Goucher College

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

President Ungar signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. The Goucher Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council includes faculty, students, and staff from numerous offices across campus. The college has an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy.

The college built two heating and cooling plants that resulted in the reduction of the number of boilers on campus from 21 to 14. The equipment used in the plants is 84 percent efficient, compared with 65 percent for individual boilers. Chillers have been upgraded with equipment that is 50 percent more efficient and the college is in the process of replacing the domestic water heaters in the residence halls with high efficiency models. The college plans to begin purchasing or producing at least 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.

Goucher purchases from local producers, including an organic farm, a dairy, a ranch, and the Campus Agriculture Co-op. Together with the co-op, dining services sponsors regular farmers markets on campus. Goucher is focused on reducing and/or eliminating the need for disposables; those that are used are compostable and sent, along with all kitchen waste, to the campus composting program.

The Athenaeum, set to open in the fall of 2009, is expected to achieve at least a Silver rating. Goucher is investigating using LEED criteria for retrofitting or renovating existing campus facilities.

The Campus Agriculture Co-op works to raise awareness about sustainable agriculture and food practices, and also operates Goucher's composting program. Earthworks supports the recycling program and has raised money to purchase and install two solar street lamps on campus. The Goucher Climate Action Group promotes and plans the annual Earth Day festival, among other activities. This year there will also be two floors of theme housing focusing on environmental awareness.

Facilities management services has one electric golf cart and the college will partner with a car-sharing program in the fall of 2008. The Baltimore Collegetown Network's shuttle bus provides students, faculty, and staff access to area venues. The college also has a community bike initiative.

The college makes a list of endowment holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. This information is sent to individuals upon request. The college does not make its shareholder voting record public.

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

The college does not have the ability to vote proxies, as the entire endowment is invested in mutual funds.