Pomona College

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

The administration recently adopted an environmental policy, which makes a public commitment toward sustainability, and President Oxtoby has signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. The president appointed a sustainability committee during the 2006–2007 academic year to assess current campus operations and recommend opportunities to implement more sustainable ways and means for support operations.

Photovoltaic generation equipment was installed at the Lincoln and Edmunds buildings and the college has invested in an alternative energy green tag program to provide 100 percent of the electrical power requirements for these buildings for one year. Students undertook a major program to replace incandescent lamps in dormitories with energy-efficient fluorescent lamps. Student dorms participated in an energy conservation competition during the past year, resulting in energy savings in excess of 10 percent for most dorms.

A student-run organic garden produces food that is cooked for events open to the school community and educates the community as to the importance of eating locally. Food waste from the dining hall is composted at the college farm.

Green design is one component of Pomona’s sustainability policy. The college has built three buildings according to LEED standards that have, or are in the process of receiving, LEED Silver certification. The Edmunds and Lincoln buildings include extensive daylighting measures and interior lighting controls. These two buildings incorporate photovoltaic power generation in their design.

Pomona is working on increasing the proportion of low-emission vehicles in their fleet. The college sponsors a home loan program that encourages faculty to live near campus, and incentives are offered for carpooling. In addition to a Green Bikes Initiative, students operate a basic bicycle repair shop. The college recently renovated a storage facility in one of its dormitories to provide summer storage for returning student bicycles.

The president’s decisions are made known to the Ad Hoc Committee on Social Responsibility and are available to any trustees or senior administrators who ask. A list of endowment holdings is made known only to trustees and senior administrators.

The college aims to optimize investment return and is also exploring renewable energy investment funds or similar investment vehicles.

The Ad Hoc Committee on Social Responsibility, consisting of three students, three staff, and three faculty members, makes recommendations to the president, who then makes the decisions in regard to proxy voting.