Rockefeller University

College Sustainability Report Card 2007

Rockefeller University has a Green Task Force that identifies areas for improvement in conservation of resources and sustainability and acts as an advisory group to the president and administration. The University is developing an environmental management system that will work to improve the environmental compliance and stewardship program. The University reuses packing materials, purchases recycled and green products, and takes measures to conserve water.

A central boiler and chiller plant maximize efficiencies of operation and individual building meters monitor electricity use. Lighting upgrades will reduce lighting loads by almost 50 percent and the installation of occupancy sensors around campus will further decrease energy use. The University re-burns exhaust gas to reduce emissions and anticipates a 770 ton annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A building management system optimizes air changes, temperature, and operating times for best efficiency and the University implements night and holiday setbacks to reduce energy use during low occupancy periods.

Unfortunately, the urban setting of the campus is considered to make impossible participation in sustainable practices such as purchasing locally grown food and on-site composting. The University is committed to and has participated in a recycling program consistent with the New York City Department of Sanitation recycling program since the early 1990s.

Strategies under consideration for designing new buildings and renovations incorporate sustainable site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and promoting integrated whole-building design practices. However, there is not a formal green building policy and no buildings have been registered for LED certification.

Since proxy responsibility is in the hands of external managers, the proxy voting record is only made available to trustees and senior administrators upon request. Trustees and senior advisors are kept abreast of endowment holdings, but are not privy to individual security holdings.

The University prioritizes investing to maximize profit and is also exploring renewable energy investment funds or similar investment vehicles.

External investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.