University of Alabama–Birmingham

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

The facilities department has been active in leading energy conservation and efficiency efforts through its energy management department. In 2009, the university hired a recycling coordinator to manage its new recycling facility.

Through the Think Green, Save Gold program, the university has made a concerted effort to decrease energy usage on campus. UAB has performed a variety of efficiency upgrades to lighting, motors, and HVAC systems, and has instituted a lightbulb swap program. Additionally, new buildings conserve energy through heat recovery systems.

The main dining facility on campus is trayless during nights and weekends, and the school donates prepackaged items to a local food bank each week. Fair trade coffee is offered in one campus location, and the college serves a small amount of local produce, including peaches, yellow squash, sweet potatoes, and corn on the cob. The main dining hall offers a vegan entree at least twice per week.

The university's facilities standards require that all new buildings and renovations meet high-efficiency standards for envelope, electrical, and HVAC/motor systems. New construction includes the use of low-VOC paint and recycled carpeting. Through a partnership with the engineering department, the facilities department recently completed a study of more than a dozen different alternative roof installations, including a vegetative roof.

Students were instrumental in launching the university's new recycling center in 2009. In the summer of 2008, new freshmen were required to read a novel on climate change in order to facilitate campus discourse on sustainability issues. Based on the recommendations of engineering students who participated in a design project on storm water mitigation and green roofs, the university has installed a green roof on a classroom building with over 16,000 sedum plants.

Facilities utilizes electric and natural gas–powered vehicles and has installed solar photovoltaic panels and equipment to recharge new electric cars. Campus bike paths and walkways have been expanded and enhanced in recent years.

The university has no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or shareholder voting records.

The university aims to optimize investment return and has not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The university has not made any public statements about active ownership or a proxy voting policy.