Green College Spotlight: Harvard University

This Ivy League college is known for being a leader in many arenas, so it’s no surprise that Harvard University is also one of the nation’s greenest institutions of higher learning.  Harvard began a Green Campus Initiative back in 2000, and has made many great leaps toward sustainability in the eight years since. Not only does the university have a long record of environmental stewardship on campus, they’ve expanded their green efforts into research, education and outreach.

As part of their push toward becoming more environmentally responsible, Harvard University has created a comprehensive sustainability plan [PDF] that includes a number of ambitious goals, from demonstrating practices that promote sustainability on campus to developing the planning tools that have helped them make smart environmental and socially responsible decisions.

Some of the green programs that have since been put into place at this esteemed university include FAS – Green Program, Graduate Green Living Program, FAS – Resource Efficiency Program, Green Campus Loan Fund, Green Campus Building Service, The Green Building Resource, Greenhouse Gas Inventory and more.  They encompass a wide range of efforts, from encouraging residents to adopt more environmentally sustainable lifestyles to tracking greenhouse gas emissions at the school.  Faculty, staff, students and alumni have come together to help Harvard achieve as many of its sustainability goals as possible.

Harvard has worked hard at making campus buildings greener, and 20 of its new construction and renovation projects have been certified for green credits since 2002, more than any other university in the U.S. Last year, the university created green building guidelines for all new buildings on campus, designed to ensure that all buildings get LEED certification. They consider everything from using water-efficient landscaping to using rapidly renewable materials, and it’s easy to see that such guidelines have paid off in a big way: the campus boasts numerous LEED silver and gold-certified buildings like the library, dining hall and grad student housing.

One of Harvard’s most interesting, innovative and attention-getting green initiatives is the Green Campus Loan Fund.  This $12 million revolving fund provides interest-free loans to anyone at Harvard with a plan for a green campus project with a payback of 10 years or less.  So far, Harvard has lent money to 180 projects including environmentally friendly lighting, heating, insulation and onsite renewable energy.  It’s one of the programs that landed Harvard on the Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll this year.

In the Spring of 2007, the Green Campus Initiative newsletter detailed all of the milestones Harvard has reached in their sustainability efforts.  It’s a long list, testament to all of the hard work and dedication that’s been put into making Harvard greener. Some of the highlights include record-setting recycling collection, using rainwater to wash as many as 250 University-owned vehicles each week, integrating a composting program in the dining hall and achieving its first platinum LEED rating.

Of course, if you take a look at Harvard’s sustainability plan, you’ll be able to see clearly that the university is nowhere near done. Their master plan includes a multi-decade vision for a sustainable campus in Allston, Massachusetts where all future buildings will aspire to LEED gold certification and will be as eco-friendly as possible.  It’s an exciting time for students dedicated to sustainability, and Harvard will no doubt continue to provide inspiration for colleges and universities all over the country.

Link [Harvard Green Campus Initiative]

As The Boos Rained Down: President Bush Throws Out First Pitch in Green(er) Stadium

Michael recently reported that President Bush would throw out the first pitch in the Washington Nationals new green(er) stadium. Here’s video of him running out to a cascade of boos, quickly throwing his pitch (a good one for a throw-out pitch, I’ll give him that), and then retreating to the tunnels.

Our country does like this President.

Impeach!!!