1. Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver standard or equivalent.

Yes: We adoopted this policy in 2009

2. Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.

Yes: Mount Union College, responding to the growing need for environmental stewardship and the College’s commitment for the implementation of sustainable practices, has adopted a Green-Sustainability Purchasing Policy. Green-Sustainability Purchasing means that purchasers take into consideration the impact of products on the environment and human health when making purchasing decisions, giving preference to more environmentally friendly products when quality and cost are equal or superior. Green purchasing guidelines are a formal set of goals that direct the College’s implementation of green-sustainability purchasing. These policies go well beyond appliance purchasing.

The purchasing policies are:
• To maintain a consistent “cradle to grave” supply chain and purchasing process which considers economic, ethical, social and environmental impacts for all contracts and purchases.
• To integrate green-sustainability purchasing concepts and products into architectural designs, final construction documents and into the final construction of all Mount Union College buildings and renovations of property or facilities owned by Mount Union College.
• To utilize environmentally responsible biodegradable solvents and cleaning supplies whenever practicable as long as quality and performance are not compromised.
• To conduct research and procure alternative energy when practicable, from certified alternative energy suppliers.
• To evaluate the purchase fleet vehicles that utilize alternative fuel and/or increase the average fuel efficiency of the overall fleet.
• To ensure that proper MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) are identified in all purchasing specifications and kept on record as required by OSHA.
• To work with suppliers in the areas of reduction and reuse of packaging materials.
• To make suppliers aware of Mount Union College’s Green Purchasing Policy, sending a clear message that Mount Union College will favor those suppliers whose products meet the environmental objectives of the College.
• More specifically, Mount Union College will seek to utilize to the fullest extent possible, environmentally friendly or green products that have the following attributes or qualities:
o Durable as opposed to single use or disposable items.
o Made of recycled materials, maximizing post-consumer content.
o Non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable.
o Highly energy efficient in production and use.
o Recyclable, but if not, may be disposed of safely.
o Made from raw materials obtained in an environmentally sound sustainable manner.
o Manufactured in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner by companies with good environmental track records.
o Cause minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance.
o Shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of product).
o Produced locally or regionally to minimize the environmental cost of shipping and the reduction of emissions during transportation.

3. Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by our institution.

No: No information provided.

4. Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution.

No: No information provided.

5. Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of our institution's electricity consumption from renewable sources.

No: No information provided.

6. Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where our institution's endowment is invested.

No: No information provided.

7. Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste.

Yes: We have enrolled in the Per Capita Classic portion of the RecycleMania competition this year in order to obtain baselines and to develop protocols for measurement and to enhance our recycling and waste reduction program. Next year (2009) we will enroll in the Waste Minimization portion. In the meantime, our specific actions include:
• We have a recycling program on campus, providing recycling receptacles with green liners to differentiate recycled material from solid waste. Paper, glass, plastic, metal and cardboard are all recycled through a single stream program with materials delivered to a commercial off-campus transfer station for sorting.
• We maintain an active program to sell or donate campus surplus property. For example after building a new science building a few years ago, excess office furniture and other items from the old building were auctioned. Also, useable but older computer equipment is donated to local charities. We have located markets that allow us to sell large capital items such as chillers and boilers. These markets allow reuse rather than scrapping or disposal as well as generating income.
• We promote the use of inter-office reusable envelopes for campus mail and provide address cover sheets to modify incoming postal envelopes to be reused multiple times for inter-office purposes
• We implemented an environmental print policy effective Fall 2007. Each student is given $50.00 (1000 pages) on their account each August. There is a .05 charge for each page printed to a public printers. So after 1000 pages, students will have to pay for each page.
• Our food service provider, AVI, at the request of our sustainability task force, serves menu items on washable and reusable plates at our “café”, therefore reducing the amount of waste generated by TO-GO containers.
• We have begun replacing numerous paper documents with electronic alternates Our Faculty and staff directory is online as is our catalog, faculty and other personnel handbooks, and most forms. All grades are reported to the registrar electronically, room reservations, IT equipment order, vehicle reservations are all handled online.
• Our new purchasing policy, listed previously, will require consideration of waste prevention throughout the life cycle of purchased equipment.