Accomplishments

Beardshear with sustainability banners hanging out front.

Iowa State Sustainability

The accumulated diligence of Iowa State University students, faculty and staff, in working toward a sustainable future, is represented through a multitude of sustainability recognitions. Encompassing all facets of sustainability, environmental, economic and social, and represented through academics, operations, research and extra-curricular commitment and initiatives, Iowa State’s excellence in sustainability resonates vibrantly.

I have loved getting to see all of the ways that sustainability is incorporated into all sectors of campus and learn from campus leadership about what factors they consider when it comes to making sustainability decisions.

Elizabeth Smith, Sustainability Benchmarking and Reporting Graduate Assistant, 2021-2025

2025

  • Recertified as a Tree Campus.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Therkildsen Building.
  • Named Princeton Review Green School.

2024

  • Named Princeton Review Green School, Ranked Top 50.
  • Cited in the Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings; ranked within the top 10% worldwide and #15 for Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification for Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory.
  • Recertified as a Tree Campus.

2023

  • Named a Princeton Review Green School, ranked top 50.
  • Converted campus power plant from coal to natural gas.
  • Cited in the Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings: ranked #96 overall, #3 for Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), tied for #16 for Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
  • Recertified as a Tree Campus.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification for Stark Performance Center.

2022

  • Received Gold Certification, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School, ranked top 50.
  • Recertified as a Tree Campus.

2021

  • Listed on Princeton Review Green Honor Roll.
  • Ranked as a Sierra Club Cool School.
  • Recertified as a Tree Campus.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Student Innovation Center.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School, Ranked Top 50.

2020

  • Named #2 of Top 25 Green Colleges by Best College Reviews.
  • Joined Electrification Coalition commitment as one of 11 schools.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School, Ranked Top 50.
  • Recertified as a Tree Campus.

2019

  • Received Gold Certification, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School, Ranked Top 50.
  • Listed as a Sierra Club Cool School.
  • Recertified as a Tree Campus.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification for Bessey Hall Addition.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Advanced Teaching & Research Building.
  • Received "Top 50 Green Fleet Award".

2018

  • Named best college in Iowa by Time MONEY magazine.
  • Recognized as top 10 performer, Sustainable Campus Index, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
  • Recertified as a Tree Campus.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School, Ranked Top 50.

2017

  • Ranked #18 in Top 100 Safest College Campuses in the USA.
  • Listed in Travel and Leisure’s Most Beautiful Schools in Every State.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Sukup Hall.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Geoffroy Hall.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Marston Hall Renovation.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Frederiksen Court Expansion.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Ag and Biosystems Engineering Complex (Sukup & Elings).
  • Received "Top 50 Green Fleet Award".
  • Recertified as a Tree Campus.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School, Ranked Top 50.
  • Established Student Government Green Initiatives Fund.

2016

  • Received Gold Certification, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS.
  • Certified as a Tree Campus.
  • Received "Top 50 Green Fleet Award".
  • Ranked #19 "25 Most Energy Efficient Colleges".
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification for Lagomarcino Hall.
  • Achieved "Bronze Recognition for Bicycle-Friendly City," League of American Bicyclists.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School.

2015

  • Listed on "The Greenest Universities in America".
  • Listed "Coolest Schools" by Sierra Club.
  • Ranked #3 Most Eco-Friendly College in Midwest.
  • Ranked “Greenest Campus in Iowa," EcoWatch.
  • Listed "Top 25 Most Beautiful Campuses in the World," Buzzfeed.
  • Listed in "Top 50 Green Fleet Award" winner.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Curtiss Hall.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center.
  • Listed "Green Schools," The Princeton Review.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School.
  • Achieved "Honorable Mention Status for Bicycle-Friendly City," League of American Bicyclists.

2014

  • Listed "Green Schools," The Princeton Review.
  • Voted "The Greenest College Campus" in Iowa by eCollegeFinder.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Troxel Hall.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification for Iowa State Football Training Complex.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School.

2013

  • Received Gold Certification, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Hospital, Phase 2.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School.

2012

  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certification for State Gym Expansion and Renovation.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School.

2011

  • Received "B" on College Sustainability Report Card, sponsored by the Sustainable Endowments Institute.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Hach Hall.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for Biorenewables Research Facility.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School.

2010

  • Received Iowa Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award.
  • Received "B-" on College Sustainability Report Card, sponsored by the Sustainable Endowments Institute.
  • Achieved LEED Platinum Certification for the College of Design's King Pavilion.
  • Named a Princeton Review Green School.

2008

  • Recognized as "An Exemplary School for On-Campus Clean Energy Sources and Cogeneration (pdf)" by National Wildlife Federation.
  • Recognized as "An Exemplary School for Recycling More than 80% of Total Municipal Waste Generated (pdf)" by National Wildlife Federation.
  • Recognized as "A School Committed to doing more with Energy Efficiency, Conservation and Renewable Energy (pdf)" by National Wildlife Federation.
  • Recognized as "A School Committed to do more with Recycling, Solid Waste and Materials Flow (pdf)" by National Wildlife Federation.
  • Achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification for Morrill Hall.