Temple uses more than 55 million kilowatt-hours of green power each year—enough to power more than 5,000 average American homes. That use of green energy recently earned the university a spot on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of the top green power users among colleges and universities nationwide.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership ranked Temple No. 18 on its list of the top 30 green power users in its College and University Challenge. Temple became an EPA partner in December, joining more than 140 colleges and universities across the United States in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership.

Among American Athletic Conference schools on the list, Temple is No. 1, with its 55 million kWh of green power per year accounting for 25 percent of the university’s overall power usage.

“This is a big achievement for Temple’s sustainability efforts,” Kathleen Grady, director of sustainability, said. “By changing its energy procurement process to include renewable sources, Temple is sending a clear message that climate action is something that cannot wait.”

Green power is zero-emissions electricity generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, low-impact hydro and other resources. Its use helps to reduce entities’ carbon footprints and environmental impact.

“Green power is an important tool in meeting Temple’s carbon neutrality goal,” Kurt Bresser, director of utilities and energy management, said. “Energy efficiency projects continue to be our focus.”

Temple signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2008 and again in 2016, pledging to become carbon neutral by 2050.