Ohio State University–Columbus

President Gee signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. Ohio State University employs eight full-time staff members who work primarily on campus sustainability initiatives. The Office of Energy Services and Sustainability was established in February 2006 and employs six full-time staff. A task force made up of students, faculty, and staff has been formed to create an environmentally responsible purchasing policy.

A six-year retrospective carbon emissions inventory was conducted in spring 2008. An active, university-wide energy committee meets regularly to draft energy conservation policies. Three full-time staff are dedicated to energy management, including conducting energy audits and identifying and implementing energy conservation projects. The university purchases the maximum renewable energy credits allowed from its local power provider.

Dining services spends 36 percent of its total food budget on locally produced goods, including dairy, beef, and produce. Dining halls offer fair trade coffee and bananas. The university recycling program achieved a waste diversion rate of 21 percent in fiscal year 2007 and has adopted a goal of 30 percent waste reduction by 2010.

Ohio State University has committed to incorporating green design in all new construction and renovation projects, including the use of energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials. Currently, two new construction projects will seek LEED certification, and a renovation project will exhibit sustainable design features.

The university employs eight part-time students to work primarily on sustainability projects through independent research and in direct assistance to the Office of Energy Services and Sustainability. A sustainability chair for each dormitory will develop and coordinate sustainability-related educational programs as part of the Scarlet, Gray and Green conservation program.

On-campus bus service is provided free of charge, and students receive bus passes for the local transit services. The university fleet includes hybrid and electric vehicles, and all diesel vehicles fueled on campus use B20 soy biodiesel fuel. Car-sharing and vanpooling options are in place.

The university makes a list of endowment holdings and shareholder voting records available to the public by request, as per open records laws. This information is sent to individuals upon request.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds.

A member of the university administration determines proxy votes.