University of Kentucky

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

The University of Kentucky’s Sustainability Task Force is now an administrative committee that reports to the president and the administrative staff. The task force is charged with coordinating at least one campus-wide public interest activity annually to increase public awareness. A campus sustainability coordinator position is being established and the university maintains a sustainability website. The Green Thumb student environmental club has been an active force on campus.

In spring 2006, student government voted in favor of a fee increase to help fund renewable energy purchases for the university. The university has performed extensive lighting retrofits around campus and recently installed more efficient chillers. It has also committed to perform an energy audit of campus buildings.

A pilot program implemented in the fall of 2006 introduced local produce to all 20 dining areas on campus. About one-third of the campus’s waste is recycled, including paint, batteries, wood, and metals. A full-time recycling coordinator was hired for residence halls.

The university has no LEED-certified projects, although the new College of Law building is currently being designed to seek LEED certification. While there is no formal green building policy, hospital and pharmacy projects are being designed following LEED principles. The university purchases GreenGuard Certified furniture, which is part of the LEED for Commercial Interiors Program.

Biodiesel is used in campus shuttles and electric golf carts are used by staff whenever possible. The Live Where You Work program provides assistance for home buyers who live near campus. Carpoolers receive reduced parking permit rates. A comprehensive bike program provides bikes and storage areas for students and employees. A campus bike circulation system is integrated with Lexington’s bike path, connecting to parks and other off-campus destinations.

While the majority of the endowment is in commingled funds, the university keeps a record of the proxy voting done by its endowment managers that have separate accounts with investment, which is made available to the public as per open records laws. The investment holdings are available to the school community and are included in reports discussed at quarterly Investment Committee meetings, which are open to the public.

The university aims to optimize investment return and has not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

In cases where the university has the ability to vote, proxy voting is delegated to investment managers who are required to vote all proxies in the best interest of the endowment.