University of California–Berkeley

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

The Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Sustainability has conducted a sustainability assessment, reports annually on progress toward goals, and has finalized a campus sustainability plan. Berkeley's long-range development plan mentions the school's commitment to reduce its environmental impact. The purchasing policy specifies that all appliances are Energy Star-rated and most paper is 30 percent postconsumer recycled.

UC Berkeley has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2014. Almost all incandescent fixtures have been replaced with fluorescent. The strategic energy plan includes 200 projects that will save $3 million a year in energy costs. Building managers, project managers, and physical plant staff are given hands-on, detailed courses on building commissioning to ensure persistence of energy savings.

The university purchases food from 60 local sources and buys hormone-free milk from a local dairy. All eggs are cage-free and organic, and all coffee is fair trade. Food waste is composted in dining halls and around campus. Unwanted campus furniture and equipment is sold, donated, and recycled, and the university partners with the city for an end-of-semester recycling and reuse program.

All new buildings must meet LEED Silver criteria and outperform California energy codes. There is one LEED Silver building on campus and five other buildings that meet LEED standards. The LeConte Hall renovation was designed with material reuse as a priority. Water usage per square foot has dropped 30 percent since 1990, and 80 to 90 percent of demolition waste is diverted from the landfill.

The Green Room is one of many green-themed living options at Cal, and students in residence halls can volunteer as dorm-based sustainability resources. Students compete to reduce energy consumption in Dorm Blackout Battles and can also get involved in sustainability through numerous student groups, as well as the Sustainability Team of the student government. Green Campus interns further sustainability on campus.

Carpoolers are eligible for a waiver of the transportation fee and discounts on parking permits. Students receive a free transit pass, and employees are eligible for a discounted pass. A free shuttle services campus and local destinations. The bike-sharing program is being expanded, and Berkeley partners with four car-sharing programs. Only 7 percent of students and 47 percent of faculty and staff drive alone to campus.

A list of investment managers is available online to the public. The foundation does not make the shareholder voting record of its mutual funds and commingled funds public.

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

Most of the endowment is invested in mutual funds, index funds, corporate trusts, commingled accounts, and limited partnerships. For the few direct equity investment accounts, the university provides investment guidelines.