University of Richmond

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

In 2003, the University of Richmond became a signatory to the Talloires Agreement, pledging to incorporate sustainability in all aspects of operations and teaching. The Environmental Awareness Group, run by students, faculty, and staff, encourages and monitors the university’s sustainability efforts. Procurement services has adopted the green purchasing definition put forth by the National Association of Educational Procurement.

The university has made some effort toward energy conservation on campus, but has not yet pursued renewable energy. A central plant improvement project will accomplish a 15 percent improvement in operating efficiency when producing steam for campus-wide consumption. Student laundry operations were remodeled in summer 2007 with the installation of new energy-efficient machines.

The university works with a supplier to obtain produce from eight to ten local farms, and buys milk from a Virginia dairy cooperative. Dining services has made a commitment to sustainability in its practices, specifically in relation to resource use, by encouraging more dining in, purchasing environmentally friendly products, purchasing food through a primary vendor to reduce transportation, and recycling cooking oil. In addition, dining services donates used equipment, outdated supplies, and food products to the Virginia Food Bank.

On October 4, 2004, Weinstein Hall became the first building in Richmond, and the second building of higher education in Virginia, to receive LEED certification. The campus master plan includes points pertaining to LEED certification and sustainable building practices. Four projects are registered for LEED certification.

The University Forum Project has vacated a central-campus road and parking lot to facilitate pedestrian circulation and create green space. Biodiesel is being used for all non-highway uses and equipment. Additionally, conventional service trucks are selectively being replaced with small utility service carts, some of which are running an alternative fuel demonstration project utilizing propane gas.

The university makes its proxy voting records and a list of endowment holdings available to all members of the school community, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni. This information is sent to individuals upon request.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is also exploring renewable energy investment funds or similar investment vehicles.

The university has most of its investments in hedge funds that do not allow investors to vote on proxies.