Grinnell College

College Sustainability Report Card 2007

The Campus Advisory Committee on Environmental Concerns, part of Grinnell's EcoCampus Committee, has been very successful in initiating activity with regards to campus sustainability efforts, including the campus building policy and a statement of environmental responsibility. The Environment and Safety Officer is responsible for coordinating and implementing various environmental initiatives, including the recycling program.

In 2005, President Russell Osgood charged a committee with the task of drafting a preliminary report on the incorporation of wind power into the campus's energy resources. The Wind Feasibility Committee has recommended the installation of two 2.5 megawatt wind turbines and another 50 kilowatt turbine specifically for the Environmental Education Center, which is also heated and cooled by geothermal energy, and the Board of Trustees has recently approved construction of the smaller turbine. A 20 percent biodiesel blend is also used in the campus boiler instead of natural gas.

Dining services uses local, organic products for many staple ingredients, including organic flour and local milk, eggs, herbs, pork, and some fruits and vegetables. Pre- and post-consumer food waste is composted using a pulping machine and donated to a local farm, diverting approximately seven tons of waste each month. Yard waste is composted through the City of Grinnell.

According to the College's building policy, all new buildings must have features equivalent to a LEED Certified building, although they are not required to be certified through the U.S. Green Building Council. The College's new Environmental Education Center is the first Gold-certified building in the state of Iowa and several more Grinnell buildings are seeking certification.

The College has no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record.

The University prioritizes investing to maximize profit and has not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The College has not made any public statements about active ownership or a proxy voting policy.