TEMPE, AZ -- Rio Salado College has been awarded the title of America's Greenest Campus for having the smallest carbon footprint.
The college was given $5,000 for the win to put towards green activities.
The Tempe campus beat out nearly 500 other colleges and universities for the top spot.
The America's Greenest Campus contest started in April and challenged schools to reduce their carbon output.
All of the schools involved in the contest combined to save $4.5 million in energy costs and reduce their collective carbon output by 18.6 million pounds, which is equivalent to the amount of carbon emitted by 1,900 cars annually.
"Environmental viability is part of the culture at our college," Rio Salado President Linda Thor said. "We want to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."
Rio Salado College plans to use the money to help fund the Community Garden Project which encourages students to participate in classes that focus on sustainable food systems, building relationships with local farmers, and growing their own food.
