Tufts University

Tufts University had one of the first sustainability policies in an institution of higher education and is an original signatory of the Talloires Declaration. The University is a founding member of the Chicago Climate Exchange and the Tufts Climate Initiative (TCI) has committed to meeting or exceeding emissions standards set by the Kyoto Protocol, as well as the New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers Climate Change Plan. TCI has a full staff, including an energy manager, that works closely with the Division of Operations.

Tufts Climate Initiative won the Environmental Protection Agency Climate Protection Award in 2005. The University changed its utilities contract in 2006 to include small hydro and natural gas, reducing its carbon emissions to 21 percent below the New England average. Conservation efforts through the facilities department have involved lighting retrofits and motion sensors in collaboration with the EPA's Green Lights program, improved steam trap efficiency, and new washing machines. Students are given the option to purchase green power.

Realizing that food production is one of the most environmentally degrading consumer activities, the University's Food Awareness Project has sought to promote a less meat-intensive diet, while supplying more local and organic foods in the dining halls. Dining Services has also sought to reduce the amount of waste it generates which, in conjunction with a composting program, has reduced landfill-bound waste by 62 percent.

Although the University has no green building policy, a $500,000 grant was awarded to the University by the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, which enabled the University to register a new dormitory for LEED Silver certification. The building, which opened in September 2006, includes rooftop solar thermal and photovoltaic arrays as well as other energy efficient features.

The proxy voting record is confidential and a list of endowment holdings is available only to investment committee members.

The University prioritizes investing to maximize profit and, if the University invests in renewable energy funds or community development funds, this information is not made public. In 2005, the University announced the creation of a $100 million Omidyar-Tufts Microfinance Fund.

In the case that the University has the ability to vote its proxies, the University's investment managers are asked to handle the details of proxy voting.