The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the University of Iowa Main Campus buildings as leaders in green power usage.

The UI came in at No. 21 on the list composed of 30 organizations that provide their own green energy. The UI was the highest university to appear on the list, ahead of Central Michigan University and the University of Minnesota-Morris.

Wal-Mart took first place on the list, followed by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The ranking is determined by the number of green kilowatt-hours produced and used on-site by the various organizations.

The UI produces 10 million kilowatt-hours of biomass annually — or the equivalent of the energy used in 1,000 average American homes. Green power accounts for 4 percent of the UI’s electricity use.

— by Stacey Murray