Wellesley College

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

In February 2007, Wellesley’s president approved a campus sustainability mission statement. The Sustainability Advisory Committee advises the president on establishing priorities related to sustainability issues and works to increase community awareness through events such as Sustainability Month. The committee coordinates its efforts with campus groups including the student-run Energy and Environmental Defense.

Wellesley’s cogeneration plant runs at 85 percent efficiency and generates all of the electricity needed for the campus. Energy-reduction competitions have helped increase awareness about energy usage. Wellesley has made no commitment to emissions reduction, but is currently investigating the feasibility of wind or solar power.

Wellesley offers select local produce seasonally. Through the Meet the Farmer program, farmers are brought to campus to discuss the importance of local food. All coffee offered on campus is certified fair-trade or organic, and cage-free eggs are offered in residence hall dining at certain meals. Efforts by Wellesley Energy and Environmental Defense have led to campus-wide recycling services. Some food scraps are composted for the science department greenhouse.

Wellesley has committed to initiating a sustainability review for all new construction and renovation projects utilizing LEED standards as a guide. In order to increase energy efficiency in the science center, upgrades are being made to many mechanical and lighting systems, including new, highly efficient windows on the north side. Other renovations include installing green roofs on multiple buildings and dual-flush toilets in the chapel.

Wellesley is experimenting with electric vehicles and using a 20 percent biodiesel blend in their fleet. A contracted bus service provides mass transit to Boston and nearby destinations. A parking facility completed in 2004 has helped Wellesley move closer to fulfilling their landscape master plan by removing cars from the core of campus.

The college makes neither its proxy voting record nor a list of endowment holdings public. This information is only available to trustees and senior administrators.

The college 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.

A college committee deliberates, and makes recommendations or decisions, on proxy votes. The Proxy Voting Subcommittee is composed of four trustees, two faculty members, several students, and the president of the college.