University of Hawaii–Manoa

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

The assistant vice chancellor for financial and physical management is in charge of campus sustainability and of building design and performance. The campus also employs an energy manager. The campus facilities planning board is responsible for review and approval of sustainability projects. The chancellor’s office has established a sustainability website.

The university has set a goal of generating 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and becoming energy independent by 2050. Energy performance assessment teams review individual buildings for energy-saving opportunities. A demonstration photovoltaic array sits atop one building. Energy-efficient technologies, such as a chilled-water loop, are incorporated into renovations. Manoa's net electrical usage in FY 2009 declined by over 7 percent from the prior year.

The university recycles plastics and is expanding efforts to include paper. Electronic waste is recycled during an annual event, and landscaping waste is composted. Dining services has committed to trayless dining. The Sustainability Courtyard serves no meat and promotes sustainable practices such as not selling bottled water.

As per state law, all new projects must meet LEED Silver standards at a minimum. Facilities has committed to implementing sustainable engineering practices and adopting relevant energy efficiency standards. A new dorm, Fraer Hall, is the first LEED-certified building on campus, and three projects are seeking to meet or exceed LEED Silver standards.

The UHM Sierra Club promotes sustainability on campus. The group Sustainable Saunders provides a network for students, as well as faculty and staff, to get involved in sustainability initiatives, including Earth Day. The network also advocates for healthier, more sustainable options in food service.

The campus fleet includes hybrids as well as electric vehicles and carts. There is an on-campus shuttle service, and university members receive discounts on local public transportation. A campus bicycle plan is being designed to encourage bike use. The plan will consist of a network of bike paths that connect key campus destinations, including buildings, parking lots, and bus stops. The planning process supports a pedestrian-, bike-, and skateboard-friendly environment and includes more housing for faculty, staff, and students in close proximity to campus.

The university makes lists external managers and mutual funds available to the public online. All other endowment holding information is available only to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. The university does not make the shareholder voting record of its mutual funds or commingled funds public.

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

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