to study and live at 'green' colleges we strongly recommend these schools. Among the 332 colleges in this guide: 30% of their total food expenditures goes towards local and/or organic food purchases; 63% of the schools offer an undergraduate major or degree that is sustainability-focused, and 73% of the new construction on their campuses is LEED-certified."

Said Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools at USGBC, "Every year, millions of high school seniors must choose the college that's best for them. In collaborating with The Princeton Review on this annual guide, we have seen that sustainability on campuses continues to be an important deciding factor for today's four-year college-bound students. We are excited to once again provide prospective students and their parents with a resource to help them navigate this often daunting decision-making process."

On Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22 from 2 to 2:45 pm ET, The Princeton Review's Rob Franek will host a "Guide to 332 Green Colleges" Google+ Hangout accessible at https://plus.google.com/+ThePrincetonReview/posts. Joining the discussion will be Rachel Gutter from the Center for Green Schools at USGBC and administrators from some of guide's green colleges. They will discuss innovative ways colleges are going green and chat with students interested in environmental issues and green schools.

How Schools Were Chosen for the Book
The Princeton Review chose the schools based on a survey the Company conducted in 2013. The survey asked administrators at hundreds of colleges across the U.S. and Canada about their institution's sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. Using survey data that covered more than 25 fields, The Princeton Review tallied its "Green Ratings" (scores from 60 to 99) for 832 schools and reported them in the school profiles on the Company's website and in its college guides in summer 2013. The 332 schools in this guide received scores of 83 or above in that assessment. (Note: The Princeton Review does not rank the schools 1 to 332 or report their Green Rating scores in this book.) Information about the Company's Green Rating and its "Green Honor Roll" list of 22 schools that received the highest possible score, 99, is at www.princetonreview.com/green.aspx

About The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is a leading test preparation and college admission services company. Every year it helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students achieve their education and career goals through its test preparation, tutoring, and admissions services, its online resources, and its more than 150 print and digital books published by Random House LLC. The Company delivers its services via a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors in the U.S.A. and Canada, and through its international franchises in 14 other countries. The Company also partners directly with school districts and non-governmental organizations to provide students with college readiness services including college selection, test preparation, financial aid advice, and admissions support. The Princeton Review is headquartered in Natick, MA, and is privately held. For more information, visit www.princetonreview.com and www.facebook.com/ThePrincetonReview. Follow the Company's Twitter feed @ThePrincetonRev

About the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council
The Center for Green Schools at USGBC is making sure every student has the opportunity to attend a green school within this generation. From kindergarten to college and beyond, the Center works directly with staff, teachers, faculty, students, administrators, elected officials and communities to drive the transformation of all schools into sustainable places to live and learn, work and play. For more information, visit centerforgreenschools.org or find us on Twitter and Facebook.

About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org, explore the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

WEBSITES
www.princetonreview.com/green-guide
www.centerforgreenschools.org/greenguide

SOURCE The Princeton Review