The University of Toronto has received yet another B- on a report card-but this time, we were graded on our green factor.
The College Sustainability Report Card-A Review of Campus & Endowment Policies at Leading Institutions evaluates various institutions on their green practices. The Sustainable Endowments Institute is a project of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based consultancy that gauges how institutions such as universities invest their donors’ dollars.
In its report card, U of T earned decent marks in most areas, scoring solid Bs in climate change and energy, food and recycling, as well as in energy-efficient buildings. The report noted various projects already underway, such as the installation of 70,000 energy-efficient bulbs on St. George campus, the introduction of photovoltaic or solar arrays on the Mississauga campus and, soon, wind power on the downtown campus.
The only A to appear in the personalized report was for “administration of green practices.” Graded based on leadership in matters of sustainability and active cooperation with the administration on campus, in this category U of T is on par with Harvard University, which (as expected) scored highest.
“The leadership and vision that the University of Toronto administration has shown has been outstanding,” said Chris Caners, of the University of Toronto Sustainability Office. “The university has committed to permanently funding the office, and a new ‘Sustainability Board’ that will consider sustainability at a high level within the university, is being started.”
The Sustainability Office, two years old this month, was praised for its successful work-study programs, internships, and independent studies, which have students working on projects from modeling stormwater flow on campus to compiling an inventory of greenhouse gases.
