Saint Louis University

College Sustainability Report Card 2011

Saint Louis University has a $1 million seed grant program, available to faculty and students, for research focused on innovation in sustainability. The university purchases exclusively Energy Star appliances, as well as some paper products made from postconsumer recycled content. All computers, monitors, and displays meet EPEAT standards.

The university is in the process of conducting its first greenhouse gas emissions inventory and uses temperature setbacks and an energy management system to improve energy efficiency. Energy-efficient lighting has been installed in 90 percent of buildings, and the university uses lighting sensors and timers for temperature control and has installed a solar hot water system.

The university purchases items directly from 16 local farms, including vegetables, fruit, dairy, grains, meat, poultry, and eggs. The university also purchases cage-free eggs, hormone- and antibiotic-free meat and dairy products, and seafood that meets Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guidelines. Six vegan meals are offered each week, and 60 percent of residence dining halls are trayless.

Saint Louis University’s Doisy Research Center meets LEED Certified standards. Since 2000, the university has undertaken ten adaptive reuse projects, totaling 760,000 square feet, and has installed low-flow faucets and showerheads in all buildings. The university has installed a living roof to manage stormwater.

Students who wish to live eco-friendly lifestyles may live in the Sustainability Plant Living Community. The Environmental Task Force works to facilitate communication between students and the administration, and advocates for sustainability in the student government. The group has also focused on recycling in on-campus dining and residence halls.

Students can purchase discounted public transportation passes, and faculty and staff may buy passes with pretax dollars. The university operates a free shuttle around campus and to nearby off-campus destinations. Three-quarters of the school community travels to campus via environmentally preferable methods.

The university makes a list of asset allocation, as well as equity, fixed income, real estate, hedge fund, private equity, venture capital, natural resources, and cash holdings, available to the general public, and a list of all holdings available to trustees and senior administrators. This information is sent upon request to the general public and is available at the investment office for trustees and senior administrators. The university does not make its shareholder voting record public.

The university aims to optimize investment returns, and the endowment is currently invested in renewable energy funds and community development loan funds. The university also uses investment managers who consider environmental and sustainability factors.

The university asks that is investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.