Queen's University

Queen’s University is refining its sustainability policy and has established a sustainability office to carry out its environmental, education, and policy initiatives. The residences and facilities department has green cleaning initiatives, as well as a preferred vendor program for environmentally friendly furnishings. A sustainability manager was recently hired, in addition to three other full-time sustainability staff.

Queen's has implemented several energy conservation projects, such as controlling HVAC systems and installing efficient lighting. The Live Building Integrated Learning Centre has green features, including power monitoring, a biowall for air filtration, a light well to utilize natural daylight, and display screens with power consumption information. A 20-kilowatt photovoltaic array generates a small amount of the building's power.

Queen's hospitality services mandates that their food suppliers provide as much local produce as possible. The Tea Room, a student-operated café, centers on sustainability and has a fair trade procurement policy. To-go products are packaged in biodegradable containers. An intensified recycling program is expected to increase the diversion rate from 25 to 30 percent in 2009, and all yard waste and most food waste is composted.

All new buildings at the university, either erected or under construction, have been designed to meet LEED standards since 2004, and three buidings are expected to be certified. In addition, there are green roofs on six buildings. The university, however, has no formal green building policy.

The sustainability office provides USB keys to new students containing an overview of sustainability initiatives at Queen’s. Student government employs a student sustainability coordinator who organizes three separate committees and directs the actions of over 60 volunteers. Several student groups focus on energy awareness and many participate in the annual residence energy-reduction challenge.

A shuttle bus operates between the west and main campuses in order to provide access to periphery parking lots. Parking is limited to employees living farther than two kilometers from campus. A carpool program provides discounted parking rates and designated parking spaces. Undergraduates receive a bus pass for unlimited use of local public transportation.

Information on endowment holdings and proxy voting records is available to the public upon request, as per open records laws. Information is sent to individuals upon request.

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

The university provides its investment managers with guidelines that determine its proxy votes.