College of the Holy Cross

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

President McFarland has signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. Since its appointment in 2003, the Presidential Task Force on the Environment has been active on campus in raising consciousness about environmental issues and promoting responsible practices. This cross section of the college community is composed of staff, students, and faculty, and works in conjunction with the new environmental studies program.

The college has invested $14,000 to conduct a pre-feasibility study of wind energy on campus, and is in the process of applying for a Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Feasibility Study Grant. Holy Cross’s contracted electrical supplier obtains 68 percent of power from renewable energy sources. Eco-Action’s Change a Light, Change the World campaign helped persuade students to switch to Energy Star–approved light bulbs.

Holy Cross sponsors a weekly farmers market in a student dining venue featuring local produce in season. They buy from eight to ten local farms and purchase organic produce. The college recycles paper, cardboard, bottles, and cans throughout campus. Additionally, Holy Cross has an active composting program of yard waste from the campus arboretum that is used in the college’s flower and plant beds.

The college has adopted a green building policy that incorporates LEED certification guidelines and general green building design standards into new buildings and major renovations. The new science complex is being built to high–energy efficiency standards, including an energy recovery wheel to capture and reuse heat and humidity from air being exhausted from the building. The project will seek LEED Silver certification.

Weather permitting, public safety officials perform campus patrols on bicycle, and utilize a battery-operated vehicle to service the campus. The athletic department uses three battery-powered carts. The college is promoting a pedestrian-friendly campus by installing gates that limit vehicular access to the interior of the campus.

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