University of Louisville

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

In 2004, the University of Louisville established the Partnership for a Green City with Louisville Metro Government and the Jefferson County Public Schools to work collaboratively on sustainability issues. This year, the university hopes to establish a campus sustainability council focused on business operations, research, and curriculum, as well as a statewide higher education sustainability group. The university is home to the Kentucky Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development.

The university has gone to great lengths to improve energy efficiency across campus. New chillers and air handlers in the central plant save $150,000 per year. In addition, several boilers and HVAC systems have been replaced or upgraded. Energy audits have also been performed. However, there has been no formal commitment to reduce emissions or to purchase energy from renewable sources.

The university currently buys dairy products locally and features a rotating organic menu, with plans to expand local and organic food options in the future. The university has a goal of providing 10 percent local produce. Dining services has almost finished phasing out the use of Styrofoam throughout campus.

The university is building a regional biosafety laboratory (RBL), which is slated to meet LEED Silver certification. Once complete, it will be one of only 17 RBL laboratories built to LEED standards.

All university vehicles run on a blend consisting of 10 percent ethanol. Some electric vehicles and golf carts are also used. Many safety officers patrol by foot, bike, or Segway. There is a free shuttle and public transportation for students. The university has worked with the state and city to improve pedestrian access on campus.

The proxy voting record and a list of endowment holdings are made available to the public as per open records laws. They are distributed upon request.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is also invested in community development financial institutions or loan funds on a very small scale.

For managed portfolios, the university asks that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting. For direct investments, a member of the university administration determines the university’s proxy votes.