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The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded ����ֱ�� State University with its platinum-level award for Encouraging Environmental Excellence. 

����ֱ�� State was one of 48 companies, schools or organizations in the state honored by the Ohio EPA for taking exceptional measures to protect Ohio’s environment and for continued commitment to environmental stewardship. 

Ohio EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) program recognizes businesses and organizations through four levels: Achievement, Silver, Gold and Platinum.  

����ֱ�� State received the platinum-level award and was recognized for the solar array it maintains on top of the Field House on the ����ֱ�� Campus, and other arrays at six Regional Campuses. In total, the solar arrays are projected to reduce carbon emissions by 4,116 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

“Sustainability is important for a variety of reasons, and it really is about good financial stewardship and economic benefit,” said Melanie Knowles, ����ֱ�� State’s manager of sustainability. “It is about benefitting our community, the people in our communities and also our local environment, as well as the global environment, so these are really win, win, win type of programs that benefit the university and the community.” 

The EPA also noted ����ֱ�� State's robust organic diversion program, in which the university mulches and composts yard waste for re-use on campus, and for its food waste program, in which the university sends food waste from two ����ֱ�� Campus dining facilities to be converted into energy, diverting 186.7 tons of food from the landfill.

"����ֱ�� State remains committed to being good stewards of our environment and staying on the forefront of innovations in sustainability," said  Doug Pearson, Ph.D., associate vice president for Facilities Planning and Operations. "This award is evidence of our diverse programs including environmental education, recycling, energy conservation, food waste to energy, renewable energies, sustainable design, green cleaning, and being a Tree Campus USA. Congratulations to the students and staff that helped ����ֱ�� State earn this recognition."

“Ohio is the heart of sustainability, and we’re committed to recognizing those at the forefront of innovation and stewardship,” said Ohio EPA Director Anne M. Vogel. “We’re excited to reward companies that are helping children grow up in a safe environment and partnering to support the communities they call home. Their work inspires all of us to do more, and we are proud to share in their success.” 

Read more about ����ֱ�� State's sustainability efforts. 

WRITTEN BY: LISA ABRAHAM