Emory University

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

Emory University has identified sustainability as a top priority in its current strategic plan. The university has a sustainability advisory committee and a sustainability scholar-in-residence, has developed a sustainability vision statement, and has created an office of sustainability initiatives. Emory purchases Energy Star appliances; low-emission, hybrid, or electric vehicles; and energy efficient-lighting; as well as offering a Sustainability Incentives Fund that supported approximately 30 campus projects last year.

Emory has an energy conservation plan to reduce energy use throughout its campuses by 25 percent by 2015, which includes building retrofits and an awareness campaign. In addition, the university has instituted HVAC shutdowns from midnight to 6:00 a.m. in seven buildings, realizing large energy savings and $500,000 in reduced costs. Emory will build its first solar array on campus as part of its construction of two new residence halls this year.

The university has contracted with a local nonprofit to increase the availability of locally produced and organic food, which will help Emory reach its goal of sourcing 75 percent of food sustainably by 2015. Dining services sponsors educational programs to reduce waste, and the university hopes to achieve a diversion rate of 65 percent by 2015 through increased recycling efforts.

Emory has more square feet of LEED-certified green building than any other campus in America. The university’s trustees have made a commitment that all new construction will be LEED-certified, usually to the Silver level. Emory is also constructing housing close to campus as one of the national pilot projects for LEED for Neighborhood Development. Twenty percent of the rental units will be allocated for workforce housing. As part of this innovative project, all residents of the development will give up their parking passes and walk or bike to work.

Emory has a free shuttle bus service through campus and surrounding neighborhoods that is 100 percent alternatively-fueled, mainly on biofuel made from used cooking oil from the campus cafeterias and hospitals. Members of the campus community who take transit, bike, or walk to work may use university hybrid flex-cars for errands throughout the day, free of charge. Emory has a bike program of giveaways, incentives, a mobile bike repair station, and loaner bike fleets.

The university does not make its proxy voting record or information on endowment holdings public.

Emory aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds or similar investment vehicles.

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