University of Pennsylvania

College Sustainability Report Card 2007

The University became famous on Earth Day 2003 when it became the biggest nongovernmental purchaser of renewable energy credits in the country, signing a 10 year contract for 112,000 megawatts of wind power annually, or 29 percent of the University's energy needs. While Penn has not yet created a sustainability coordinator position, the University Architect informally addresses most sustainability issues. The University has put most of its effort into renewable energy, with other progress in energy conservation and sustainable dining practices.

The University is one of the largest nongovernmental purchaser of wind power in the nation, buying 112,000 megawatts of wind energy, or 29 percent of their total energy needs. The 10 year contract that the University signed will enable the construction of a new 12-turbine, 20-megawatt wind farm in Pennsylvania. Facilities has commissioned a Sustainability Audit to evaluate Penn's energy consumption and create computer models to assess energy saving potential in green building policies. The University is also pushing for more accessible biodiesel fuel for campus vehicles.

Dining services has implemented a FarmEcology program in an effort to reduce “food miles” and support local farmers. A comprehensive recycling center, partially funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, will promote composting and recycling by a University run food court as well as by neighboring private restaurants. The center is projected to process four tons of kitchen waste into 800 pounds of clean compost to be used in landscaping, and is being used as a model for a composting system in the University’s cafeterias in the future.

The University is working on a definitive green building policy and LEED certification is being pursued for two new projects, one of which is striving for a Platinum rating. In addition, a green roof will replace an aging roof on a college residence. The University built a new cooling plant recently and has been able to reduce its peak-hour energy use by 18 percent as a result of conservation efforts.

The University has made no public statements about making endowment holdings or shareholder voting records available. Therefore, there is no known ability to access this information.

The endowment 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.

In 2003, the University established the Penn Social Responsibility Advisory Committee, which includes students, faculty, staff, and alumni members. The committee is charged with designing the shareholder engagement policies and practices by which the University upholds its fiduciary duty and uses its shareholder power to improve the social and environmental impact of the firms in which the endowment invests.