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Kent State has earned a spot on the Princeton Review’s “Green Colleges” list for the 2016 issue, according to a university press release Tuesday.

This is Kent State’s first time on the list of green colleges since it was first established in 2010, according to the press release. Kent State Sustainability Manager Melanie Knowles sees this accomplishment as a result of Kent State’s focus on sustainability.

“We have been working toward sustainability for years,” Knowles said in the press release. “We have made progress in so many areas, and that has gotten us on this list.”

This recognition is a result of university efforts in creating a more energy-efficient campus, as well as the establishment of environmentally-friendly transportation, such as PARTA’s free campus bus routes and the Flashfleet rental bikes.

Kent State was one of 361 out of 640 schools to earn a “Green Rating” score of 80 or higher to earn a spot on the list. The score is based on the implementation of each school’s sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs.

The Princeton Review list of green colleges was created to highlight campuses for environmentally-conscious students.

“We continue to move forward in being environmentally responsible,” Knowles said. The press release stated Kent State is currently under an energy efficiency retrofit project that, once finished, will reduce University energy use by “over 20 percent.”

Nicholas Hunter is a general assignment reporter. Contact him at [email protected]