University of Utah

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

The university’s master plan was revised in 2008 and sustainability is now a central theme. The Sustainability Advisory Board, comprised of administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and members of the surrounding community, is currently working to finish a climate action plan for the university. Three full-time staff members are dedicated to furthering sustainability initiatives on campus.

Two buildings were recently retrocommissioned for energy efficiency. Temperature setbacks have been implemented, and signage on campus encourages the community to conserve energy. The university purchases renewable energy credits to offset 10 percent of total electricity use.

The university spends 28 percent of its annual food budget on local items and participates in the Farm to Fork program, which promotes direct sourcing from local vendors. Dining services purchases only cage-free eggs and hormone- and antibiotic-free dairy. Some coffees, teas, and chocolate served on campus are fair trade. All landscaping waste is composted or mulched.

The Utah State Building Board mandates that all future construction must meet LEED Silver criteria. Two buildings on campus are LEED-certified and another is awaiting LEED-CI certification.

Students residing on the Green Sustainability Floor lead and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles. Student organizations promote sustainability on campus, and the student government's sustainability board instituted the Sustainable Campus Initiative to create a student fee for sustainability projects on campus.

Diesel vehicles in the campus fleet run on biodiesel fuel. Carpool participants are given priority parking permits, and a free shuttle services the campus. A bike-sharing program, started in spring 2009, makes 20 bikes available for free rental to the campus community. The university is piloting a car-sharing program in fall 2009. All full-time students, staff, and faculty are provided regional transit passes at no direct cost, funded by parking and student fees.

The university makes a list of mutual funds and cash holdings available to the public upon request.

The university offers donors the option of directing endowed gifts into the University Social Choice Pool in which renewable energy funds may be explored.

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