The Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI) has ranked Amherst College in the top one-third among its peer institutions for the school’s campus and endowment sustainability activities. Amherst College was awarded an overall grade of ‘B’, which is an improvement from last year’s ‘B-.’
The SEI’s list, the College Sustainability Report Card, is the only independent sustainability evaluation of campus operations and endowment investments. It assesses in eight categories including administration, green building and transportation.
The SEI is a Cambridge-based nonprofit organization focused in research and education to advance sustainability in campus operations and endowment practices. Founded in 2005, the organization is a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Two hundred public and private universities with the largest endowments – ranging from $230 million to nearly $35 billion – are assessed annually by the SEI.
Amherst College received ‘A’ grades in three of the SEI’s categories: climate change and energy, food and recycling, and investment priorities. Amherst was recognized in the climate change and energy category for its commitment to reducing carbon emissions through a green computing program and the forthcoming start-up of an $8 million cogeneration plant.
In the food and recycling category Amherst was recognized for its effort to buy local food, its highly successful recycling programs, as well as its composting program that diverts over three tons of food waste to a local farm each year.
They earned high praise for their Zipcar initiative, one of the few that enrolls drivers 18 to 21. The program is a car-sharing system that allows students to rent one the vehicles for temporary use.
Amherst was also commended for its green building program, which lays out in the college’s “high performance building design strategies” guidelines and includes computer automated temperature and lighting control.
In the final category Amherst was celebrated for optimizing investment return while investing in renewable energy funds.
“It’s very gratifying that out efforts have been recognized by the SEI.” Jim Brassord, Director of Facilities and AssociateTtreasurer for campus services, said. Brassord oversees the college’s sustainability initiatives.
“Global climate change is a defining issue for students today,” he added. “We feel that it is critical for Amherst to lead by example. In doing so, we hope to install in our students a sense of responsibility for environmental stewardship that they will continue to embrace after they graduate from college.”
Erik Taber can be reached at [email protected].
