Tufts University

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

Tufts University had one of the first sustainability policies in an institution of higher education and is an original signatory of the Talloires Declaration. Tufts has committed to meeting or exceeding emissions standards set by the Kyoto Protocol, as well as the New England Governors Climate Change Action Plan, and has an Office of Sustainability staff that works closely with the Division of Operations.

A combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and a new electricity contract is reducing the university’s emissions to close to 1990 levels, 21 percent below the New England average. The new Get Clean! Power Your Room Green program gives students the opportunity to purchase renewable energy credits to offset their room’s electricity consumption.

Food Education and Action for Sustainability at Tufts (FEAST) educates the university community about food production and promotes the benefits of local farms, organic growing methods, and fair trade. Dining services purchases local apples, squash, pears, and tomatoes, as well as numerous organic items. The university composts in three locations, which has helped divert 62 percent of waste from landfills.

A $500,000 grant from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust enabled Tufts to register the Sophia Gordon residence hall for LEED Silver certification. The building, which opened in September 2006, includes photovoltaics, solar hot water, high-efficiency heating and cooling, bamboo flooring, water-saving devices, and native plantings.

Five electric vehicles are used on campus by mail services and public safety. Students receive discount rates on the Zipcar car-sharing program and employees can purchase mass transit passes tax-free. The Office of Sustainability is pilot testing a ride-matching program to reduce vehicle miles traveled.

The university makes its proxy voting records and a list of endowment holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. This information is available on a password-protected website.

The university aims to optimize investment return and, if it invests in renewable energy funds or community development funds, this information is not made public. In 2005, the university announced the creation of a $100 million Omidyar-Tufts Microfinance Fund.

In the select cases that Tufts is able to vote on proxies, a subcommittee of the board of trustees deliberates and makes recommendations on proxy votes. As of fall 2007, the TCU Senate, the Tufts student governing body, will appoint a student committee to review and recommend how proxies should be voted. These students will provide recommendations to the board.