University of Kansas

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

The provost appointed a sustainability task force in 2004. One result has been the creation of the Center for Sustainability in February 2007. The center is aided by an advisory board comprised of three faculty, two staff, and two students. The student senate has a standing environmental advisory board and the university has also adopted an environmental policy. The Environmental Stewardship program works with campus organizations to educate students, faculty, and staff about waste reduction.

Energy performance contracting, which involves energy audits, efficient maintenance, and utilities upgrading, has provided the university with $2.5 million annually in energy savings. The student union’s energy management system was recently upgraded, as were the motor drives, A/C units, and lighting fixtures in many student residences. A geothermal heating and cooling system was also installed in one student residence. The student senate is investigating the possibility of purchasing green energy.

KU is pursuing opportunities to purchase organically grown foods and participate in farm-to-market programs to bring locally grown foods to the dining centers. KU dining uses napkins from recycled paper and will be utilizing biodegradable to-go bags beginning in fall 2007. Additionally, waste cooking oil is supplied to the biodiesel generation project, which will eventually produce fuel for campus equipment.

A review committee met and proposed changing the standards to be more stringent than the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 for energy efficiency. The committee also called for reviewing the design, construction, and operational process to ensure energy efficiency.

The university’s parking and transit department recently began operating newer, more environmentally friendly buses, with a plan to replace these with even more efficient models. All diesel vehicles on campus are fueled with a 5 percent biodiesel blend. A shuttle service allows students to travel between KU campuses without using a car.

The Kansas University Endowment Association has no policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record.

The Kansas University Endowment Association aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy investment funds or similar investment vehicles.

The Kansas University Endowment Association asks that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.