Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Long before there was an established University sustainability program, Harvard College Library had made increasing sustainable practices around the library a priority. To continue that commitment, HCL Operations last month convened the HCL Green Team to assist the unit in identifying ways in which the libraries can contribute to the University’s sustainability goals.

By itself, seven-eighths of a gallon isn’t much, but when you have dozens of bathroom fixtures that save that much water with every flush, it quickly adds up to big savings, both in water usage and in utility bills.

The changes may not be immediately evident, but little by little, Harvard College Library has been "going green" for years, even before the University's newest commitment to sustainable practices.

I don't know; ask Carl Ehrlich to find out:

Thanks to an intrepid team of mid-evening adventurers, the enthusiasm of the building manager, and 77 new compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), Harvard’s Expository Writing building on Prescott Street has entered a future of big savings. The light bulb switch took less than an hour to complete and will save the University thousands of dollars in the years to come.

The use of -80F freezers is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions on campus.

The Office for Sustainability's (OFS) Green Office Certification program is receiving attention from around the University. As the Harvard Gazette reports, "[the] Harvard program launched this spring is designed to open our eyes to the environmental costs of ordinary objects in the office, and the personal habits that accompany them."

Vermiculture has come to Harvard. The FAS Green Program helped set up two worm composting bins at FAS this year – one in our offices and one at a daycare.

Why?

Worm composting is fun, easy, and great for locations like offices where a backyard bin or large-scale pick up is not feasible or too expensive.

In July 2009, Arkhat Abzhanov’s group in OEB became the first FAS lab to achieve Green Labs Certification, led by the tireless effort of postdoc Celine Clabaut.  The certification is designed to recognize the environmental efforts of outstanding labs at FAS, and is coupled with the Green Labs Program’s Lab Sustainability Assessments, which help researchers set tangible, achievable goals re

Allured by the sight of an array of office supplies and kitchenware, students, faculty, staff, and community members flocked to this academic year’s first “FAS Freecycle” on the Science Center lawn last Tuesday. To their astonishment, everything seen was free to take.