Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

College Sustainability Report Card 2007

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute employs a senior program administrator of recycling and solid waste, and a student conservation coordinator when funds are available. The Institute's Global Energy Security Center researches energy conservation and renewable energy, and installations have been made on campus. Recycling has increased, notably in the renovation of existing buildings and during the construction of new ones, and over 25 tons of surplus electronics are recycled per year.

Rensselaer has made headway in renewable energy production on campus. A solar array provides power to 25 computers and a 10-kilowatt wind turbine was installed in 2003. With the assistance of the Lighting Research Center, the Institute has upgraded many of the lighting systems on campus. Vending Misers have been installed and several energy savings programs have been conducted by conservation coordinators.

The Institute was a member of New York's Farm to Fork Conference, which works to tie local farms to the state's higher education system. A project is underway to reuse waste cooking oil from the dining halls as biodiesel. Sodexho has been supportive of recycling and composting programs, as well as being receptive to the purchase of local produce, and fair-trade coffees are offered in some areas.

The biotechnology building is LEED-certified and the Electronic Media Performing Arts Center is striving to attain LEED Silver certification. Renovations of the Folsom Library generated three tons of lighting fixtures that have been reused, and cement blocks that was separated for reuse. Material from the Health Center that was demolished during preparation for the biotech building was removed and reused in the renovation of the service building. Surplus furniture is reused on campus or donated to schools and nonprofits. Leftover paint from campus and within the community was used in a Troy alley beautification project in the spring of 2006.

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

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