In Summary: Green Fees

The National Wildlife Federation recently conducted a survey and found that “eighty percent of American colleges are trying to conserve energy, and half have developed efficiency codes. Nearly a quarter use some form of renewable energy, and twelve percent power at least some of their vehicles with alternative fuel.”

Which institutions have green fees?

All different types of universities have green fees. Smaller universities are more likely to have passed a green fee but are limited in what they can accomplish. Smaller universities cannot generate the same revenues from the green fee as a larger institution because of the size of their student body. Therefore, they must charge higher fees or only have a limited impact with the green fees. They tend to pass green fees more because they are usually liberal institutions. Although, larger universities are becoming more and more likely to pass green fee incentives with surprising high support from the student body.

What types of projects do they have funded in this way?

Most green fees go toward the purchase of green energy such as wind power or toward the purchase of green tags. Many universities commit to the Kyoto Protocol reduction of CO2 emissions and buying green energy is the best was to reach the Protocol’s goal. Other projects include: converting transportation to bio-diesel, recycling programs, replacement or modernization of heating and cooling systems, energy efficient light, and so on.

How were the fees adopted?

Most universities, especially the larger ones, the fee must be placed on a ballot and voted on by the student body, then approved by the administration, and then sometimes also approved by the state legislative body. Some universities, the fee only has to be approved by administration.

Most green fee programs have been enacted in the past five years. Therefore it is hard to predict how the programs are effecting the environment in the long run.

Some other universities with green fees:

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainbility in Higher Education (AASHE) has a list of colleges and universities that have implemented various types of green or energy fees.

Are you a campus representative who would like to update the above information about your campus or add your campus to our list? Please email Jill Richardson.

back to top