Arizona State University–Tempe

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

President Crow is a cofounder of the Presidents Climate Commitment and is chair of its steering board. The Global Institute of Sustainability serves as both the academic center and operational headquarters for sustainability issues on campus, employing five full-time sustainability officers. The university’s green purchasing policy mandates the use of green cleaning products and gives preference to Energy Star and recycled products.

ASU has committed to achieving carbon neutrality, including scope two emissions by 2025 and scope three by 2035. The university recently retrofitted more than 80 campus buildings, increasing energy efficiency by an estimated 53 million kilowatt-hours per year. In addition, the school has installed 1.7 megawatts of solar power arrays on Tempe campus roofs, with a planned expansion to 20 megawatts by 2011.

All residential dining halls at ASU went trayless in the fall of 2008. Dining services works with 50 local growers and producers to supply canned, dried, and frozen goods, as well as produce, dairy, and meat. Furthermore, the university sources oranges, dates, herbs, and produce from on-campus gardens and trees. Engrained Café is a new restaurant on campus committed to locally grown food and environmentally responsible practices.

All new construction must adhere to LEED Silver standards, and both new construction and renovations must comply with the university’s own sustainable design guidelines. The university has six LEED-certified buildings on campus, one of which has achieved Platinum certification. The Global Institute of Sustainability is LEED-EB Silver-certified, and 25 campus buildings meet LEED Silver criteria. Water efficient appliances are installed in all new buildings and renovations.

In the fall of 2009, the university will open a student-designed sustainable living community in which 200 freshmen will reside. For Earth Day 2009 the Students of Arizona Network for Sustainability, Arizona PIRG, and other student groups planned a solar-powered concert. The Global Institute of Sustainability offers office-based internships and runs an Eco-Reps program.

Through the U-Pass and an intercampus shuttle, ASU provides free transportation around the Phoenix area. The vehicle fleet includes 137 electric vehicles and 170 that run on biodiesel. The student government manages a bicycle-sharing program, Community Bikes.

ASU makes all holdings available online to the public per open records law. The ASU Foundation makes all holdings available only to trustees, senior administrators and other select members of the school community.

ASU aims to optimize investment return and does not invest in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds. The ASU Foundation utilizes some investment managers that have an allocation to investments that take environmental factors into consideration.

ASU does not have the ability to vote proxies, as the entire endowment is invested in mutual funds or other commingled funds.