The Refinishing Touch Blog

With the environment continuing to be a constant concern to throughout the world, we are excited to see how schools and universities across the country are encouraging green practices in the future leaders of sustainability: students.

Colleges and universities in California are implementing new programs to encourage students to minimize their impact on the environment in several ways. Because public transportation is less than ideal in their areas, schools such as San Diego University, UC San Marcos and UC San Diego are rewarding students who opt to carpool and bike to school. Some incentives include prime parking spots for carpoolers and hybrid car users and free parking for 10 days for students who bike the majority of their trips. Some, such as UC San Diego, even upgraded their university bus programs to reduce the number of buses in use while employing biodiesel technology.

Some colleges go a step further and offer financial incentives and free give-aways to students who don't drive to campus. According to the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Stanford University is offering non-driving students up to $282. Others offer free bicycles and helmets. Some commuter colleges go even further by offering students the option of taking all their classes in fewer days to reduce the number of cars on the road.

These incentive programs in colleges and universities are just more examples of how sustainability is a continuously growing priority not only in businesses and governments, but also in younger generations. It's great to see schools and students take steps in unison be more environmentally conscious - and produce future business leaders with green values.

Labels: Education, Sustainability, university