University of Maine

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

President Kennedy signed the Presidents Climate Commitment in 2007. The University of Maine at Orono has a sustainability alliance with faculty, staff, and doctoral student members, as well as a full-time sustainability coordinator. The campus uses Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper and Green Seal cleaning product and has two comprehensive college sustainability websites covering more than 20 separate initiatives.

The university is part of Governor Baldacci's Carbon Challenge and aims to reduce emissions 10 percent from 2005 levels by the year 2010. The university has a green loan fund that provides capital for projects designed to improve sustainability and efficiency on campus.

Dining services uses local, organic bread, and, in 2008, composted 80 tons of preconsumer food waste. Landscaping waste is repurposed on campus, and the university recycles a traditional range of materials with recycling bins in each office and classroom.

The university requires all new campus construction to meet LEED Silver requirements. The Student Recreation and Fitness Center, the Foster Student Innovation Center, and Wells Commons all meet LEED certification standards.

Student environmental organizations include the Progressive Student Alliance, the UMaine Greens, and the Society for Conservation Biology.

All university students and employees can ride municipal public transit free of charge. The university maintains preferred parking spots for carpoolers, hosts a car-sharing company on campus, and runs a bicycle reclamation and reuse project.

The university and the University of Maine Foundation have no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or shareholder voting records.

The university and the foundation aim to optimize investment return and have not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The university and the foundation have not made any public statements about active ownership or a proxy voting policy.