College campuses across the nation are building more LEED certified buildings, according to a recent report from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). LEED is an internationally recognized certification which recognizes buildings for utilizing sustainable design and practices and is awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

Universities adopting the standards in their buildings are noticing a number of benefits besides environmental friendliness. The Princeton Review reported that a growing number of applicants say a campus’s concern for sustainability may influence their college decision. Since LEED buildings are more energy efficient, universities are finding that they are saving money on utilities.

There are a number of colleges adopting these standards in Illinois:

  • DePaul University
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Illinois State University
  • Loyola University of Chicago
  • Northwestern University
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Illinois at Chicago
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Wheaton College

For more information, check out these links:

http://www.usgbc.org

http://www.greenbuildingpro.com/articles/57-features/2029-a-look-at-the-growing-trend-of-green-building-in-higher-education