Dartmouth College

Dartmouth employs a sustainability manager and an energy engineer who direct the college's sustainability and energy efficiency programs. The Resource Working Group works to identify policies and practices that will help the college become a sustainable and environmentally responsible institution.

Dartmouth aims to lower carbon emissions to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. A $12.5 million energy efficiency retrofit project aimed to decrease usage by 20 percent is underway. The college purchases 2,000 megawatt-hours per year of renewable energy. An energy use feedback system is used to educate students on reducing energy consumption.

Dining services purchases from 15 local farms, including the college's organic farm. Fair trade coffee and bananas, cage-free eggs, and organic produce are served. There is a discount for using reusable cups and bags. The college has a composting facility and composted food waste is used on campus grounds.

Dartmouth has drafted green building guidelines, has completed three LEED-certified projects, and has four additional projects registered with LEED. The plan for the new Life Sciences Center aims to use 50 percent less energy than most lab buildings.

The Sustainability Initiative has trained students to be sustainability coordinators in offices, Greek houses, and dorms. Six sustainability internships are also available. Sustainable Dartmouth is a coalition of student groups working on sustainability initiatives. Annually, 12 students travel cross-country on the "Big Green Bus" educating people about climate change and alternative fuels.

Dartmouth provides more than $500,000 in support to regional and downtown/campus shuttle systems that employees and students may use free of charge. Employees may ride to work using college-owned vans, receive financial incentives to refrain from buying parking passes, and are offered premium spots for carpools. The campus fleet includes 12 hybrid vehicles.

The college makes a list of endowment holdings available at the investment office to all members of the school community, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Proxy voting records are accessible online to all members of the school community and to the public.

The college aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds.

Dartmouth's Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility makes recommendations on how the college should vote all proxy resolutions that relate to social issues. The committee is comprised of three undergraduate students, three graduate students, three faculty members, two administrators, one alumni representative, and an investment analyst from Dartmouth's investment office.