Bates College

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

Sustainable Bates oversees all environmental initiatives and maintains a comprehensive website. The Committee on Environmental Responsibility, composed of faculty, students, and staff, has been working on an overall sustainability plan for the college and is responsible for developing a climate action plan. All paper purchased by the college is Forest Stewardship Council-certified, and all custodial paper products are made with 100 percent recycled content.

The Energy Task Force implements energy efficiency and conservation projects across campus. Such projects include replacing chillers and motors with high-efficiency models, re-zoning heat in dormitories, replacing windows, retrocommissioning HVAC systems, and implementing lighting retrofits and temperature setbacks. They have completed a carbon emissions inventory.

Bates spends 28 percent of its food budget on local items, purchasing from 37 local growers. Grass-fed, hormone-free beef, hormone-free milk, and fair trade coffee are offered in the dining halls, and the vegan bar provides fully vegan lunches and dinners on a daily basis. Bates dining has achieved an 82 percent waste diversion rate.

Bates requires all new construction and renovations to meet LEED Silver specifications at a minimum. Two buildings, a residence hall, and the dining commons currently meet LEED Silver criteria. Low-flow plumbing fixtures, storm water retention tanks, and dual-flush toilets are present in two newly constructed campus buildings. More than 75 percent of construction waste is diverted.

Chase House, with 19 residents, is the college's sustainability house. Sustainable Bates offers paid internships and runs the Eco-Reps program. The office is active in orientation training and supplies incoming students with a canvas bag containing a compact fluorescent lightbulb and a newsletter that encourages them to become involved in campus sustainability efforts. One of the two active student environmental organizations, the Bates Energy Action Movement, hosted the Maine State Climate Summit in 2008.

The bicycle-sharing program offers students a selection of 40 community bikes at no charge. The college has a commercial car-sharing program on campus and participates in the statewide ride-share program. In addition, a free shuttle service runs between the campus and the local community.

The college makes a list of endowment holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. The proxy voting record is not made public.

In 1997, Bates adopted a policy on socially responsible investing, which ensures that the college invests in companies that engage in "ethical and reputable" business practices that sustain and respect the natural environment. The college does not invest in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The college asks that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.