University of Iowa

The University of Iowa has a long-standing environmental policy and adopted a new energy conservation and management plan in 2007. The university has multiple sustainability advisory councils and is currently creating an office of sustainability and hiring a sustainability coordinator.

The university has committed to emissions reduction through the Chicago Climate Exchange, and is currently exceeding its goal of a 6 percent reduction by the year 2010. The new energy conservation and management plan commits the university to increase renewable energy sourcing by up to 15 percent, as well as achieve a 10 percent consumption reduction per square foot by 2013.

The Sustainable Food Systems Task Force was recently formed to enhance the sustainability of the university's food systems. Dining services serves organic, local, cage-free eggs; organic produce, meat, and bread; and offers daily vegan entrees. UI composts one ton of food scraps per week and recycles 25 percent of the school's waste.

The university has developed campus design standards that call for building recommissioning and the planning of LEED and other green design projects. These projects include design concepts such as energy and water efficiency, regionally sourced and low-emitting materials, as well as user-oriented campus design. There are four buildings on campus registered for LEED certification.

Engineers for a Sustainable World and the Environmental Coalition are two student environmental organizations on campus. The UI Energy Expo brings together industry, students, government, and the public to focus on conservation, innovation, and sustainability.

The university runs a shuttle bus system that provides 3.7 million rides annually. Students and employees receive discount transit passes and constitute 36 percent of the ridership on local municipal transit systems. UI operates 12 hybrid-electric and 4 electric, street-legal vehicles. The university supports active bicycling on campus by funding biking programs and the installation and upgrading of bicycle parking spaces.

The university makes a list of endowment holdings available to the public online, as per open records laws. The university does not maintain a record of its proxy voting.

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

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