University of Tennessee–Knoxville

The University of Tennessee–Knoxville is a signatory to the Presidents Climate Commitment and the Talloires Declaration. A student green fee funds the purchase of renewable energy, lighting upgrades, electric vehicles, electronics recycling, and membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The university purchases Green Seal products for on-campus use.

UT Knoxville has committed to a minimum of 10 percent reduction in energy consumption across campus and is conducting a major education campaign with faculty, staff, and students to support that goal. An annual student fee funds green activities, including the purchase of renewable energy.

The university has placed recycling bins in every residence hall room on campus and recycled a total of 1,023 tons of material during the 2007–2008 year. Dining services offers fair trade and shade-grown coffee, organic milk, and a line of organic products in its convenience stores. A partnership with the UT biodiesel plant on campus was formed and reclaims used vegetable oil for fuel.

All new construction and renovations over $5 million must conform to LEED standards. The Baker Center for Public Policy is awaiting LEED certification.

New students at UT Knoxville are introduced to sustainability activities during orientation and through an annual freshman picnic at the beginning of year. The picnic is a green event that features environmental education. The Make Orange Green Challenge is a spring competition among residence halls for recycling, energy and water conservation, and education. The university has an active student environmental organization.

UT Knoxville operates a free shuttle system on campus and within an adjacent student-populated neighborhood. These shuttles run on biodiesel and natural gas. The campus has a fleet of ten electric vehicles and four hybrids. The university subsidizes public transit for faculty, staff, and students, and freshman are eligible for a free citywide bus pass.

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

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

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