University of Oklahoma

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

President Boren has signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. The University of Oklahoma joined the Chicago Climate Exchange in 2004, committing to reduce its emissions to 6 percent below 1998–2001 baseline emissions by 2010. The Environmental Concerns Committee and the student-led Our Earth organization work to promote campus sustainability issues, and the university is collaborating with Oklahoma State University to lead the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative.

The university is a founding partner in the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative, which is working to establish the state of Oklahoma as a leading source of wind energy. The university has contracted with Oklahoma Gas and Electric to purchase 100 percent of its electricity from wind-generated sources.

With the abundance of farms in Oklahoma, the university is able to purchase many items locally, such as pizza crusts from a farmer’s co-op and organic beef. Food services is working with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to identify and contract with local produce growers. The university purchases cage-free eggs and offers organic fair-trade coffee. Food services is in the development stage of a compost program.

LEED principles are incorporated in project design and construction on all projects. Many design and material selection decisions are made on the basis of life-cycle cost and longevity characteristics. Many green features are also being incorporated into buildings, including water-free urinals and motion sensor lighting. The university requires that energy efficiency be an integral part of design and engineering specifications.

The parking and transportation department uses 24 compressed natural gas vehicles, 23 ethanol-capable vehicles, and 42 electric vehicles. The university’s vehicle alternative fuels policy states that any new vehicles purchased must be capable of using an alternative fuel, and any small utility vehicles purchased must be electrically powered. The student association offers a free bicycle library that restores used bicycles and checks them out to students to use for the semester. The university is in the process of constructing a network of bicycling, walking, and jogging trails, and has formed a committee to help enhance the bicycle-friendly nature of the campus.

The university has no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record.

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.

The university has not made any public statements about active ownership or a proxy voting policy.