St. Lawrence students at a bicycle repair clinic,
held on campus to encourage alternative transportation
methods. (Photo by University Photographer Tara Freeman)

A List
11/1/10

SLU Earns High Grade On Sustainability 'Report Card'

CANTON - St. Lawrence University has maintained its B grade on the 2011 College Sustainability Report Card, issued by the Sustainable Endowments Institute. The "grade" places St. Lawrence in the top half of all schools evaluated by the independent organization, which reported a "surge in green initiatives" at colleges across the country.

Now in its fifth year, the College Sustainability Report Card covers the colleges and universities with the 300 largest endowments in the United States and Canada, as well as 22 additional schools that applied for inclusion. More than one-half of schools earned an overall grade of B or better (56 percent, or 179 schools). The cumulative grade distribution is as follows: 16 percent of schools earned cumulative A-level grades; 55 percent earned B-level grades; 23 percent earned C-level grades; and 6 percent earned D-level grades.

Among St. Lawrence initiatives contributing to its high evaluation:

- All new construction must meet LEED Silver standards, and renovations aim to meet at least LEED Certified criteria. The Johnson Hall of Science is LEED Gold certified, and four other buildings meet LEED-EB (existing buildings) criteria. St. Lawrence has installed water conservation technologies, such as efficient laundry machines, and uses retention ponds and vegetated swales for storm water management.

- A climate action plan with greenhouse gas reduction goals has been drafted, and the University has implemented energy management systems, among other efficiency technologies. St. Lawrence has a 1.8-kilowatt educational photovoltaic array and purchases 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.

- St. Lawrence is committed to sustainability through a formal policy. Two committees and a coordinator of sustainability projects implement environmental initiatives on campus. The school has a green purchasing policy and buys some Energy Star-certified products and environmentally preferable paper products.

- Approximately 10 percent of the University food budget is spent on local products. St. Lawrence grows its own herbs in an on-campus garden, some fish is purchased according to sustainability guidelines, and fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate are available. The University offers discounts for using a reusable mug, and all dining facilities are tray-less.

- New students are introduced to sustainability through post-orientation programming and environmentally themed student housing is available. Students participate in an annual energy conservation competition, and groups such as the Environmental Action Organization and Lettuce Turnip the Beet work to raise campus awareness of sustainability issues, including local food and climate change.

- The campus is pedestrian friendly and a bike-sharing program was started in 2004. The motor fleet contains some electric and hybrid vehicles.

Each school's full-page profile can be found on the GreenReportCard.org Web site and includes A to F letter grades in nine categories: Administration, Climate Change & Energy, Food & Recycling, Green Building, Student Involvement, Transportation, Endowment Transparency, Investment Priorities and Shareholder Engagement.

The College Sustainability Report Card 2011 is published as part of the Institute's broader effort to encourage discussion on sustainability in higher education. The Sustainable Endowments Institute, a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is engaged in research and education to advance sustainability in campus operations and endowment practices.

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More: College Sustainability Report Card 2011

The St. Lawrence Green Pages