Grinnell College

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

The Campus Advisory Committee on Environmental Concerns has been very successful in initiating campus sustainability efforts, including the campus building policy and a Statement of Environmental Responsibility. The environment and safety officer is responsible for coordinating and implementing various environmental initiatives. The Student Environmental Committee is trying to establish student environmental coordinators in each dorm.

In January 2007, construction was completed on a 50-kilowatt wind turbine at the Conrad Environmental Research Area, which is also heated and cooled by geothermal energy. The turbine meets over 90 percent of the center’s energy needs and offsets about 200,000 lbs. of carbon per year. A 20 percent biodiesel blend is also used in the campus boiler instead of natural gas.

Dining services uses local, organic products for many staple ingredients, including flour, milk, eggs, herbs, pork, and some fruits and vegetables. Pre- and postconsumer food waste is composted using a pulping machine and donated to a local farm, diverting approximately seven tons of waste each month.

According to the college’s building policy, all new buildings must have features equivalent to a LEED-certified building. The Environmental Education Center is Gold-certified. Planning for expansion of the athletics and fitness center includes geothermal energy and a rainwater storage tank for irrigation.

A Toyota Prius was added to the carpool fleet and an electric truck was purchased by facilities. Nearly all students live on campus, which decreases use of vehicles for commuting. The town of Grinnell is bike-friendly and students can rent bikes from the public bicycle program.

The college makes available on its website the “Annual Report of the Investment Committee,” which summarizes asset allocation, manager mix, and performance, and highlights key strategic and tactical decisions. In addition, the college makes a list of the endowment’s direct holdings in public companies available to all members of the school community including faculty, staff, students, and alumni. This information is available in the Office of the Treasurer.

The college invests its endowment to produce long-term real growth of capital. It selects investments and investment managers whose conduct is consistent with the core values of the college. The college is currently invested in renewable energy investment funds or similar investment vehicles as well as community development organizations.

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