Hamilton College

President Stewart signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. Most publications and documents are Forest Stewardship Council-certified and printed on recycled paper containing postconsumer waste. Hamilton has an Energy Star purchasing policy. The Hamilton Green Team, which includes faculty, staff, and students, is actively working on plans to reduce the college’s carbon footprint.

Hamilton has completed a carbon emissions inventory and is in the process of planning emissions reductions. The college is installing a windmill and solar array at the recently renovated Kirner-Johnson Social Science Building, and a second solar array is being installed at the outdoor leadership center. A windmill, abandoned during the 1970s, is being refurbished and will begin supplying energy to the campus once again. Energy dashboards will be displayed for different buildings and competitions will be held between dorms and office buildings to reduce energy use.

Hamilton's food service provider purchases from 12 local farms and a local dairy. Hamilton's Community Garden supplies the dining hall with produce. Students receive a free meal for every ten times they use a reusable cup. The college has a standard recycling program and organic material is composted.

All new building projects at Hamilton are built to LEED standards, and the recently renovated Kirner-Johnson building is registered for LEED certification. Retrofitting efforts have included reflective membranes and shingles made of recycled materials on roofs, and improved insulation.

The Hamilton Environmental Action Group works to raise awareness about environmental issues. The student body voted to direct a class gift toward an environmental endowment fund that will generate a yearly grant to be awarded to a Hamilton student or campus organization to fund a campus green project or an environmental research project.

The physical plant department is testing and evaluating the possibility using an electric vehicle on campus. The college operates a shuttle that brings students to area venues, and is partnering with a car-sharing program beginning in fall 2008. The bicycle guild maintains bikes that may be rented out to students for free, and the bicycle co-op offers maintenance.

The college makes a list of endowment holdings and its shareholder voting record available to all members of the school community, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Information is available on request.

The college aims to optimize investment return and is exploring, but not currently invested in, renewable energy funds or similar investment vehicles.

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