Claremont McKenna College

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

Claremont McKenna is formulating a master plan that will include a sustainability component. The Environmental Concerns Committee has worked on projects to reduce water and energy use and to improve recycling. The president’s ad hoc committee on sustainability has been appointed to set targets for carbon reduction goals. In accordance with the purchasing policy, the college buys only Energy Star products, Green Seal-certified cleaning products, and organic pesticides.

The college has implemented a number of energy-saving projects, including HVAC system tune-ups, temperature set point changes, and the creation of a central chilled water loop cooling system for half of campus. Lighting retrofits have been implemented in many campus buildings. Students traded in their incandescent lightbulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs.

The dining halls purchase local produce, bread, dairy, and meat. Organic salad greens, vegetables, and fruits are available, and nearly all eggs are cage-free. The college's dining service contractor has committed to purchasing all hormone- and antibiotic-free beef, poultry, and dairy. Additionally, all seafood meets Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guidelines. Dining halls are trayless. At the end of the year, students donate unwanted goods rather than disposing of them.

All new buildings must meet or exceed LEED Silver standards. There is one LEED Silver building on campus, Claremont Hall, and the Biszantz Tennis Center meets LEED-certified standards. Many campus buildings are equipped with faucets that shut off automatically, and four buildings have low-flow toilets. The college is applying to be qualified as a LEED campus.

The Environmental Crusaders student group has calculated the school's carbon footprint, run an anti-bottled-water campaign, and persuaded the college to invest in a more efficient sprinkler system. New students are given sustainability information during orientation. The student government has an environmental affairs chair.

College employees who participate in the ride-share program are offered a variety of incentives and are entered into drawings for cash. Public transportation is subsidized for faculty and staff. There are bike- and car-sharing programs on campus. The Beliefs and Principles document adopted by the board of trustees underscores the importance of a pedestrian- and bike-friendly campus.

The college makes a list of all holdings available only to trustees and senior administrators. The college has no known disclosure policy of shareholder voting records for its mutual funds or commingled funds.

The college aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds.

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