University of Colorado

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

The chancellors at all three University of Colorado campuses have signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. In 2002, the CU–Boulder vice chancellor for administration adopted a target to reduce energy use 5 percent per year, per square foot. CU–Boulder’s newly established Chancellor’s Committee on Energy, Environment, and Sustainability advises the university on all environmental matters. In January 2007, CU–Boulder’s student union became the first student government to approve the Presidents Climate Commitment for student-run buildings.

CU has enhanced its ongoing carbon emissions inventory as part of its emissions reduction plan. CU–Boulder compensates for 10 percent of the campus’s electricity use by purchasing renewable energy credits. CU–Boulder has committed to spending an additional $50,000 per year for the purchase of renewable wind energy, and students, faculty, and staff can sign up to purchase wind power. In March 2007, CU–Boulder’s student government funded a $500,000 energy and climate revolving fund for energy projects in student-run buildings.

CU–Boulder buys local produce when it is available, primarily from May through September. Dining services also purchases products from local suppliers, including ground beef and dairy. Some of their operations use 100 percent organic produce. One dining operation offers 80 percent organic and 40 percent local items. Three out of five dining halls have postconsumer composting.

Campus design standards require all future construction to be built to LEED Silver-equivalent standards. The recently completed ATLAS and Wolf Law School buildings are LEED Gold-certified. Two additional buildings are pending certification for LEED Gold.

CU–Boulder has committed to shifting a majority of its diesel fuel use to biodiesel. Students may ride Regional Transportation District (RTD) buses under the nation’s first pre-paid bus pass program, which began in 1991. The CU–Boulder Bicycle program includes rentals and repairs. Eighty percent of CU–Boulder students walk, bus, and/or bike to campus every day. The Master Plan states that walking is the highest priority for reconstruction and campus planning.

The university and the CU Foundation have no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record. Therefore, there is no known ability to access this information.

The university and the CU Foundation aim to optimize investment return and have not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The university and the CU Foundation have not made any public statements about active ownership or a proxy voting policy.