University of Houston

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

The plant operations and grounds departments use green cleaning products and the purchasing department buys only 100 percent recycled paper. University staff includes a director of the solid waste and recycling department, as well as people in many departments who work on energy conservation and sustainable design projects. The university has no known formal policy relating to campus-wide sustainability initiatives.

The university spends at least $1 million each year on its comprehensive energy conservation program. Projects have included extensive lighting retrofits, and there are plans to replace the central utilities plant equipment with more efficient technologies. All blue-light security phones are solar powered.

UH offers fair trade coffee at numerous venues on campus, as well as shade grown and Rainforest Alliance coffees. The university's food service provider has held sustainability training for its staff, and plans to implement trayless dining. The university purchases some organic and Texas-grown produce from its vendor. The dining program is reviewing the use of green chemicals in its dining facilities and currently uses some paper goods that are made from recyclable materials. The university recycles standard materials. UH is investigating the feasibility of an on-campus produce garden.

The university's sustainable design guidelines require that projects take sustainability into consideration to the maximum extent possible. The Calhoun Lofts Residence Complex is being designed and constructed according to LEED standards, and the Cemo Hall Classroom Building will be LEED Silver-certified. Major renovation projects are being designed to LEED standards, as well.

There is a student environmental club. The university plans to participate in RecycleMania for the first time in 2008–2009.

Students receive a 50 percent discount on fare cards on the Houston METRO, and carpooling is encouraged. The university is also working with the METRO to bring two light-rail lines to the campus. Alternative vehicles, including electric-powered trucks and scooters, are being integrated into the campus fleet. Parking and transportation services is investigating a bike-sharing program. The university has also offered to partner with the Houston METRO in establishing a hydrogen fueling station for community and campus buses.

The university makes a list of endowment holdings available to the school community and to the public. This information is available on a password-protected website. Shareholder voting records are made accessible to the public online, as per open records laws.

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

The university provides its investment managers with guidelines that determine its proxy votes.