UMKC’s sustainability efforts garner national, local recognition

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Earlier this month, the University of Missouri-Kansas City placed in the top 50 of the 2012 Sierra Club’s Cool Schools ranking. The ranking evaluates colleges and universities across the nation on sustainability issues like energy efficiency, waste management, ‘green’ curriculum, and serving sustainable foods.

Kaye Johnston, UMKC’s sustainability coordinator, talked about the ranking on a recent episode of KCUR’s Up to Date.

Johnston touched on not just UMKC’s recent sustainability efforts, but its continued commitment to going green. In 2010, UMKC ranked 95th on the Sierra Club Cool Schools list. Today, the university is 50th.

Although several major initiatives led to UMKC’s rise through the 11-category scoring system, Johnston credits UMKC’s “sustainability culture,” in which everyone, from campus leadership to the nearly 15,000 students, contributes to UMKC’s green efforts.

“When we all do a little, we all do a lot,” Johnston said.

KCUR 89.3 FM, part of National Public Radio’s digital network, is licensed by UMKC.