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Dartmouth Scores A- on Sustainability

For the third consecutive year, Dartmouth has received an A–, the highest grade granted, on the 2009 College Sustainability Report Card. The grade was given by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, a project of the nonprofit Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

The Institute examined 300 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

“Dartmouth’s A– grade recognizes the ongoing work we are doing to ensure our campus and our community engages in a variety of effective sustainable activities,” says Associate Provost Mary Gorman.

Dartmouth received an A in six categories: food and recycling, green building, student involvement, endowment transparency, investment priorities, and shareholder engagement. In the remaining categories, Dartmouth received a B in climate change and energy, a B in transportation, and a C in administration.

Dartmouth’s Sustainability Manager Kathy Lambert says, “The A– grade is a great starting point, though we can continue to improve. Energy and climate change is one area that we will be working on in the coming year. President Wright recently announced our greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, and we’ll be making many efficiency upgrades to existing buildings to reach those targets. We’ll also be exploring alternative energy options and working with students, faculty, and staff to implement conservation programs. We’re hopeful this will help improve our energy score next year.”

Gorman says, “We were surprised by the B rating for transportation, considering all that Dartmouth does with its support of carpools, vanpools, the parking pass buyout program, Upper Valley public transportation services, and more.”

She continues, “In the area of administration, many people at Dartmouth are working towards making the campus more sustainable. Other campuses have models that are more centralized. Our centralized sustainability staff is limited, but the campus’s broad support has made us successful.”

 

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