Fordham University

College Sustainability Report Card 2011

Fordham University has a formal sustainability policy, and a committee comprised of students, staff, administrators, and energy consultants work to implement sustainability programs on campus. A green purchasing policy requires the procurement of environmentally friendly appliances, electronics, lighting, and cleaning and paper products.

Fordham has signed on to PlaNYC, the mayor's challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2017. Through a combination of energy-saving techniques, such as temperature setbacks, energy management systems, heat recovery systems, and lighting sensors, the university has achieved a 23 percent reduction in emissions since 2005. Energy audits, awareness campaigns, and energy monitoring displays have also been implemented to encourage energy conservation.

Dining services purchases local and organic fruit, vegetables, and baked goods, as well as milk from a local dairy. All milk purchases are hormone and antibiotic free, and a variety of seafood served on campus is sustainably harvested. Excess food is donated to food banks, and 13,500 lunches are donated each summer to school children. Fair trade coffee is available at all dining locations, and fair trade chocolate, tea, and sugar are also purchased. Disposable dishware used on campus is made of recycled content; a discount is offered for the use of reusable mugs; and all meals are trayless. In addition, all landscaping is composted or mulched.

All new construction projects at Fordham must be built to at least LEED Silver standards. The campus currently includes two LEED Silver-certified buildings, one that meets LEED Silver criteria, and three that meet LEED-EB standards. Fordham diverts 90 percent of construction and demolition waste from landfills. To conserve water, the university has installed dual-flush toilets, efficient laundry machines, low-flow faucets and showerheads, waterless urinals, and weather-informed irrigation systems.

Students in the ECO group at Fordham are working to create an MBA in sustainable business, and are working with the New York Botanical Gardens on creating a composting program. Other student groups encourage the use of fair trade products on campus and educate the student body on environmental issues. new student orientation incorporates sustainability through presentations in the residence halls.

Fordham offers a free shuttle service to other campuses and to local public transportation, and 23 percent of the vehicles in the university fleet are electric. The center of campus has limited vehicle access.

The university does not make information about endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record available.

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

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