McMaster University

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

McMaster will be approving a new sustainability policy for its campus master plan that emphasizes environmental, social, and economic factors. The university created the Office of Sustainability in November 2008 and employs a full-time sustainability manager. A green purchasing policy was created to promote products that are efficient, low-waste, and nontoxic.

McMaster has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 20 to 30 percent below 2003 levels by 2023. A pilot wind energy production project is underway at McMaster Innovation Park, and a solar thermal heating system on the gym's roof is under construction and set to be completed in fall 2009.

McMaster has a 63 percent recycling diversion rate and recycles all electronic waste. Take-out containers are made from corn and are biodegradable. Hospitality services has not made public any local or sustainable food initiatives; however, the Bridges vegetarian cafe buys organic and local products whenever possible.

McMaster's green building policy states that all new buildings on campus will satisfy LEED Silver requirements at a minimum. The new engineering building and Innovation Park are both targeted for LEED certification, and the Burke Science Building has achieved LEED-EB certification.

Students are representatives in the MacEarth program to teach sustainable behavior in residence halls. MacGreen is a student-run organization within the student government that provides resources and holds events related to alternative transportation and waste reduction, among other issues.

McMaster offers designated parking spaces and parking vouchers for groups who carpool. Students have free access to the local public transportation system and receive a discount on regional transit passes. The MACycle Bike Co-op offers inexpensive bike parts and refurbishes donated bikes.

The university does not make a list of endowment holdings public. A list of votes cast on proxy resolutions only by category is available at the investment office to the public.

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

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