Florida State University–Tallahassee

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

The Sustainable Campus Initiative has drafted a mission statement and a set of goals that support a campus-wide sustainability policy. A sustainability component has been added to the strategic plan. The Strategic Planning Group, including administrators, faculty, staff, and partners, supports and implements programs related to sustainability. Campus housing and the food service provider use exclusively green-seal cleaning products.

A graduate student at FSU completed an initial carbon emissions inventory, and campus energy services will update and manage it. The university has implemented a campus-wide energy- and utility-savings program. Nighttime use of lighting in the football stadium has been reduced by more than 50 percent. The campus community is encouraged to conserve energy through a campus-wide energy policy, education, and an energy reduction competition.

Florida State dining has been trayless since 2005. The university sources from local farms and dairies, and fair trade coffee is available. Students can receive a discount for using a refillable mug. The university has achieved a 30 percent waste diversion rate through recycling, and 100 percent of yard waste is composted or mulched. Source reduction campaigns include Chuck it for Charity, a student move-out collection.

FSU design guidelines and specifications require LEED certification as the minimum standard for major construction projects, with a goal to strive for Silver certification. Two buildings are LEED-certified and several more are pending certification. The Off-Grid Zero-Emissions Building is completely solar powered, with excess electricity used to produce hydrogen for energy storage.

The newly created Eco-Reps program works with the Greek community and the Inter-Residence Hall Council to promote behavioral change on campus. Student organizations include the Environmental Service Program, and Garnet & Gold Goes Green. The Green Leadership Council, with representatives from student government and each of the student environmental groups, aims to share resources among environmental groups.

Students, faculty, and staff have unlimited, free access to citywide buses and the campus shuttle. Some areas of campus have been closed to vehicles to promote a pedestrian-friendly environment. Employees who carpool have ride-matching resources and are guaranteed a ride home.

The university and the Florida State University Foundation make available a list of all endowment holdings and sends information upon request to the school community and the public. The university does not make the shareholder voting record of its mutual/commingled funds public.

The university and the foundation aim to optimize investment return and do not invest in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The university and the foundation do not have the ability to vote proxies, as the entire endowment is invested in mutual funds.