Denison University

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

A portion of the university’s plant adaptation and renewal budget has been set aside for “green” projects, and a new standing governance committee on sustainability is being legislated. With administration encouragement, the Green Team, a student group at Denison, has been a driving force for sustainability on campus, running both the compost program and the student energy-conservation program.

The Department of Renovations and Energy Management utilizes energy-efficient equipment in renovations and construction. Barney-Davis Hall was renovated, complete with occupancy sensors, dimming circuits, and fluorescent lighting. This building also has a five-kilowatt demonstration solar photovoltaic system. Other new buildings have incorporated a variety of energy-saving features, such as occupancy sensors. The university is introducing energy-saving fluorescent bulbs throughout the campus and is developing a campus-wide conservation program with students.

Denison purchases local, organic milk from an Ohio dairy collective. The dining halls currently feature select locally grown produce and are working with their supplier, as well as other local farms, to offer more. In 2004, with help from the Denison University Recycling Program, the Denison University-Granville Community Recycling Center opened to serve both the university campus and the surrounding community. A composting program recycles kitchen waste.

In 1996, the university performed a green renovation of Barney-Davis Hall, complete with an energy-efficient HVAC system, light shelves, and green flooring. The university uses sustainable construction techniques whenever possible, including recycling of construction debris and use of low-VOC paints and materials. Denison is currently starting its first LEED-certified major building renovation with anticipated completion in early 2009.

The Denison campus is pedestrian-friendly and intra-campus vehicle use is discouraged. Shared van transportation is available for students to reach nearby shopping and entertainment venues.

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.