Centre College

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

President Roush signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. Centre also participates in the Environmental Initiative Program through the Associated Colleges of the South. The advisory committee for the Presidents Climate Commitment is comprised of 12 staff members, faculty members, and students, and the college employs one full-time staff member for the recycling program.

The college has completed various energy conservation projects, including the installation of low-flow showerheads, lighting retrofits, and updates of HVAC systems. In all but one building, cooling systems have been replaced with low-energy systems. The student government recently led an initiative for the purchase of renewable energy credits. The measure passed by 82 percent and will be submitted to the board of trustees for approval in fall 2008.

Centre contracts with a local dairy and bakery and buys seasonally available local produce. The college offers a discount with a reusable mug and dining services recently switched to biodegradable take-out containers. A pilot project is evaluating diverting food waste through worm composting.

All new buildings and major renovations are designed and built to the highest standards to conserve energy and enhance the human environment, including the consideration of LEED standards. A new student residence, completed in fall 2008, received LEED Silver certification through the US Green Building Council.

Centre makes student work-study assignments available in the recycling program and offers student internships in sustainability-related areas. The student-run Environmentally Conscious Centre Organization has advocated for sustainability through measures such as a transition to biodegradable to-go containers, a lightbulb exchange, and an effort to obtain LEED certification for a new residence hall.

Centre's student government piloted Centre Cycles, a bike-sharing program, in 2007. The facilities management and public safety departments bought nine electric carts to replace their minivans and small trucks.

The college makes neither its proxy voting record nor a list of endowment holdings public.

The college aims to optimize investment return and does not invest in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The college asks that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.