April 30, 2009
UW receives top ranking for sustainability
For the third year in a row, the UW received a grade of A- on the College Sustainability Report Card, issued by the Sustainability Endowments Institute.
This is the only independent sustainability evaluation of campus operations and endowment investments.
“The UW is committed to be all it can to minimize our impact on the environment,” said UW President Mark Emmert. “This grade of A- reflects the work of countless people who have found innovative ways to make the University more sustainable. There is still a great deal more to do, and we continue to work hard at it every day.”
The UW received a grade of A in six of the nine categories: administration, climate change and energy, food and recycling, green building, transportation and investment priorities. It received a B in the remaining categories: student involvement, endowment transparency and shareholder engagement. The report card identified the UW as one of 16 Overall College Sustainability Leaders among the 300 institutions surveyed.
The report card noted that the UW is a signatory to the Presidents Climate Commitment and is in the process of developing a campus climate plan. The UW’s electrical purchases for the Seattle campus are from 100 percent renewable sources and are carbon neutral. UW food services emphasize local organic and natural foods. All new state-funded buildings and major renovations must meet a LEED standard of at least Silver. The UW offers many transportation options that discourage the use of single-occupancy vehicles. The university’s investment policies state that due consideration should be given to the degree of corporate responsibility exercised by those companies considered for investment.
