Villanova's green efforts pay off again

DELAWARE COUNTY

Villanova's green efforts pay off

VILLANOVA Villanova University can add a new school color to its blue and white: green.

The school has been named the 2014 Green Business of the Year by the Main Line Chamber of Commerce for its sustainability policies that include five LEED-certified buildings, hydration stations, and use of ionized water in cleaning. The school has also reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent in the last five years.

"Our actions have a direct impact on the local community, and we keep that in mind when pursuing sustainable initiatives on campus," Liesel Schwarz, the school's sustainability manager, said in a statement.

The award was presented to the university on June 26 during the Chamber of Commerce's annual Celebration of Business Leadership.

It is not the first time the campus has been recognized for its efforts. Princeton Review and the Sierra Club have both cited Villanova as one of the nation's greenest colleges, according to the school. - Mari A. Schaefer