St. Lawrence University

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

President Sullivan signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. Campus sustainability efforts include an integrated campus and regional effort that focuses on economic development and sustainability issues. An Energy Star purchasing policy has been adopted, and a landscaping policy specifies the use of plantings natural to the local geography. The university employs a coordinator of sustainability projects.

The board of trustees has approved funding for a total campus energy audit and feasibility studies regarding biomass boiler capacity. Fifteen percent of the university's total electrical supply is purchased from renewable sources, meeting goals put forth by the Presidents Climate Commitment. Mowed acreage has been reduced by 40 acres from an original maintained acreage of 250, resulting in reduced fuel consumption.

Products including maple syrup, honey, and bison burgers are purchased from a local co-op, and local eggs and milk are served. Waste cooking oil is given to the campus heating plant. The university is working with the village of Canton, New York, to create a joint composting effort for landscaping waste.

All new construction is built to LEED Silver standards. Johnson Hall of Science received LEED Gold status. All renovations are evaluated against a LEED checklist to determine ways to improve sustainability measures in each project.

A campus Guide to Green Living is distributed. A sustainability coordinator performs teach-ins and does room energy audits for interested students. A student committee was established to design a new, sustainable, low-impact residential structure.

A no idling effort has been adopted on campus. The campus fleet includes five electric hybrids and two hybrid SUV's used by the athletic department. Green Bikes are available for students, faculty, and staff to borrow.

The university makes a list of endowment holdings available to members of the university community by request. The shareholder voting record is available on a password-protected website.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is exploring, but not currently invested in, renewable energy funds or similar investment vehicles.

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