University of Toronto

College Sustainability Report Card 2007

The University of Toronto has committed to integrating energy conservation into all of its activities and capital projects. The University's Sustainability Office has a long list of projects, and is integrating the student work-study program, as well as numerous course projects and student internships, into the Office infrastructure in order to increase an already burgeoning staff. The University has committed to funding the Sustainability Office out of its base budget and to expanding its ambit to all three campuses. The Office is involved in the development of the University's new energy plan and is actively pursuing water conservation and transportation issues, including a center that encourages bicycling and helps fix community members' bikes.

A carbon emissions inventory has been completed and a waste inventory is currently being conducted at the University. There are solar arrays installed on the Mississauga campus, and groups are researching the feasibility of installing wind power on the St. George campus. The University also has a pioneering community-based social marketing program to promote energy efficiency in residences and offices, with plans to expand the program to other facilities. Significant energy conservation retrofits have been installed in the past and a major project to replace all of the chillers and some of the lighting on the St. George campus is underway. Retrofit "packages" of easy-to-install energy convervation technology are under development.

The University of Toronto composts some of its food waste and has an extensive recycling program. The University has contracted Aramark to provide locally grown produce.

While the University of Toronto uses its own sustainable design standards instead of specific LEED guidelines, the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses are beginning to incorporate LEED certification into their construction projects. Green design features have been utilized on several buildings on the St. George campus, as well.

The University does not make its proxy voting record available, nor does the board examine it, since no one has ever asked to see it. A list of endowment holdings is available to the public on the website of the University’s investment management subsidiary, UTAM.

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. However, investment managers may explore these options if a fund fits their mandate.

The University asks that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.