University of Delaware

President Harker signed the Presidents Climate Commitment and the university is a signatory of the Talloires Declaration. The university has developed green purchasing guidelines and has created a green purchasing forum. The staff includes a director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, who is responsible for the university's carbon inventory and action plan.

The university's Carbon Footprint Initiative will develop a plan for carbon neutrality by April 1, 2009. Several projects to increase energy efficiency have been completed and all appliances purchased are Energy Star-rated. The university has a small solar array and purchases the maximum number of renewable energy credits under the city of Newark’s renewable energy credit program. Testing for the installation of a wind turbine is underway.

Dining services purchases local produce when seasonally possible, contracts with a local dairy and a local creamery, and sources food from a campus garden. Reusable to-go containers will be offered at three of the largest dining locations on campus, and the university is beginning a transition to single-stream recycling.

The university's design principles, utilized since before the LEED program began, incorporate pragmatic methods aimed at reducing resource consumption. As part of the Carbon Footprint Initiative, 22 buildings have undergone extensive energy audits to explore ways to increase energy efficiency across the campus.

Delaware's facilities department hires 10 to 12 student workers to assist in recycling operations. Student interns have also been working under the direction of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy to assist in the energy audits of major buildings across campus. Students for the Environment works on environmental awareness initiatives.

Free shuttles service the school community and the university operates a bus that is powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Hybrid vehicles have been added to the campus fleet. Carpools are offered special parking privileges. Bike lanes have been expanded throughout Newark and the campus, and there are 2,051 bike parking spaces available on campus.

The university makes its proxy voting records and a list of endowment holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. This information is available at the investment office.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds. The university invests with real estate managers that utilize LEED standards and that have full-time sustainability managers on staff.

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