Union College

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

President Ainlay has signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. The college has made sustainability an important aspect of its most recent strategic plan and has implemented a sustainability committee made up of representatives from across campus. There are several active student groups on campus, including one that implemented the college’s first recycling program.

Union’s energy consumption is one of the lowest of its 17 peer colleges in the Northeast. The college received Honor Roll status in the mid-1990s for heavy participation in the EPA Green Lights Program. All motors have been replaced with models that are 22 percent more efficient. Union purchases 15 percent of its energy from wind power and has committed to climate neutrality.

Union sources food from 15 to 20 local farms and uses herbs grown on campus. The college recently opened a new café that serves local and organic food. The café is a result of collaboration between dining services and students from a sustainability theme house. In addition to selling prepared food, the café sells whole fruits and vegetables. During winter, when locally grown food isn’t available, the café will serve all organic food. The college purchased an Earth Tub and began composting in the summer of 2007.

Union has adopted a green building policy and all renovation specifications are now required to include green building practices and materials. New building projects are required to meet LEED Silver certification standards, at a minimum. Three buildings are qualified as Energy Star buildings. Additionally, the college has renovated one of its apartment houses as a sustainable living lab, including water reclamation, solar power, green construction and plant material, low-flow toilets, and computer-monitored metering for students to use for energy use comparison.

Union is in the process of developing a pilot program for biodiesel vehicle use within the facilities department. Residence halls have bike racks and the campus plan is based upon pedestrian access.

The college makes a list of endowment holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. Proxy voting records are not made available.

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

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