Auburn University

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

The university employs a full-time campus energy manager who has installed lighting occupancy sensors and more efficient thermostats in 22 buildings on campus. An effort to optimize efficiency through complete overhaul of building automation and controls is taking place in six buildings on campus. The university hopes to conduct a carbon emissions inventory this fall.

The university employs a full-time campus energy manager who has installed lighting occupancy sensors and more efficient thermostats in 22 buildings on campus. An effort to optimize efficiency through complete overhaul of building automation and controls is taking place in six buildings on campus. The university hopes to conduct a carbon emissions inventory this fall.

The university switched food service providers in summer of 2007, and the new company seems willing to pursue serving more local food in the future. The new food service contract requires reusable dishware. Future initiatives being discussed include a composting program, a program to reduce to-go containers and waste, and collection of waste cooking oil for biodiesel production.

The university’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction building is the first to be LEED-certified. The Auburn Sustainability Initiative is housed in a 100-year-old building that underwent a green renovation. The project sought to preserve as much of the building as possible, and included features such as efficient appliances and the use of sustainable building materials.

The campus facilities department has actively purchased electric vehicles. Discussion is underway to operate campus buses and diesel vehicles on biodiesel. The new student union, currently under construction, will include a bike shop and air pumps. The campus master plan specifies moving toward a pedestrian and bike-only campus core.

The university has no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record. Therefore, there is no known ability to access this information.

The university aims to optimize investment return and has not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

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