KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – Keene State College has been recognized for its commitment to sustainability, earning a STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) assesses institutions on their environmental impact and progress.

The college has been reporting to STARS since 2012, and its latest results highlight strengths in areas such as research funding for sustainability initiatives and sustainable procurement practices, according to a news release. As part of its broader sustainability plan, Keene State has set ambitious goals, including cutting its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Additionally, the college aims to power its campus entirely with renewable energy and qualify as a zero-waste campus by 2030.

A focus on reducing waste is a key component of the college’s strategy this year, the release said. The switch to single-stream recycling has been one of the most impactful changes, significantly improving the campus’s recycling rates and diverting more waste from landfills.

The STARS program, which includes over 1,200 participating institutions in 52 countries, is one of the most comprehensive systems for measuring sustainability performance in higher education.