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With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.
Name: Heather Henriksen
Title: Director, Office for Sustainability
Date survey submitted: 7/24/09
ADMINISTRATION
SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES
1) Does your school have its own formal sustainability policy?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
The Harvard Sustainability Principles were introduced in 2005 and are intended to “...guide Harvard’s practices toward sustainability through the management of building design, construction, renovation, procurement, landscape, energy, water, waste, emissions, transportation, human health, and productivity.” http://www.green.harvard.edu/commitments/principles
The Harvard Green Building Requirements are a more detailed policy building on the Sustainability Principles specifically targeting all building projects at Harvard. http://www.green.harvard.edu/theresource/guidelines/
Harvard University Greenhouse Gas Commitment: In FY09 Harvard University committed to a University-wide GHG reduction goal of a 30 percent reduction from Fiscal Year 2006 levels by 2016, including growth. The goal was set based on the recommendations of the Harvard University Task Force on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, made up of faculty, students, and senior administrators, established by President Faust in the spring of 2008 to recommend a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal for the University. http://www.green.harvard.edu/commitments/greenhouse-gas
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2008/07.24/pdfs/GHG_TF_finalreport.pdf
http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/faust/080708_greenhouse.php
2) Has the president of your institution signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes. If completed, please provide the date the GHG Report was submitted to the ACUPCC:
3) Has your institution signed the Talloires Declaration?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes
4) Is there a sustainability component in your institution's master plan and/or strategic plan (check all that apply)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes, in the master plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
[ ] Yes, in the strategic plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available:
Comprehensive physical or master planning on Harvard’s Cambridge campus is being undertaken at a district level, recognizing the unique physical and functional attributes of distinct areas of the campus. Several examples are included below:
1) Holmes Field District Master Planning: A pilot district planning process for the Holmes Field district was recently completed and includes a strong environmental sustainability component. The Holmes Field District Planning Framework embraces the University’s broader approach to sustainability, embodied in initiatives such as the Greenhouse Gas Commitment and the Campus-wide Sustainability Principles. The Holmes Field plan proposes planning principles and goals, specific to the district, which will support Harvard’s realization of its environmental commitments. The plan’s sustainability goals and principles are organized around several themes:
• Energy and greenhouse gas emissions: How smart approaches to energy production and conservation can reduce overall energy consumption and the resulting costs and green house gas emissions.
• Water: How a district-based approach to the management of storm water and domestic water can yield substantial environmental benefits and cost efficiencies.
• Waste: Working to ensure that the collection, storage and removal of solid wastes promotes overall waste reduction and operational efficiency.
• Transportation: Leveraging the robust circulation networks of the district to encourage the use and convenience of non-vehicular modes of transportation, thus reducing the environmental footprint associated with the movement of people and goods.
• Landscape and Ecology: Recognizing that campus landscape and open space resources can be harnessed to improve the environmental performance of the district.
• Campus culture and human health: How the collective approaches and behaviors of members of our campus community can promote responsible use of our environment and human wellness. In developing sustainability principles and guidelines on a District level an underlying goal has been to promote innovation and creativity as Harvard faculties, departments and individuals pursue solutions to the pressing environmental concerns of our day. This sustainability framework can serve as a model for other planning districts on Harvard’s Cambridge campus.
2) Allston Development Master Planning:
Because the Allston campus is relatively unencumbered by constraints associated with existing buildings and their related infrastructure, it represents a unique opportunity to incorporate Harvard’s strong commitment to sustainability into all aspects of the new campus. Indeed the campus ultimately has the
potential to transcend immediate development needs and serve as a teaching tool and a living laboratory for research into the development of a more sustainable future.
The University has developed campus-wide sustainability guidelines and quantitative environmental objectives for Allston. Designed to ensure that Harvard stays at the forefront of sustainable design and practice, the Guidelines set aggressive targets for:
GHG Emissions and Energy Use: The sustainable design guidelines call for reducing energy use compared to current building codes, as well as powering the campus with “clean energy” that generates 30% fewer carbon dioxide emissions than current sources.
Buildings: Harvard is committing to a LEED Gold standard for all buildings in Allston and identified a number of aggressive green building performance goals that must be met (Harvard has a LEED Silver standard plus additional energy and other requirements for all university capital projects).
Water: The sustainable design guidelines call for reducing consumption of potable water by 30-50% compared to current building codes. The sustainable design guidelines call for protecting and improving the Charles River’s water quality and hydrology.
Transportation: The sustainable design guidelines call for minimizing automobile use and ensuring that a majority of trips are made by walking, biking, or transit. Additional information on Harvard Allston Development is available at:
http://www.allston.harvard.edu/projects/Sustainability.htm
3) Common Spaces Feasibility Study Sustainability Approach
The Common Spaces feasibility study, initiated by President Drew Gilpin Faust in 2008, seeks to identify existing spaces on the Cambridge campus that could be enhanced to better support the intellectual and cultural life of the University. A University-wide steering committee has worked in collaboration with the University Planning Office (UPO), along with a selected membership of faculty, students, and staff to review the physical campus, analyze various patterns of use, gather input from a wide variety of campus stakeholders, and develop a series of Common Space recommendations. The Common Spaces feasibility study has, in this early planning stage, been oriented to address University environmental sustainability goals in the following ways:
• Reuse of existing infrastructure: The Common Spaces project team has intentionally targeted key campus locations, the reprogramming and enhancement of which would allow for better use of existing infrastructure and limit the amount of new construction required to meet project goals.
• Site-specific sustainability recommendations: Each proposed Common Space intervention has integrated sustainability recommendations that address landscape, connectivity, water, energy, materials, and human and environmental quality. These recommendations, already in development in the earliest phase of project planning, will help to capture all opportunities for maximizing environmental performance.
• Evaluation criteria: The proposed Common Space interventions have been evaluated to compare how they meet overall project goals and align with other ongoing campus initiatives. Sustainability was a key criterion that included a review of the amount of proposed new construction, the potential for the use of alternative energy, and the improvement of outdoor landscapes, campus connectivity, and comfort of both indoor and outdoor spaces.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
5) Does your school have a council or committee that advises on and/or implements policies and programs related to sustainability?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes
1) GHG Reduction Goal Executive Committee & Working Groups
• The GHG Reduction Goal Executive Committee meets monthly to oversee the implementation of Harvard’s GHG Reduction Goal. This includes reviewing recommendations from the six GHG Reduction Goal Working Groups and the four Sub-Committees to those Working Groups, all of which report to the Executive Committee. The answers to questions 6-10, below, refer to both the Executive Committee and the Working Groups/Sub-Committees.
2) Other Key Committees:
A) GHG Reduction Goal Student Advisory Group (SAG)
• The SAG consists of Student representation from each of the Graduate Schools and the College and meets monthly to review GHG Implementation efforts and advise from the student perspective. (Each Working Group has student members.)
B) Faculty Sustainability Advisory Committee (to be developed in 2009/10 Academic Year)
• A Sustainability Advisory Committee made up of key Faculty will be developed in the 2009/2010 Academic year to advise on and provide research support for Harvard’s Sustainability Goals and Implementation efforts
• Committee Chairs will be:
o Professor Bill Clark, Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, Public Policy and Human Development, Harvard Kennedy School
o Professor Stephen Kosslyn, John Lindsley Professor of Psychology in Memory of William James and Dean of Social Science, Faculty of Arts and Science
o Professor Jack Spengler, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation, Harvard School of Public Health
C) University Construction Management Committee
• This committee reviews all large capital projects (over $5 million) and ensure they’re meeting Harvard policies. Members of the Harvard Office for sustainability are represented on the committee to ensure the Green Building Guidelines are followed.
If you answered "No" to question 5, please proceed directly to question 11.
6) Please provide the name of the committee and list the number of meetings held since August
2008.
Name: GHG Reduction Goal Executive Committee
Number of meetings: 8
Name: GHG Reduction Goal Working Groups and Sub-Committees
Number of meetings: 100+
Name: University Construction Management Committee
Number of meetings: 10 (Plus more for the supporting Capital Project Review Committee)
7) Please provide number of stakeholder representatives on the committee.
GHG Reduction Goal Executive Committee:
10 Administrators (Director level and above)
5 Faculty
1 Staff
0 Students (Note: The Student Advisory Group, which consists of 35+ students, reviews Working Group recommendations before they go to the Executive Committee and there are student members on all Working Groups. We will review with the students their participation on the Executive Committee for the 2009-2010 term.)
GHG Reduction Goal Working Groups and Sub-Committees:
34 Administrators
6 Faculty
50 Staff
12 Students
University Construction Management Committee:
9 Administrators
8 Staff
8) Please provide the name of the chair(s) of the committee for the 2009-2010 academic year, and indicate which stakeholder group the chair(s) represents.
If 2009-2010 academic year information is not yet available, please provide information for 2008-2009 instead.
Name of chair(s):
Position(s) (e.g., administrator, faculty, staff, student):
GHG Reduction Goal Executive Committee:
• Ed Forst, Executive Vice President – Administrator
• Jeremy Bloxham, Dean of Science, Faculty of Arts and Sciences – Faculty/Dean
GHG Reduction Goal Working Groups:
(NB: All Working Group & Subcommittees are chaired by senior administrators with student, staff and faculty participation.)
1) GHG Inventory & Measurement
2) Building Efficiency and Demand Management
3) Finance Working Group
4) Energy Supply Working Group
5) Mitigation Strategy Working Group
6) Marketing, Communications and Engagement Working Group
Sub-Committees:
1) Operations and Maintenance Best Practice Principles Sub-Committee
2) Green Building Guidelines Sub-Committee
3) Demand Management Sub-Committee
4) Green IT Sub-Committee
9) To whom does the committee report (e.g., president, vice president)?
GHG Reduction Executive Committee:
Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust
GHG Reduction Working Groups:
GHG Reduction Executive Committee
Capital Project Review Committee:
Harvard Management Corporation
10) Please list key issues/programs that the committee has addressed or implemented since August
2008.
Key issues/programs that the group has addressed/implemented since August 2008:
Progress made on each of these issues since August 2008:
GHG Reduction Implementation Process
(NB: Includes Executive Committee, Working Groups and Sub-Committees)
GHG Inventory Methodology and Boundaries: Approved GHG Inventory methodology following the Climate Registry “Operational Control” model. GHG Inventory for FY06-FY08 complete within newly defined boundaries.
GHG Inventory Reporting Format: Approved a graphical representation of our progress toward the GHG Reduction Goal.
Building Energy Reporting Guidelines: Identified standard units for use in energy reporting across Harvard’s ten Schools and the central administration.
Energy Audits: Called for ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits of the campus (~26 million square feet). 20% of the campus has been audited to date.
District Energy Plant Audits: Called for efficiency audits of the Blackstone Steam Plant and the three large chiller plants on campus. Audit results will be reviewed in the fall.
Financial Analysis Tool: Created a Life Cycle Cost analysis tool for evaluating GHG reduction projects. The LCC Tool is in final revisions.
Draft Communications Plan Outline: The Communications Plan is nearing final form. In addition, a network of communications leaders has been identified to integrate Sustainability into communications across campus.
Green Building Requirement Revisions: Reviewing Harvard’s existing Green Building Guidelines. Detailed guidelines will be brought back to the Executive Committee for review.
Operations and Maintenance Best Practice Principles: Creating proposed Operations and Maintenance Best Practice Principles. Detailed Best Practice Principles, including an Energy Management Strategy, are under development and will be brought back to the Executive Committee for review.
Regulatory Renewable Energy Purchasing: Reviewed the protocol and process for meeting the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard.
University-Wide Temperature Policy: Called for, and then approved, a University-Wide Temperature Policy, which has also been approved by all of Harvard’s Schools and Harvard Real Estate Services.
SUSTAINABILITY STAFF
11) Does your school employ sustainability staff (excluding student employees and interns)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide titles and number of sustainability staff.
[# 32 ] Number of full-time staff (in FTE). Titles:
Office for Sustainability (19)
OFS Director, OFS Assistant Director (2), Longwood Green Program Coordinator, Green Building Services Coordinator (2), Law School Sustainability Coordinator, Green Building Services Manager (2), Undergraduate Resource Efficiency Program (REP) Coordinator, FAS Green Labs Coordinator, FAS
Green Offices Coordinator, FAS Green Program Manager, Green Building Resource Coordinator, Occupant Engagement Coordinator, Business Administration and Communications Coordinator; Web Developer, Manager of Information & Reporting; Special Projects Coordinator.
Schools and Units: (13)
Energy Manager (5); Assistant Manager, CAFM/Sustainability; Assistant Director, CAFM/Sustainability; Assistant Director of Sustainability; Director of Sustainability and Infrastructure, Energy Strategist, Program Coordinator for Sustainability; Program Engineer, Assistant Director of Environmental Programs; Assistant Director Environmental Programs; Energy Strategist; Manager, Commuter Choice, TDM and Sustainability.
[# ] Number of part-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [ ]
12) Does the head of the sustainability staff report directly to the president or another high-level administrator (e.g., vice president, vice chancellor)?
[ ] N/A
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe: Director of Sustainability Reports to the Executive Vice President, who reports directly to the university President.
OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT
13) Does your school have an office or department specifically dedicated to furthering sustainability on campus?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe (including name of office or department and year created):
The Harvard Office for Sustainability was created in 2008, building on the Harvard Green Campus Initiative which had been in place since 2001.
Our history: http://www.green.harvard.edu/ofs/history
Our Mission: http://www.green.harvard.edu/ofs/mission
WEBSITE
14) Does your school have a website detailing its sustainability initiatives?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide URL: http://www.green.harvard.edu/ This website was completely revised in 2008-2009. It is now a University-wide sustainability website and resource.
GREEN PURCHASING
15) Does your school have a formal green purchasing policy?
[X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to full policy, if available:
However, environmental language and requirements are included in Harvard preferred vendor contracts.
16) Does your school purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe:
[ ] All
Computers:
All personal computers and laptops available for purchase through Harvard preferred vendor contracts through University Information Services are ENERGY STAR and EPEAT rated – the current standards are available at http://www.uis.harvard.edu/support_services/standards_4_09.pdf.
Copiers:
Harvard's Master Service Agreement offers Energy Star Ricoh copiers and multifunction devices for campus use. Ricoh is the first copier manufacturer to sign the EPA Energy Star "Memorandum of Understanding" promoting energy conservation and is the only company to have been named "EPA Imaging Partner of the Year," 5 years running.
Printers:
Harvard Strategic Procurement recommends Energy Star HP Printer models:
http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic444216.files/HP%20PurchasEdge%20OM.pdf
*Note that purchasing at Harvard is decentralized at the School/unit level and not all purchases are made off of University vendor agreements. The Strategic Procurement office is currently reviewing additional opportunities for gaining further efficiencies.
17) Does your school purchase environmentally preferable paper products (e.g., 100 percent postconsumer recycled content, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe:
Office Paper:
66% of paper purchased through Harvard’s preferred vendor was made from recycled content (note that this accounts for about 70% of paper purchases at Harvard). Harvard Business School has a policy to purchase at least 30% recycled paper for all paper purchases.
Printing Contracts:
Harvard University is set to finalize a Directed Buy Paper Program for the purchase of fine printing papers. The paper merchant is committed to responsible forestry, sustainability and recycling and will include the following certifications FSC, SFI and PEFC. The paper mills represented will include paper lines that have recycled content, carbon neutral, Green e and Green Seal offerings.
Many of the Print Vendors on Harvard’s “preferred vendor list” are FSC certified – and the OFS has put together a checklist as part of our Green Office Program to help users compare options available from different vendors:
http://www.green.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/oe/VendorListFinal.pdf?phpMyAdmin=9ac49e79287t429072fe
Cleaning Paper Products:
- Approximately 90% of the Harvard campus uses Green Seal Certified hand towels and bath tissue.
• Harvard Facilities Maintenance Organization (http://www.uos.harvard.edu/fmo/custodial/greencleaning/
• ABM: http://www.abm.com/Why-ABM/GreenCare-Program/Pages/green-cleaning.aspx
• UNICCO - http://www.greencleaning.com/
[ ] All. Please describe:
18) Does your school purchase Green Seal, Environmental Choice certified, or biorenewable cleaning products?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe:
Approximately 90% the Harvard campus uses Green Seal Certified cleaning products and clean using Green Cleaning programs. .
• Harvard Facilities Maintenance Organization (cleans approximately 35% of campus) (http://www.uos.harvard.edu/fmo/custodial/greencleaning/
• ABM: http://www.abm.com/Why-ABM/GreenCare-Program/Pages/green-cleaning.aspx
• UNICCO - http://www.greencleaning.com/
[ ] All. Please describe:
19) Are your school's computer/electronics purchase decisions made in accordance with standards such as the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe:
All personal computers and laptops available for purchase through Harvard preferred vendor contracts through University Information Services are ENERGY STAR and EPEAT rated – the current standards are available at http://www.uis.harvard.edu/support_services/standards_4_09.pdf.
*Note that purchasing at Harvard is decentralized at the School/unit level and not all purchases are made off of University vendor agreements. The Strategic Procurement office is currently reviewing additional opportunities for gaining further efficiencies.
[ ] All
20) Does your school use only pesticides that meet the standards for organic crop production set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or Canadian Organic Standards (excluding on-campus farms)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe:
[ ] All
Harvard University’s Facilities Maintenance Operations (FMO) group has developed a highly successful Organic Landscaping Program currently implemented across 25 acres of University landscape (including the highly visible and heavily used Harvard Yard). The program was launched with the Harvard Yard
Soils Restoration Project (March-November 2008) – a pilot effort modeled on the fully organic landscape maintenance program operating at Battery Park City Parks (BPCP) in lower Manhattan since 1989. The BPCP program was developed by Eric T. Fleisher, a 2008 Harvard Loeb Fellow, and participant in the
Project Team.
Root growth in the test plot (a one acre area in Harvard Yard) increased by an average of 3-5” over the control plot without the use of any synthetic fertilizers. Irrigation in the test plot was reduced by over 30% from the control plot due to the improved moisture retention capacity of the deeper root structures. Available nitrogen in the test plot increased to a healthy range, between 100 to 150 lbs. per acre.
The goal for the next two years is to increase the amount of landscape treated entirely organically by 50%.
CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY
21) Has your school completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory?
[ ] No.
[ ] In progress. Please describe status and provide estimated completion date:
[ X ] Yes. Please provide total annual GHG emissions (in metric tons of CO2e). Also, include the start date for each year as well as the URL to each inventory, if available online, or attach the document.
We are revising our GHG Inventory process and increasing its coverage of the University to adhere to the Climate Registry’s operational control model. We have not yet published the report, which will likely be issued in the late summer. The numbers below reflect the inventory associated with the updated
methodology and increased coverage.
2008: 290,000 MTCDE
2007: 293,000 MTCDE
2006: 297,000 MTCDE
COMMITMENT TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION
The purchase of carbon offsets does not count toward greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions for this indicator. They are counted in a subsequent indicator.
22) Has your school made a commitment to reducing GHG emissions by a specific amount?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please list details.
Reduction level: 30% including growth
Baseline year: 2006
Target date: 2016
If you answered only "No" or "In progress" to question 21, please now skip to question 27.
REALIZED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
23) Has your school achieved a reduction in GHG emissions?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please list details.
Percentage reduced: 2.4%, with growth factored into our reductions
Baseline year: FY 2006
Date achieved: FY 2008 (end of year)
24) Please provide the total heating and cooling degree days averaged over the past three years.
Data on total degree heating and cooling days is available at: http://www.degreedays.net/. This information will be used to help reduce bias between schools in different climates.
Cooling degree days average over the past three years: 760
Heating degree days average over the past three years: 5585
25) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-thousand-square-foot basis for the past three years.
Per-Thousand-Square-Foot Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total maintained building space in thousands of square feet.
2008: 10.9 MTCDE/1,000 GSF
2007: 11.6 MTCDE/1,000 GSF
2006: 12.3 MTCDE/1,000 GSF
26) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-full-time-student basis for the past three years.
Per-Student Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total number of full-time enrolled students.
2008: 15.5 MTCDE/student (= 290,000 MTCDE/ 18,769 students)
2007: 15.6 MTCDE/student (= 293,000 MTCDE/ 18,842 students)
2006: 16.0 MTCDE/student (= 297,000 MTCDE/ 18,526 students)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
27) What programs or technologies has your school implemented to improve energy efficiency (e.g., cogeneration plant, retrocommissioning of HVAC systems, performing system tune-ups, temperature setbacks)?
Please see the response to Question #49 – which includes a partial list of energy efficiency projects at Harvard.
In addition, a cross-departmental working group is currently developing a University-wide Energy Management Strategy and ASHRAE Level II Energy Audit Policy. In addition, we are finalizing University-wide Temperature Policy, as part of the GHG Reduction Goal Implementation Efforts, which each School and unit will implement.
We require commissioning of all new buildings and retrofits and have an in-house energy auditing and commissioning team. We also have automated fault detection continuous commissioning programs in more than a dozen buildings and energy managers regularly reviewing building performance in many more.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
28) Do you facilitate programs that encourage members of the campus community to reduce energy use (e.g., cash incentives, signs reminding individuals to turn off lights and appliances)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe:
• Green Campus Loan Fund offers low interest loans to facilities departments for conservation projects ($12 million revolving loan fund)
• OFS staff have developed numerous resources to encourage energy conservation behaviors
o Green tip of the month posters & emails (http://green.harvard.edu/green-tip)
o Energy Conservation Fact Sheets, Tips, “Turn me off” prompts, signs, etc. (http://green.harvard.edu/green-office/resources)
o Top 10 campaign http://www.green.harvard.edu/top-ten-2009
o Green Office Certification Program (http://www.green.harvard.edu/green-office)
o Green Labs Certification Program
• OFS staff run energy conservation campaigns, contests and programs, examples include:
o “Shut the Sash” in the labs – incentives are parties for the winning labs
o Building Energy Competitions – incentives are parties
o Undergrad “Green Cup” - competition amongst undergraduate student houses on who can reduce resource usage most across multiple categories –cash incentives
o CERtoon (Campus Energy Reduction Cartoons) contest for students (http://green.harvard.edu/certoon) – cash and prize incentives
o Greentube environmental movie contest for undergraduates – cash incentive
o Green Skillet - competition amongst dining hall staff in the undergrad dining halls
o Harvard Sustainability Pledge (http://green.harvard.edu/pledge/) – over 8.500 people signed the pledge in 2008
o Extensive Earth Week Activities: http://green.harvard.edu/earth-week-2009
• OFS is creating energy conservation trainings for several different audiences, i.e., building
managers, office staff, etc. in 2009-2010.
• Many schools/departments provide energy saving devices to staff and students
o 700 Smartpower strips distributed in one large office building (Holyoke Center)
o Thousands of CFL bulbs given to freshmen in the dorms (and to some staff)
o Plug timers given to some researchers in labs and office staff
RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
29) Does your school generate renewable electricity?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please specify percentage of overall electricity generated from each of the following sources and describe details below.
[ %] B100 biodiesel
[ %] Clean biomass
[ %] Concentrating solar power (CSP)
[ %] Geothermal
[ %] Low-impact hydropower
[ .01 %] Solar photovoltaics
[ %] Wind
[ %] Other
Description:
Harvard has several small-scale renewable projects on campus:
Photovoltaic: PV cells are located on three buildings at Harvard; they collectively represent approximately 58 kW of electricity production.
• roof integrated panels at the Science Center (11.9 kW),
• PV in the Harvard Forrest (10.2 kW), on
• HBS Shad Hall (36 kW).
Wind: six rooftop AeroVironment (AV) wind turbines are located on Harvard’s Holyoke Center building and an anemometer was recently put up near the Harvard stadium to collect data on wind speeds in the area and determine potential for wind energy.
30) Does your school have solar hot water systems?
[ ] No
[X] Yes. Please specify number of systems and total BTUs generated annually, if available:
Installed Projects:
• 3 Sacramento Street (dorm) meets 20% of the domestic hot water needs.
• 6 panel solar thermal installed at 46 Blackstone (UOS) in 2009, produces up to 500 gallons of hot water per day, since going online in January, the system has saved 19,440,000 BTUs.
• 14 Solar thermal collectors on two residential properties, expected to save up to 28,660 lbs of CO2 per year and over 2,300 therms of natural gas.
RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASE
31) Has your school purchased electric energy from renewable sources or renewable energy credits (RECs)?
RECs and electricity from renewable sources must be Green-e certified or meet the requirements of the Green-e standard.
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe.
Harvard purchases RECS plus energy from several sources including a landfill gas project and several hydro facilities. These purchases represented 8.7% of our 2008 electric usage or approximately 20,000 Megawatt hours. In 2009, the amount of renewables will be slightly higher.
Harvard also purchased Green-e certified voluntary RECS that were equal to an additional 3.3% of our 2008 electric load.
Date of most recent contract: April, 2009
Quantity (kWh): Approximately 10,000,000 from 2 hydro facilities
Percentage of your total electric energy use that it represents: The hydro facilities supply almost 4% of our electric load.
32) Has your school purchased non-electric energy from renewable sources?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe. (Maybe – if you consider biodiesel)
Date of most recent contract:
Quantity (BTUs):
Percentage of your total non-electric energy use that it represents:
Harvard shuttles run on B20 biodiesel.
ON-SITE COMBUSTION
33) Please provide total BTUs of energy for heating and cooling from on-site combustion:
1,717,000 MMBTU for heating. We use purchased electricity for cooling.
34) Please list each fuel source (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil) and the percent of overall BTUs derived
from that source:
FUEL TYPE %
NATURAL GAS 90.16%
#2 OIL 2.02%
#4 OIL 0.88%
#6 OIL 6.76%
PROPANE 0.02%
WOOD 0.18%
35) Is any on-site combustion for heating and cooling derived from renewable sources?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe.
Percentage on-site combustion derived from renewable sources: [ 0.18 %]
Total BTUs of energy generated from renewable sources: [3,122 MMBTU]
Description of renewable energy sources used for on-site combustion for heating and cooling:
Wood harvested as part of the Forest Management at the Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA and used for heating at the Harvard Forest.
FOOD & RECYCLING
The food portion of this category is covered in a separate dining survey.
RECYCLING OF TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
36) Please indicate which traditional materials your institution recycles (check all that apply).
[ ] None
[ X ] Aluminum
[ X ] Cardboard
[ X ] Glass
[ X ] Paper
[ X ] Plastics (all)
[ ] Plastics (some)
[ ] Other. Please list:
37) Diversion rate: [ 55 %] FY 2009
RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC WASTE
38) Does your institution have an electronics recycling program?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. If available, please indicate the total annual weight or volume of each material collected for recycling or reuse.
[X ] Batteries (Yes)
[X ] Cell phones (Yes)
[X ] Computers (Yes)
[X ] Lightbulbs (Yes)
[X ] Printer cartridges (Yes)
[X ] Other E-waste. Please list:
CDs, Tapes, Video cassettes, small electronics devices & appliances (blackberries), jewel box cases, floppy disks
COMPOSTING (ASIDE FROM DINING FACILITIES)
39) What percentage of your campus's landscaping waste is composted or mulched?
[ 95%-100% %] 100% of the autumn leaves, pruned branches, felled trees, wood chips and window well clean-outs are composted. Some yard waste is unavoidably discarded when litter is raked off the grounds.
40) Do you provide composting receptacles around campus in locations other than dining halls (e.g., in residence halls, offices, academic buildings)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe:
For up to date information on composting at Harvard - http://green.harvard.edu/composting/
• Composting is available in 25 academic/office buildings.
• Two graduate schools (School of Public Health and Divinity School) have composting for their entire school campus.
• Composting is becoming readily available at many large events across campus such as the annual undergraduate “YardFest”, the Commencement luncheons at Harvard Law School (2000 attendees) and School of Public Health, and the Harvard Sustainability Event held in October of 2008 with over 15,000 attendees which generated only one bag of trash (the rest was composted or recycled).
• Pilot program to establish composting at the study breaks in one Residence Hall (in addition to dining hall composting)
SOURCE REDUCTION
41) Do you have any source-reduction initiatives (e.g., end-of-semester furniture or clothing swaps and collections)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe:
1. Harvard Recycling runs a Surplus Center for used University furniture; the furniture is free to the local community. In FY2009, we distributed over 400 tons of reusable furniture, pallets, books, clothing, computers and other commodities with a replacement value over $2 million.
2. Each spring Harvard Recycling sets up donation stations outside the residential buildings and collects un-wanted furniture, kitchen supplies, non-perishable food, clothing, etc. The items are donated to the Harvard Habitat for Humanity chapter and are sold to incoming students at an annual “Stuff Sale” each fall. In the Fall 2008 over $80,000 was raised at the Stuff Sale. This is the largest surplus sale held on any campus in the nation, with over 200 truckloads of goods recovered and re-sold.
3. Many Departments have started running very popular “Freecycling” events for staff and faculty to share and swap office supplies, mugs, and small-scale office equipment. At least 5 events held this past year.
4. Harvard Athletics collected 250 shoes for the Nike “Re-use a Shoe” program.
5. Harvard Recycling runs an Annual Valentine's Day cosmetics drive. In 2009, a record 1 ton of cosmetics was donated to the local Cambridge Family Shelter.
6. Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences has discontinued paper publishing of its Courses of Instruction and several other annual documents and is now entirely on-line.
7. Harvard’s surplus computers are erased, cleaned, re-formatted and re-sold by the LABBB program, a non-profit organization providing skills and vocational training to autistic students of high school age.
GREEN BUILDING
GREEN BUILDING POLICY
42) Does your school have a formal green building policy?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to the full policy, if available:
All capital projects over $5 million in cost must meet energy efficiency targets, follow integrated design principles, use life cycle costing to make decisions, develop an energy model, plan for ongoing commissioning, and meet LEED Silver-certification or higher. All capital projects between $100,000 and $5 million must meet performance requirements based on LEED criteria but do not need to be certified (though many elect to pursue certification anyway). See
http://www.green.harvard.edu/theresource/guidelines/ for greater detail.
GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS
43) Please indicate LEED-certified buildings.
[# 20] Total number of LEED-certified buildings. [# 40] Total number of LEED-registered buildings.
[196,003 sq ft for LEED-NC / 42,000 sq ft for LEED-CI] Certified-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
Two Arrow Street (LEED-NC)
60 Oxford Street (LEED-NC)
Landmark Center (LEED-CI)
Schlesinger Library (LEED-NC)
[343,414 sq ft for LEED NC / 21,490 sq ft for LEED-CI ] Silver-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
Aldrich Hall (LEED-NC)
One Western Ave. (LEED-NC)
Mather Dunster kitchen (LEED-CI)
125 Mount Auburn St, 2nd Floor (LEED-CI)
[672,748 sq ft for LEED NC / 13,275 sq ft for LEED-CI] Gold-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
5 Cowperthwaite St. (LEED-NC)
10 Akron St. (LEED-NC)
Gallatin Hall (LEED-NC)
Hamilton Hall (LEED-NC)
90 Mount Auburn St. (LEED-NC)
Wyss Hall (LEED-NC)
McCollum Hall (LEED-CI)
DePace Lab (LEED-CI)
Zhuang Lab (LEED-CI)
[40,000 sq ft for LEED-NC / 1,655 sq ft for LEED-CI / 1,000 sq ft for LEED-Homes] Platinum-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
Blackstone (LEED-NC)
Griswold, 2-S & Main Entry (LEED-CI)
2 Grant Street (LEED-Homes)
44) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED certification criteria but are not certified.
[# 1] Total number of buildings that meet LEED criteria
[22,833 sq ft] Certified-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
Holden Green (No LEED Rating System applies, but we collected documentation and tracked points based on LEED NC).
[ sq ft] Silver-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Gold-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Platinum-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
45) Please indicate buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# 1 ] Total number of ENERGY STAR buildings. Please list building names: Harvard School of Public Health Shattuck International House
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
A number of Harvard buildings qualify for Energy Star when using the Portfolio Manager tool, but so far the University has not elected to formally pursue the Energy Star certification.
RENOVATIONS AND RETROFITS
46) Please indicate LEED-EB certified buildings.
[# 0] Total number of LEED-EB certified buildings.
[#3] Total number of LEED-EB registered projects. Please list building names:
Harvard Business School Chapel (LEED EB Registered)
46 Blackstone Street (LEED EB Registered)
Thayer Hall, FAS (LEED EB Registered)
[0 sq ft] Combined gross square footage certified.
[103,769 sq ft] Combined gross square footage registered.
47) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED-EB certification criteria but are not certified.
[# ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED-EB criteria but are not certified. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
Most of the 700 Harvard buildings utilize green cleaning, organic landscaping, or other elements of the LEED-EB rating system, but none other than the three above have been completely evaluated in terms of the Rating System.
48) Please indicate renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# 0 ] Total number of renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled. Please list building names:
[ 0 sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) in the process (2009-2010) of reviewing all residential buildings for ENERGY STAR Labeling. The Harvard Business School (HBS) in the process (2009-2010) of reviewing all buildings for ENERGY STAR Labeling.
49) What energy-efficiency technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., HVAC systems, motion sensors, ambient light sensors, T5 lighting, LED lighting, timers, laundry technology)?
At this time we do not have a comprehensive list of energy conservation measures (ECMs) across the campus, though we have recently created an on-line database with hopes to better collect this information.
Across the 26 million square foot campus, there are literally many thousands of ECMs already implemented, with many thousands more identified as part of our ongoing campus-wide energy auditing process.
We have a $12 million revolving loan fund set aside to implement ECM projects, though only a small percentage of ECM projects at Harvard utilize the loan-fund. Additional information can be found on our website (http://green.harvard.edu/loan-fund). following is a high-level summary of those projects (all costs are given before any utility rebates have been applied):
Behavior Change: 8 loans, $923,784 total cost, $959,203 total savings
Combined Heat & Power: 2 loans, $473,158 total cost, $74,870 annual savings
HVAC Controls: 5 loans, $231,092 total cost, 11,557 annual savings
Ground Source Heat Pumps: 2 loans, $1,000,000 total loans, $72,641 annual savings
HVAC Projects: 33 loans, $2,903,937 total cost, 843,341 annual savings
Insulation: 4 loans, $197,729 total cost, $97,935 annual savings
Kitchen Equipment / Controls: 17 loans, $860,034 total cost, $286,508 annual savings
Lighting: 95 loans, $7,481,229 total cost, $1,884,660 annual savings
Sub-Metering: 2 loans, $67,432 total cost, $33,716 annual savings
Process Loads: 1 loan, $53,460 total cost, $40,246 annual savings
Photovoltaics: 3 loans, $483,377 total cost, $123,323 annual savings
Solar Hot Water: 1 loan, $58,400 total cost, $4,186 annual savings
Whole Building (Multiple ECM): 2 loans, $1,069,375 total cost, $184,841 annual savings
In addition, we have documentation from completed LEED projects and a sampling of other projects across the University. While this list represents a very small portion of total ECM projects at Harvard, it gives an idea of the range of projects that have been implemented. Additional information on the LEED
projects can be found on our website (http://www.greencampus.harvard.edu/theresource/case-studies/).
The following is a partial list of ECM projects:
LIGHTING & ELECTRICAL
Occupancy Sensors for Lighting: 100’s – Most buildings have occupancy sensors
Efficient Interior Lighting: 100’s – Most buildings have super T-8s, T-5s, or LEDs
Efficient Exterior Lighting: 100’s – Much of the campus has been switched to ceramic metal halide or other efficient lighting
Capacitors: The Harvard micro-grid has multiple capacitor banks to improve power factor
ENVELOPE
Efficient Windows & Skylights: 100’s – All new or retrofitted buildings have better than code windows and skylights
Extra Insulation: 100’s – All new and most retrofitted buildings have better than code insulation
High Albedo Roofs: Dozens – Almost all non-historic (slate) roofed buildings use a white / Energy Star roof membrane
HVAC
Occ. Sensors for Thermostat: At least 5 buildings use occ. sensors to control thermostats
Demand Control Ventilation: At least 10 buildings use DCV to adjust ventilation rates
Ground Source Heat Pumps: 8 projects at Harvard have GHSP
Condensing Boilers: Dozens – Most new buildings or retrofits with stand-alone boilers have high efficiency condensing boilers
Energy Recovery Systems: At least 10 buildings have energy recovery
Combined Heat and Power: At least 3 locations (including our central steam plant) have CHP
Free Cooling: 100’s – Many buildings & our central plant use free cooling
Boiler Reset: Dozens – Most buildings with stand-alone boilers use boiler reset controls
Chilled Beams: At least 4 buildings use chilled beams
Efficient Equipment: Almost all new motors, chillers, DX units, boilers, furnaces, etc. are better than required by energy code
DOMESTIC HOT WATER
Condensing Boilers: Dozens – Most new buildings or retrofits with stand-alone boilers have high efficiency condensing boilers for hot water
Low-Flow Showers: 100’s – Most new buildings or retrofits have 1.6 gpm showerheads
Low-Flow Aerators: 100’s – Most new buildings or retrofits have 0.5 gpm showerheads
RENEWABLE
Solar PV: At least 4 locations have PV
Solar thermal: At least 3 buildings have solar thermal collectors
Wind: 1 building currently has wind turbines, another is having them installed, and an anemometer tower is up evaluating wind in another location
PLUG / PROCESS LOADS
Energy Star: 100’s – Almost all purchasing and leasing of Energy Star eligible equipment meets Energy Star requirements
Smart Power Strips: Dozens – Many buildings have distributed smart strips
Sleep Software: Dozens – Many
Virtualization: Dozens – Most IT departments make use of server virtualization to some degree
Machine Room-Less Elevators: Dozens – Most new buildings and renovations use MRL elevators
OCCUPANT ENGAGEMENT
Green Teams: Dozens – Every school has at least one green team for occupants
Student Representatives: Dozens – Most residence halls employ student representatives to promote sustainability
Green Office Certification: 6 offices have been certified with this new program, which is a checklist that includes energy conservation efforts taken by office
staff. http://www.green.harvard.edu/green-office
50) What water-conservation technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., low-flow faucets, low-flow showerheads, waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, gray water systems, laundry technology)?
Water-conservation fixtures are widely installed in campus buildings. Below are just a few examples.
Low-Flow Showers: 100’s – Most new buildings or retrofits have 1.6 gpm showerheads
Low-Flow Faucet Aerators: 100’s – Most new buildings or retrofits have 0.5 gpm showerheads
Dual-Flush Toilets: 100’s - Harvard has dozens of buildings with tank-type dual-flush toilets and many times that number with flushometer-type dual flush
toilets
Waterless / Low-Flow Urinals: 100’s – Harvard has dozens of buildings with waterless urinals and many times that number with low-flow (generally 0.5 gpf) urinals.
Process Water: Harvard has 8 examples of ground source heat pump cooling applications (don’t use the potable water of a cooling tower) and a number of hybrid or closed loop cooling towers that save potable water.
51) What percentage of your institution's non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills?
92.6 % waste diversion from completed LEED NC and CI projects
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
52) Are there any sustainability-themed residential communities or housing options at your school?
[X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Name of program:
Type of community (e.g., hall, building, house):
Number of students involved:
Additional details:
However, the FAS Resource Efficiency Program (REP) employs undergraduate students to be representatives (REP Reps) to their peers in their dorms and houses. These students educate their peers on environmental issues while advocating for pragmatic environmental efforts, such as changing incandescent light bulbs for florescent bulbs, double-sided printing, and reducing food waste. The program also works with the administration to make sustainable changes in their facilities and operations.
Many of the graduate dormitories also have in-house sustainability representatives which play a similar function.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
53) Does a portion of your new student orientation specifically cover sustainability?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe how sustainability is incorporated (e.g., information sessions, green tour):
Undergraduates
• Harvard President Drew Faust will talk about Harvard Sustainability during the annual Freshmen class address.
• When Freshmen arrive on campus, the Office for Sustainability (OSF) is part of the check-in process. They pick up their key, their information about hooking up to the internet, and then a free CFL from us, as well as information about recycling, composting and saving energy, water, etc.
• OFS works with proctors to make sure they talk with their students during orientation about environmental responsibility on campus and how students can reduce their resource usage (energy, water, etc.) and recycle.
• We have a table at the Freshmen Activities Fair, where students can sign up to get more information about our program, get info about environmental issues and what actions they can take to reduce their environmental impact.
• For the first time this year OFS will be offering Green Tours of Harvard Yard every day during the first week.
Graduate Students – Programs vary at different graduate schools:
Each of the Graduate schools include at least one of the following in student orientation
• sustainability information (hand-outs and website) in orientation programs,
• A sustainability table at student activities fairs,
• Sustainability information in the student housing handbook.
INTERNSHIPS/OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
54) Does your school offer on-campus office-based sustainability internships or jobs for students?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please provide number of students and average number of hours worked weekly per student:
[# 36 ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student: 3-5 hours per week
[# ] Unpaid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
Note – 32 of the positions are the same as the eco-rep positions indicated below, 4 are working with Green Labs and Green Office Programs in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences.
55) Does your school have residence hall Eco-Reps or other similar programs to promote behavioral change on campus?
[ ] No
[X] Yes. Please provide details below, and indicate URL if available:
[# 32 ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student: 3-5 hours per week (undergrad 5 hours, graduate 3 or 4 hours)
[# ] Positions that award academic credit. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Uncompensated positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
Harvard has Eco-Rep programs to promote behavioral change on campus in all undergraduate housing, in the Law School housing (graduate students), and in the business School housing (graduate students).
The Harvard Rep program was one of the first to be established (possibly the first), and has been modeled by many other institutions.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
56) Does your school have active student-run organizations devoted to sustainability efforts on campus?
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please provide total number of active organizations, names of organizations, a brief description of each, and URLs, if available: 15 Student Groups; Student organizations throughout the University focus on environmental issues and education.
1) The Harvard College Environmental Action Committee (EAC):
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/%7Eeac/
The Harvard College Environmental Action Committee seeks to help achieve a sustainable world and protect the environment for its human and non-human inhabitants. To this end, the EAC aims to raise the consciousness of Harvard's students to the effect of their own actions on the environment and to their
status as stewards of this planet's resources. We advocate specific changes at the campus, local, national, and international levels. Furthermore, we serve as a forum for discussion and a source of information on environmental issues. Finally, we seek to enrich our members through fun and fulfilling experiences.
General Board Meetings are Wednesdays from 9-10pm in the Quincy Spindell Room.
Contact: Gracie Brown and Katie Walter, Co-Chairs
2) Harvard Divinity School ECOdiv
ECOdiv exists to promote scholarly discourse around issues of religion and ecology, eco-theology, and environmental ethics. Its aim is to equip various faith communities with the resources to support the environmental movement, to encourage "ecological identity" among HDS students, to engage in environmental activism, and to organize environmental justice service projects.
Contact: Emma Crossen, Josh Griffin
3) The Harvard Environmental Law Society:
http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/els/
The Harvard Environmental Law Society (HELS) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization directed and staffed by students at Harvard Law School. HELS provides students with hands-on exposure to the numerous issues in law, policy, science and management that confront professionals in the field of
environmental law. Members participate in conferences, host speakers, take trips and collaborate with groups throughout the University and the world in their effort to address environmental issues.
Contact: Justin Olsson, President
4) GSD Green Design:
http://studentgroups.gsd.harvard.edu/greendesign/
Founded in fall 2005, GSD Green Design offers a platform to discuss the ways in which the GSD and students can contribute in a new way to the global green design discussion using the unique methodologies practiced at the GSD. We do this by hosting speakers, tours, exhibits and events which address issues of interest to multiple disciplines and schools at Harvard. We coordinate our efforts with those of other Harvard environmental groups such as the Harvard Environmental Society, the Environmental Action Committee and the Green Campus Initiative. Recognizing the need for healthy and pleasant living and working environments, we also strive to encourage proper use, recycling, composting and disposal of materials and food in Gund Hall and throughout Harvard.
Contact: Sean Corriel, Jeremiah Geiman, David Lewis, or Shannon Simms
5) Harvard Business School Greentech and Sustainability Club:
http://www.hbs.edu/mba/studentlife/clubs/businessandenvironment.html
The mission of the Greentech and Sustainability Club is to support future business leaders interested in the important relationship between business and the environment through exposure to careers, industries, organizations, leaders, and business models. Members of the Greentech and Sustainability Club are
ideally positioned to identify, understand, and promote innovative environmental market opportunities and sustainability practices within the business community. The Greentech and Sustainability Club is the sole club on the HBS campus focused on the intersection of business and the environment.
Contact: Gabriel Turner, Maya Gumennik, Christopher Sun
6) Harvard School of Public Health Environmental Health Club
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/administrative-offices/student-affairs/student-organizations/theenvironmental-health-student-club-at-hsph.html
The Environmental Health Student Club provide a space for discussions that highlight the application of science and the implications of these instruments in the occupational environment, advances in occupational medicine, environmental controversies and other topics that the membership and officers
deem pertinent.
The objectives of the Environmental Health Student Club are to:
• Provide the Harvard community with an open forum
• Facilitate the discussion of Environmental Health issues which includes debates, speakers and panels on issues of environmental problems and their linkages to human health
• Focus on policy, law and economic instruments that will help reduce and avoid the damages caused by environmental problems
• Collaborate with the HSPH EcoOpportunity Team and the Longwood Sustainability Coordinator in order to promote school-wide sustainability initiatives
Contact: Peter James
7) Harvard Medical School Students for Environmental Awareness in Medicine
SEAM promotes sustainability on the Harvard Medical School campus and supports research and education initiatives that explore the link between the environment and human health. Recent projects have included Earth Day/Week events, Green Labs, Power Optimization and Dining Containers.
Contact: Kelsey Smith and Erin Bettendorf
8) Harvard Climate Collaborative: http://harvardclimatecollaborative.wordpress.com/
The Harvard Climate Collaborative is a University-wide group comprised of student environmental leaders and Harvard staff that meets monthly to discuss institutional and student progress towards emissions reductions. Our monthly dinners feature a series of guest speakers—e.g. Professor William
Clark, Chair of the GHG Task Force—as well as student presentations. The Collaborative will also publish an “Climate Collaborative Annual Report” that details the reductions efforts made at each school during the academic year. The Climate Collaborative is an important network though which students and
administrators can work together and learn from each other as we move towards achieving important environmental goals.
Contact: Karen McKinnon and Sharron Simms
9) The Energy & Environment Professional Interest Council (EEPIC):
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/kssgorg/Environment/
The Energy & Environment Professional Interest Council (EEPIC) brings together students at the John F. Kennedy School of Government who are interested in energy and environmental issues, particularly as they relate to public policy, advocacy, development, and business. EEPIC provides a forum for education,
networking, and career services across the energy and environmental spectrum.
Co-presidents: Anna Berkowitz, Alex Zheng
10) The Harvard Energy Journal Club (HEJC):
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/hejc/
A weekly journal club to facilitate discussion and understanding of the technical details of energy technology and energy economics. Each session, members will discuss a technical article regarding the science, technology, or economics of energy. HEJC's primary purpose is not to discuss policy issues, but
rather it is to enable its members to develop the necessary technical background to better understand energy issues and policy. Each week, relevant papers are selected by the 4 club officers and published on this website. Participants should read the papers and come to the journal club prepared to discuss them.
To find the relevant papers, participants should visit this website often.
Contact: Mark Winkler
11) The Harvard College Council on Business and the Environment:
The purpose of CBE is to provide the Harvard undergraduate student body with a means of exploring opportunities in business that have to do with issues of the environment. CBE's approach is two-fold:
First, CBE aims to increase the visibility of the growing intersections between business and the environment among the student body by inviting speakers and organizing forums on campus. Second, CBE intends to provide Harvard undergraduates with tangible opportunities with which to exercise their
interests on the subject of business and the environment. To accomplish this, CBE will facilitate both internships and full-time positions with a variety of companies and organizations. CBE recognizes that issues of the environment are playing an increasingly important role in the business world, and that,
indeed, effective solutions to global climate change must be addressed through utilizing the mechanisms of the free market economy. By increasing the awareness of the opportunities in this sector and then providing students with concrete ways to pursue them, we can harness some of this generation's brightest young minds to help remedy the catastrophic effects of climate change, perhaps the single most important problem facing our world today.
Contact: Gabe Daly, President
12) Harvard Environmental Law Review:
http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/elr/
The Harvard Environmental Law Review (HELR) has been published semi-annually, in winter and spring, since 1976. HELR publishes articles on a broad range of environmental affairs, such as land use; air, water, and noise regulation; toxic substances control; radiation control; energy use; workspace pollution; science and technology control; and resource use and regulation. HELR draws upon environmental experts from government, academia, private practice, industry and public interest groups to cover legal developments at the local, state, federal, foreign, and international levels.
Contact: hlselr [at law.harvard.edu]
13) The Harvard Extension Environmental Club (HEEC):
http://www.harvardec.org/HEEC_Board_temp2.html
Established in 2004, The Harvard Extension Environmental Club (HEEC -- better known as "The EC") is a club made up of students and alumni of the Environmental Management Program at the Harvard University Extension School. The mission of the EC is to provide a network and connection to the
Harvard University Community at large by organizing social and environmental activities. The club activities include guest lectures, career network socials, field trips, site visits and participation in Earth Day and the Charles River Clean-Up Efforts. The EC has strong support from the Environmental Management Faculty and Teaching Fellows. With this support and partnership in place, The EC looks to provide support to all students that are looking to further their education towards a more sustainable environment for future generations.
Contact: Ernst van Nierop and Kate Dennis
14) The Sustainability Educators Coalition (SEC):
http://www.harvardec.org/HEEC_Board_temp2.html
The mission of the Graduate School of Education's environmental group, The Sustainability Educators Coalition, is to position sustainability at the forefront of the dialog at HGSE. Our mission has four core areas:
1) Serve as a student voice at the Ed School on issues of sustainability and environmental awareness;
2) Engage in "greening" the GSE campus through concerted facilities and behavioral changes;
3) Develop relationships with student and professional groups across Harvard and throughout the region to foster interdisciplinary dialogue; 4) Augment the traditional syllabus with curricular and extracurricular educational programming and provide an increased range of exposure to leading theoretical and
practical ideas in environmental education.
15) Harvard Institute of Learning in Retirement Green Committee:
An active group of students in the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement who hold a week-long Green Fair, started a Green Team and take on other education and advocacy projects.
Contacts: Charles Allen, Marty Leape
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
57) Does your school organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[X] Yes. Please provide details below, and indicate URL if available:
There are many competitions and contest at Harvard in the individual schools and departments. A few examples include:
Name of competition: Green Cup
Year initiated: Sometime in the 90s
Frequency of competition: Yearly
Participants: 4,800 undergraduate students
Incentives: Trophy for your House (dorm), $1041 prize for the House, and public recognition.
Goal of competition: Reduce energy consumption, food waste, water usage, and dishware loss. Increase recycling rates, and promote student awareness and engagement.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Over 10% energy reduction in the last 10 years. 40% increase in recycling in the last 10 years, 6% reduction in heating in the last 10 years,
Lasting effects of competition: Increase in student awareness. Dorm composting programs set up, continued decrease in energy use and increase in recycling rates each year, numerous student projects have started as a result of this competitions, and it is a fun, engaging program for the students, tapping
into their natural competitive spirit and unique House culture at Harvard.
Website: www.green.harvard.edu/greencup
Name of competition: CERtoon (Carbon Emissions Reduction toon)
Year initiated: 2002
Frequency of competition: Yearly
Participants: 76 students
Incentives: Prizes donated by local vendors and given to the top 15 entries. Winning cartoons are shown across the campus.
Goal of competition: Raise awareness about environmental issues, engage students, and provide our office with fun, environmental cartoons we can use in our promotions.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Received over 80 entries last semester. Have 20 displays or showings of the cartoons around Harvard and the Cambridge Area each year.
Lasting effects of competition: Heightened awareness, and ability to engage different students (not just the most environmentally minded). The resulting cartoons are wonderful outreach materials and are showcased on the OFS website and displayed across campus to raise awareness among the students, and also staff and faculty.
Website: http://green.harvard.edu/certoon
Name of competition: Green Skillet
Year initiated: 2005
Frequency of competition: Yearly
Participants: 100s of Dining Hall staff
Incentives: The winning kitchen earns the rights to the “Green Skillet”, as well as a free dinner for the entire staff.
Goal of competition: The Green Skillet is an academic year-long sustainability competition between the kitchens of the nine houses. The competition pits kitchens against each other in four categories: electricity conservation, natural gas conservation, participation in the Sustainability Pledge, and special projects started by the kitchen staff.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: The winning dining hall in the 2007/08 competition saw a reduction in electricity use of just over 20% and a reduction in natural gas use by nearly 12% (2008/09 results will be released in Fall 2009). The total savings from all 9 houses are much larger.
Lasting effects of competition: This competition is an incubator for new great ideas, which then can be applied to all 9 of the dining hall kitchens. For example, one kitchen started a “wall of shame” where they would post through-out the day the number of orders that were placed at the grill but never picked up (a major source of waste), the number of wasted orders immediately dropped –and the other kitchens can now implement this project. The behavior changes and new protocols (for example, starting the ovens when needed instead of at 6am every morning), continue well beyond when the competition started. The Green Skillet competition targets dining hall staff, many of whom are able to take the energy and waste “lessons learned” home to apply in their own homes and lives. http://green.harvard.edu/green-skillet
Name of competition: Eco-Competition
Year initiated: 2006
Frequency of competition: Yearly
Participants: 10 - 16 buildings (labs and offices)
Incentives: The winning building earns an eco-trophy. Building managers of three top buildings are awarded a plaque in recognition of their achievements.
Goal of competition: The FAS Eco-competition runs for 5 months each year and focuses on two areas—building operations
and occupant education. The contest is based on LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M (Operations and Maintenance). Categories include energy use, bike racks, recycling infrastructure, outreach and occupant engagement, e.g. green teams, office purchasing, eco-boards. The duality of the competition requires the
input of the building manager, green teams, Eco-Citizens, and staff, faculty, and students who work in the building.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: In 2007, the competition resulted in $70,000 in energy savings and a reduction of 230 MTCDE. 9 of our 10 buildings in the competition achieved a 50%+ recycling rate. Many projects were piloted as a result of this competition including composting, dual flush toilets, new outreach activities, setbacks, etc.
Lasting effects of competition: By tapping into the competitive nature of the school's community, the competition is an effective strategy to engage building managers and office staff in resource conservation initiatives. Building managers' involvement continues beyond the competition and is reflected in high participation levels in greenhouse gas reductions & best practices sharing meetings. Several office staff whose buildings were part of the contest joined a network of environmentally minded staff or formed their own green teams that continued working on opportunities identified through the competition.
TRANSPORTATION
CAMPUS MOTOR FLEET
58) How many vehicles are in your institution's fleet?
[# 232 ]
59) Please list the number of alternative-fuel vehicles in each class.
[# 3 ] Hybrid. Please list makes and models: 2 Ford Escape, 1 Toyota Highlander
[# 0 ] Electric. Please describe type of vehicles:
[# 78 ] Biodiesel. Please describe type of vehicles and list biodiesel blend(s) used: B20
[# ] Other. Please describe:
60) What is the average GHG emission rate per passenger mile of your institution's motorized fleet?
[# NA ] pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per passenger mile traveled.
In a study from FY08 [July 2007-June 2008] Harvard’s gasoline powered fleet emitted 748,009 lbs of CO2 or 339.3 mT of CO2.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
61) Does your school offer incentives for carpooling?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe details of the program including the type of the incentive and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff and students):
Two or more full-time Harvard employees who carpool to the Cambridge or Allston/Brighton campuses either four or five days a week are eligible for on-campus parking in unreserved garages and lots at a reduced rate of 50% for a 2 person carpool and 75% for a 3 or more person carpool. Twice per year,
carpoolers are eligible for the Emergency Ride Home (ERH) Program and, with the exception of the primary permit holder, each carpooler with a registered vehicle will receive 4 temporary passes per month to allow participants to park separately when schedules vary.
Harvard also offers preferred parking program for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles in many of our garages and large surface lots. Similar to carpool spaces, Low-Emitting Vehicle (LEV) spaces will be in designated parking areas and will be reserved for qualifying permit holders weekdays until 10am.
62) Does your school offer public transportation subsidies?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe the program including the size of the discount (as a percent of full price) and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students):
Harvard University offers benefits eligible faculty and staff a 50% subsidy for monthly MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority) public transit system passes including buses, subways, commuter rail lines and boats as well as pre-tax savings on purchases of private transit passes and commuter checks up to the IRS pre-tax limit of $230. (July, 2009 = Approx. 6,600 participants) Total annual Harvard subsidy = Approx. $3.1 million
63) Does your school provide free transportation around campus?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[X ] Yes. Please describe: Fixed route shuttle service, paratransit daytime service, and evening safety ride service.
64) Does your school operate a free transportation shuttle to local off-campus destinations?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: Work with University Disability Coordinator for special services.
BICYCLE PROGRAM
65) Does your school offer a bicycle-sharing/rental program or bicycle repair services?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Year created: 2004
Number of bikes available: 33 bikes in 13 departments
Fees for participation: Free for individual employees
Repair services provided: Yes, for a fee
Harvard University’s Departmental Bike Program offers any School or Department the option of purchasing a bicycle(s) for use as transit in and around campus versus using a car or taxi. It provides an ideal way to move between job sites or attend meetings. There are 2 different types of bicycles (Breezer
& Fuji) offered for purchase in this program. The CommuterChoice Program, part of Transportation Services and University Operations Services (UOS), oversees the program and provides assistance in the selection, purchase, delivery, and labeling of the bikes, as well as arranging for bike repairs, maintenance and winter storage. It also assists in establishing a monitoring system for bike usage. Before using a departmental bike, employees must agree to: 1) wear a helmet; & 2) sign the general agreement and guidelines for use form
CAR-SHARING PROGRAM
66) Does your school partner with a car-sharing program?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide details below. Zipcar program
Year created: 2000
Total number of vehicles: 10 on campus
Number of hybrid vehicles: 10
Fee for membership: $25 annual membership fee for Harvard affiliates
PLANNING
67) Does your school have policies that support a pedestrian-friendly or bike-friendly campus (e.g., in the school's master plan, a policy prohibiting vehicles from the center of campus)?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X] Yes. Please describe:
Harvard prohibits riding bicycles within Harvard Yard. The CommuterChoice Program maintains a map of all bikes racks on campus, which is available at its website. It also tags and removes abandoned bikes across campus.
The Program is working to create a walking map of the campus in conjunction with WalkBoston, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to improving walking conditions in cities and towns across Massachusetts. Plans exist with the University Planning Office to have a more interactive bike map and walking map available at the main Harvard website.
68) What percentage of individuals commute to campus via environmentally preferable transportation (e.g., walking, bicycling, carpooling, using public transit)?
[ %] Walking = 38%, Bicycling = 11%, Carpooling = 3%; Public Transit = 29%; Other 4%; Drive Alone = 15%
STATISTICS
69) Campus setting:
[ ] Rural
[ ] Suburban
[X ] Urban
[ ] Other. Please describe:
70) Total number of buildings: 652
71) Combined gross square footage of all buildings: 25,063,000
72) Full-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): 18,862
73) Part-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): 1,458
74) Part-time enrollment as a proportion to a full-time course load: Varies
75) Percent of full-time students that live on campus: Not listed University-wide; Over 95% of the 6,678 Harvard Undergraduates live on campus
Questions 76-87 are for informational purposes only; responses will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
OTHER AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Please mark an "X" next to each item that applies to your institution.
76) Outdoors club: [X ]
77) Disposable water bottle ban: [ X ] Some schools/groups have done this (School of Public Health stopped selling bottle water in cafeteria, Kennedy School Student group stopped allowing student groups to use school money for bottle water)
78) Participation in Recyclemania: [ X ]
79) Student trustee position: [ ]
80) Environmental science/studies major: [ X ]
81) Environmental science/studies minor or concentration: [X ]
82) Graduate-level environmental program: [ X ]
83) Student green fee: [ ]
84) Alumni green fund: [ ]
85) Revolving loan fund for sustainability projects: [ X ]
86) Campus garden or farm: [ ] Local herb gardens in a few buildings, A small garden to be maintained by students is in development for this year in Harvard Square near one of the undergraduate residence houses
87) Single-stream recycling: [ X ]
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