# Oregon State receives high “Cool School” ranking from Sierra Club

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/08/oregon-state-receives-high-cool-school-ranking-from-sierra-club/
- Published: 2017-08-25T01:57:19-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Sierra Club has released its “Cool Schools” rankings based
on the ‘greenness’ of participating universities, and Oregon State has the highest
green ranking of any public college in the state (private college Lewis & Clark 
came in 5th). Oregon State is listed as 20th in the nation.

# The Cool Schools Ranking

The Cool Schools ranking is open to all four-year undergraduate colleges and universities
in the nation. The award honors more than 200 colleges that are helping to solve
climate problems. Moreover and making significant efforts to integrate sustainability
into their teaching. Also their research and engagement. All to operate sustainably.
Evaluations were based on survey information provided by the participating schools.
The raw data for scoring came from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability
in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS self-reporting tool. That’s plus a supplemental
question about fossil fuel investments.

[⌊The Sierra Club noted innovative research at OSU, calling out assistant professor Chad Higgins’ research into the impact on soil moisture from ground mounted solar panels, and the benefits of growing food there. Higgins’ preliminary findings indicated a co-benefit for the panels as well – cooler temperatures, which means more electricity production from the panels.⌉⌊The Sierra Club noted innovative research at OSU, calling out assistant professor Chad Higgins’ research into the impact on soil moisture from ground mounted solar panels, and the benefits of growing food there. Higgins’ preliminary findings indicated a co-benefit for the panels as well – cooler temperatures, which means more electricity production from the panels.⌉[
 Brandon Trelstad, sustainability officer for [Oregon State](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/09/usa-fully-electric-car-sales-up-47-in-2017-says-cleantechnica/). For he
said that the university’s continued commitment to sustainability has led to a number
of honors. All from national organizations over the years.

## Sierra Club

The [Sierra](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/10/gmc-teams-up-with-ntwrk-for-day-of-drops-to-celebrate-reveal-of-sierra-ev/)
Club noted innovative research at OSU, calling out assistant professor Chad Higgins’
research. That’s into the impact on soil moisture from ground mounted solar panels.
Moreover and the benefits of growing food there. Higgins’ preliminary findings indicated
a co-benefit for the panels. As well cooler temperatures. All which means more electricity
production from the panels.

“Based on my casual summertime observations at our six-acre solar array,” Trelstad
said, “it didn’t surprise me that the ground under panels might be good for some
food crops. But I was elated to learn that growing crops could also increase solar
production. This is the kind of synergy we look for. I mean in sustainability work.
When systems thinking and looking for co-benefits across those systems.”

Photo of solar panels at OSU: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonstateuniversity/14128889802/](https://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonstateuniversity/14128889802/)

**_Source: 8-24-17. [http://bit.ly/2isI4R9](https://today.oregonstate.edu/archives/2017/aug/oregon-state-receives-high-%e2%80%9ccool-school%e2%80%9d-ranking-sierra-club)_**