University of Richmond

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

Sustainability is a guiding factor in the University of Richmond's 2000 campus master plan and its 2009 strategic plan, the Richmond Promise. The university employs three full-time sustainability staff, and a purchasing policy for the campus heavily emphasizes the importance of environmental stewardship.

The university has completed a greenhouse gas emissions inventory. Energy efficiency projects include temperature setbacks, economizer cooling systems, lighting retrofits, outside air reset for heating and chilled water systems, and the installation of carbon dioxide sensors for heating and cooling.

The university's dining services spends 22 percent of the annual food budget on local items, and purchases exclusively hormone- and antibiotic-free dairy products. A trayless dining program has led to a 50 percent reduction in waste. Dining facilities use a pulper to reduce solid waste and use batch cooking methods to reduce food waste.

Richmond's green building policy requires that all new construction meet LEED Silver standards. The university's Weinstein Hall was the first building in Richmond to achieve LEED certification. Eight other campus buildings have received or are currently awaiting LEED certification. Occupancy sensors and lighting timers have been installed in campus buildings, and nearly all buildings have been retrofitted with water-saving plumbing fixtures. Recent construction projects have recycled about 80 percent of nonhazardous waste.

Earth Lodge is a sustainability-themed housing option for students. The university employs two student interns to work on campus sustainability projects. The student organization Richmond Environmental Network for Economic Willpower (RENEW)/Sierra works to raise environmental awareness on campus.

The university offers preferred parking spots to carpoolers, and all members of the campus community can receive a free public transportation pass. The university also operates a bicycle-sharing program and provides free bicycle repairs.

The university makes a list of all holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. A list of votes cast on proxy resolutions on a company-specific level, including the number of shares, is available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community, and a list of votes cast on proxy resolutions only by category is sent upon request to all members of the school community including faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is exploring, but not currently invested in, renewable energy funds or similar investment vehicles.

The vast majority of the endowment is invested in mutual funds or other commingled investments for which the university does not have the ability to vote proxies. For separately managed accounts, the university has not made any public statements about active ownership or a proxy voting policy.