West Virginia University

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

WVU employs five full-time staff members, and several committees are devoted to environmental stewardship on campus, including the sustainability committee, which recently drafted an institution-wide sustainability policy. Sustainability is mentioned as a goal in the university's master plan and strategic plan.

WVU has entered into the second phase of a performance-based energy reduction program that includes nightly temperature setbacks and replacing outdated lighting fixtures. The university is currently retrocommissioning campus HVAC systems, and community members are encouraged to conserve energy through the campus outreach and environmental education program, WE CAN.

Dining services spends approximately 9 percent of the annual food budget on local foods, including bakery items and dairy products. Some fair trade coffee is available, and discounts are offered for using refillable mugs. Dining services recently piloted a trayless dining program that resulted in a 42 percent reduction in food waste, and three additional dining facilities are currently going trayless. A recycling program is available for traditional and electronic waste.

The University Planning Committee has adopted LEED criteria as standard guidelines for all major construction projects. Two major renovations have met LEED-EB standards or equivalent, and a green roof has been installed on campus. More than 50 percent of toilets, urinals, showerheads, and sinks on campus have been upgraded to low-flow models.

Several student groups are engaged in campus sustainability initiatives, including the WVU Biodiesel Project, a group dedicated to establishing biodiesel production and use on campus. An on-campus chapter of the Sierra Student Coalition has coordinated activities such as a tree planting service project and an overnight workshop series focused on sustainability. The sustainability office employs two students interns.

The university operates the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit system that links all three campuses and is free to university students and employees. Car-sharing programs have been instituted on campus, and carpoolers and vanpoolers receive discounted parking permits, preferred parking spaces, and a guaranteed ride home.

The WVU Foundation, as a private foundation, does not make a list of endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record available.

The foundation aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds.

The foundation provides its investment managers with general guidelines that determine its proxy votes.