UCI Is Cool, Really Cool
For the second year in a row, UC Irvine was named the #1 Coolest School by Sierra Magazine. This is the first time that any university has won the top spot more than once, and UCI has consistently been in the top ten of schools for the last six years.
So what exactly does it mean to be the coolest school in the United States? While UCI is cool for many reasons, this award specifically congratulates the campus for its success in reducing emissions that cause global climate change—which makes our environment “cooler”. Sierra Magazine is published by the Sierra Club, the largest grassroots
environmental organization in the nation. Each year the magazine ranks United States colleges and universities based on important elements of campus sustainability, including: waste, water, energy, food, and many more!
Out of 1,000 possible points, UCI’s total score was 859.75. This is an increase of 46 points from last year, which reflects the university’s commitment to consistently increase campus sustainability while decreasing its impact on the environment.
Being the #1 Coolest School is an accomplishment that was achieved through the collaboration and dedication of UCI staff and students, and it proves that we are more than capable of reaching our sustainability goals. As president Obama stated in his 2014 commencement speech, UCI is “ahead of the curve” when it comes to our environmental sustainability programs. This award recognizes all the progress that UCI has made so far, and demonstrates our ability as a campus to continue to make a lasting impact on our environment.
