The College of the Holy Cross received a “B” on this year’s College Sustainability Report Card, released by the Sustainable Endowments Institute. The report card evaluates sustainability in campus operations and endowment practices of more than 300 colleges and universities across the country.
The College’s “B” grade is a significant improvement from last year’s grade of a “C.” The higher rating reflects the numerous steps Holy Cross has taken to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote practices beneficial to the environment.
Major green initiatives in the past year include: reducing carbon gas emissions by almost 20 percent with a future goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2040; creating an assistant director of environmental services position to manage campus sustainability; hiring a transportation manager to oversee the shuttle system; and instituting a green building policy mandating that all major construction and renovation projects be built to LEED Silver standards. (Two campus buildings are in the application process for LEED Silver certification, including the new state-of-the art Integrated Science Complex.)
"The improved grade on the sustainability report card is a wonderful validation of all the hard work performed by many members of the Holy Cross community including students, faculty and staff. The sustainability culture on campus is definitely changing and the administration has proven their commitment to carbon neutrality by investing in the systems and building changes necessary to substantially reduce our carbon footprint,” explains John Cannon, member of the Presidential Task Force for the Environment at the College. “We have come a long way in the last few years, but we still have a long way to go to reach carbon neutrality.”
These efforts add to other ongoing sustainability efforts campus-wide such as the addition of two Zipcars, prominent recycling containers in all buildings, and going "trayless" in Kimball Dining Hall.
Read the report card.
Related Information:
* Sustainability at Holy Cross
Holy Cross Moves up in Green College Rankings
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