The College Sustainability Report Card grades 100 leading colleges on their campus greening practices and endowment policies. It includes Ivy League and Big 10 schools, and other top public and private colleges, selected because they represent the largest education endowment funds in the US and Canada. Combined, the schools control $258 billion – approximately 75% of all higher education endowment investments.
Only four institutions received an “A”: Harvard University, Stanford University, Dartmouth College, and Williams College. 22 schools earned a “B”, 54 earned a “C”, and 20 earned a “D.” Colleges seem to be paying more attention to greening campus operations – when that was assessed separately, 26 schools received an “A minus.”
Eight policies and programs were evaluated for the report card: sustainability policies, climate change and energy, green building, food and recycling, administration, endowment transparency, investment priorities, and shareholder engagement.
Given that universities and colleges control extremely patient capital due to a very long time horizon and have a mission of innovation, one might expect them to lead on sustainability efforts and investments. The report shows that few institutions of higher learning have yet to integrate sustainability into their endowment investments in a significant way.
Schools are farthest along in the following in descending order: Policies; Food & Recycling; Green Building; Climate Change & Energy; Shareholder Engagement; Investment Priorities; Transparency.
Policies
Does the institution have a formal sustainability policy in its mission statement or master plan? Has it committed to local, national, or international agreements? Has it institutionalized the position of sustainability coordinator or does it have an active advisory council to guide the administration on campus sustainability?
Harvard University has one of the most comprehensive campus sustainability programs in the country. The Harvard Green Campus Initiative has a staff of 16 full time
professionals and approximately 40 part-time student employees.
Bowdoin College signed on to the Maine Governors Carbon Challenge, committing to reduce emissions 11% below 2002 levels by 2010. It established a sustainability office
to fulfill this mission. Students work on specific initiatives such as clean energy, recycling, and composting, and are assisted by a campus environmental committee. Berea College and the University of Washington also have sustainability coordinators.
Climate Change & Energy
What efforts is the institution making to improve energy efficiency and to obtain energy from renewable sources?
The University of British Columbias ECOTrek program, the largest water and energy retrofit of any Canadian university, was finalized in 2006 and has tallied a 20% reduction in energy use worth CAD $2.5 million (Canadian Dollars) annually. Since 1990, carbon dioxide emissions per square meter of building have been reduced by 30%.
The University of Pennsylvania is one of the largest nongovernmental purchasers of wind power in the nation, which supplies 29% of its energy needs. The 10-year contract the University signed will enable the construction of a 12-turbine, 20-megawatt wind farm in Pennsylvania.
The Tufts Climate Initiative at Tufts University changed its utility contract in 2006 to include small-hydro and natural gas, reducing carbon emissions to 21% below the New England average. The facilities department has implemented lighting retrofits, improved steam trap efficiency, and added energy star washing machines. Students are given the option to purchase green power.
Food & Recycling
How much locally grown and organic food is served at dining facilities? Is there a campus program for recycling and composting? 24 schools that earned A grades for this category.
Dartmouth Colleges Local Food Project organizes local farmers in New Hampshire and Vermont to supply a sustainable source of local foods to the College. A Sustainable Dining Committee has been formed that is focused on creating a waste-free dining prototype in one dining venue.
Grinnell College uses local, organic products for most staple ingredients, including organic flour and local milk, eggs, herbs, pork, and some fruits and vegetables. Pre- and post-consumer food waste is composted and donated to a local farm.
Washington State University uses local, organic products for all baking and bread products. Organic Fridays begin in 2007. Food waste is composted and sold to local nurseries. The Waste Wise program recycles 57% of the waste stream from approximately 1,500 collection areas across campus.
Williams College spends an extra 20 cents per person per meal on local, organic foods, amounting to a 30% increase in local and organic foods in the dining
halls over the past few years – one of the strongest programs in the US. Food waste is composted and sent to local farms.
Green Building
Is there a campus-wide green building policy? Are green design features incorporated into retrofits of existing buildings? 22 schools that earned A grades.
Carnegie Mellon University requires all new buildings and renovations to be LEED Silver-certified at a minimum. Three buildings have attained LEED Silver certification (one attained Gold) and four renovations will soon be Silver-certified. Four buildings have green roofs.
Emory University has committed to certifying all buildings under the LEED Gold. It has five LEED yNew Construction certified buildings – 1.1 million square feet.
The University of Illinois policy is that all new construction and major renovation projects greater than $1 million use the LEED rating system. LEED -accredited professionals are on staff with the facilities and services department.
Endowment Investment Priorities
Does the instititution invest in sustainability sectors such as renewable energy and community
development? 13 schools that earned an yA.y
In 2006, Duke University invested $5 million in the Latino Community Credit Union based in Durham, North Carolina, making it one of the credit unions first and largest investors.
Northeastern University has invested in renewable energy funds or similar investment vehicles and is exploring community development financial institutions or loan funds.
Williams College has invested in community development financial institutions or loan funds and is exploring renewable energy investment funds or similar investment opportunities. Its Social Choice Fund allows donors to direct contributions to a special endowment fund that screens investments based on environmental and social criteria.
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The Sustainable Endowments Institute is a special project fund of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2005, the Institute is engaged in research and education on the sustainability of higher education endowments.
www.endowmentinstitute.org
Read college profiles
Read the executive summary and see the list of schools and their grades
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