Emory University

College Sustainability Report Card 2011

Emory University is committed to sustainability through a formal policy, and three sustainability committees have worked on initiatives such as the installation of solar panels and green roofs. A full-time director works in the sustainability office along with two additional full-time sustainability staff.

Emory aims to reduce energy use 25 percent per square foot below 2005 levels by 2015 and has already achieved a 13.7 percent reduction. Energy conservation measures on campus include the use of temperature setbacks, energy management systems, heat recovery systems, LED lighting, temperature control timers, and vending machine sensors.

Dining services spends 51 percent of its budget on locally grown and processed items, including produce, meat, dairy, and baked goods. Pre- and postconsumer food scraps are composted at all meals; cooking oil is recycled for biodiesel production; and discounts are offered to customers using reusable mugs.

All new buildings and major renovations must be built to LEED standards. There are currently 14 LEED-certified buildings on campus, including the first LEED-EB Gold building in the country, and 5 additional buildings meet LEED criteria and are awaiting certification. In addition, several spaces have been repurposed for alternative use. Emory has implemented low-flow faucets and showerheads, waterless urinals, drip irrigation, condensate recovery, greywater reuse, and rainwater harvesting to conserve water.

Students may reside in the Living Green community and are introduced to sustainability at a zero-waste orientation event. Several student groups are devoted to addressing a variety of sustainability issues, and the university runs an active eco-reps program and employs student sustainability interns. Emory recently held an energy-saving competition from which all monetary savings were used to send relief teams to Haiti.

Local public transportation is subsidized by the university, and a free, alternatively fueled shuttle service runs on and around campus. Carpoolers receive designated and discounted parking and have access to a ride-matching board. Free bike-sharing and bike repair services are available, and Emory partners with a car-sharing program.

The university makes a list of all holdings available at the investment office to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. Only asset allocation information is available to the public. A list of votes cast on proxy resolutions on a company-specific level is available at the investment office to all members of the school community.

The university aims to optimize investment returns, and the endowment is currently invested in renewable energy funds. The university also uses investment managers who consider environmental and sustainability factors. Donors may request that gifts be directed into sustainable and socially responsible investment options.

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