University of Alabama–Birmingham

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

The University of Alabama–Birmingham is in the final stages of developing a sustainability policy. The facilities department has been active in leading energy conservation and efficiency efforts through its energy management department.

Through the Think Green, Save Gold program, the university has made a concerted effort to decrease energy usage on campus. The program has performed a variety of efficiency upgrades to lighting, motors, and HVAC systems, including a lightbulb swap program and the installation of occupancy sensors.

Facilities manages a recycling program that primarily handles paper, but also batteries, fluorescent lamps, and motor oil, and has plans to expand in fall 2008. Although dining services does not offer any notable amount of local food, they do serve fair trade coffee in one location and try to purchase as much organic food as possible.

The university's facilities standards require that all new buildings and renovations meet high-efficiency standards for envelope, electrical, and HVAC/motor systems. New construction incorporates some LEED standards, including the use of low-VOC paint and recycled carpeting. Through a partnership with the engineering department, the facilities department is studying more than a dozen different alternative roof installations, including a vegetative roof.

Facilities provides a brochure with energy conservation tips to students living on campus and hires engineering students to evaluate green roofs and perform energy surveys of campus buildings. All incoming freshmen, and much of the student body, are required to read a novel on climate change in order to facilitate campus discourse on sustainability issues.

Facilities utilizes electric and natural gas-powered vehicles and is purchasing solar equipment to charge new electric cars. Campus bike paths and walkways have been expanded and enhanced over the past two years.

The university has no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or shareholder voting records.

The university 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.

The university has not made any public statements about active ownership or a proxy voting policy.