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IT’S WHAT YOU DO.IT’S WHAT WE ALL DO TOGETHER.

An annual report for a sustainable Boston University.

Letter From

As the need for leaders and innovators becomes greater in the face of a changing climate and world, colleges and universities across the globe are stepping up to the plate. Through dedication, collaboration, education, and innovation, Boston University and sustainability@BU remains committed to the vision of sustainability being deeply ingrained in higher education. Our students, faculty, and staff are engaged in this endeavor as well. Our cover this year is dedicated to the students, faculty, and staff who are making a difference every day to move Boston University toward a more sustainable future

This report is an outline of BU’s sustainability progress in 2014, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from 2006, while preparing our campus for the impacts of climate change. This annual report demonstrates BU’s commitment to improving the lives of students and employees now and for future generations. In FY14, sustainability@BU has advanced a number of sustainability initiatives on campus and we’re proud of our accomplishments. Still, we are keenly focused on further improvement and growth and we attempt to share these opportunities as goals for each aspect of campus sustainability.

For a more complete assessment of all of Boston University’s sustainability projects and to find more opportunities to make change, visit bu.edu/sustainability. To view the University’s STARS reports on campus sustainability progress from 2010 through 2014, please visit stars.aashe.org.

Sincerely,Dennis Carlberg, AIA, LEED AP BD+CSustainability Director

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION2 Executive Summary

4 EDUCATION & RESEARCH6 Curriculum7 Research

8 OPERATIONS10 Buildings11 Climate12 Climate Preparedness14 Dining Services16 Energy17 Grounds18 Purchasing20 Transportation21 Waste23 Water

24 PLANNING, ADMINISTRATION, & ENGAGEMENT26 Coordination and Planning26 Diversity and Affordability27 Human Resources28 Investment29 Co-Curricular Education32 Public Engagement

1

INTRODUCTION

In FY14, Boston University continued to make progress on campus sustainability and

continued to be recognized as a green university by outside organizations and students

seeking an education at an institution actively engaged in sustainability. A 2014 survey

of 10,100 college applicants by the Princeton Review reported that 61% of respondents

would value having information about a college’s commitment to the environment.

“BU’s sustainability commitment is long-term and broad-based. It’s a significant part of our teaching and research program and

campus operation.”Gary Nicksa, Senior VP for Operations, at Carbon Cup 2014

BU enjoys sustained recognition as a Green University in the Princeton Review Guide

to Green Colleges, in the Sierra Club’s Cool Schools report, as a STARS Silver ranked

university from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher

Education (AASHE), and internationally through UI GreenMetric. BU is the first higher-

education institution in the country to achieve STARS Silver recognition four times.

6 Years Old and 6 Years Early

With a program nearly 6 years old, BU has met its goal to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions by 25% - 6 years early. We’ve cut our emissions in three ways:

1. The electrical grid in the Northeast has become significantly greener as

electrical generation moves from coal to natural gas and renewable energy

grows as a percentage of production.

2. We have converted to cleaner burning fuels for heating and cooling our buildings.

In FY 2006, 24% of our energy was generated by burning heating oil, now only

3% is.

3. Most importantly, we’ve reduced our energy consumption.

The University has a strong commitment to sustainability in its education and research

mission, which fosters a campus culture active with sustainability-related student

groups and events. Many core elements of campus sustainability made progress

during the 2014 fiscal year, especially greenhouse gas reduction and preparing for

climate change. Building energy efficiency continues to be the University’s focus in the

upcoming year. We will do this primarily by improving Building Automation Systems.

2

Where We Are Today

Sustainability continues to be an meaningful part of the fabric of the University

and thus effectively monitoring our progress is important. This report summarizes

the progress of Boston University’s sustainability program from FY06– FY14 and

provides an outline of planned future sustainability initiatives. A summary of

resource and waste management metrics is provided below.

Campus Growth and Buildings

From FY06 to FY14, BU campus facilities grew 14%. The campus now has

approximately 1,906,000 square feed of LEED registered, certified, Gold, and Silver

space.

Resources

Metric % Change From FY06 To FY14 UnitsCO2 Emissions -25% 166,286 122,727 MTCO2e

Energy Consumption -4% 1,842,324 1,764,304 MMBtus

Oil -90% 443,914 46,222 MMBtus

Natural Gas +63% 535,555 870,361 MMBtus

Steam -6% 178,326 168,475 MMBtus

Electricity -1% 684,529 679,236 MMBtus

Water -13% 434,925,867 379,008,367 Gallons

Recycling and Waste Management

Metric % Change From FY06* To FY14 UnitsTotal Waste CRC -13% 9,999 8,752 Tons

Total Waste BUMC +14% 962 1,096 Tons

Total Waste BU -9% 10,961 9,849 Tons

Recycling Rate 11 fold increase 3% 33%

* Based on a waste audit conducted on the Charles River Campus in 2006. BUMC waste for FY06 assumed to be equal to FY08 when data became available.

14%Campus growth

since 2006

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3

Transportation

96% of students and 52% of employees use sustainable means of transportation

on a daily basis by taking advantage of BU’s expansive sustainable transportation

network, including MBTA subway and buses, The BUS, bike lanes, and Hubway.

Dining Services

Of all the colleges and universities in the country, BU has three of the four highest

rated Certified Green Restaurants. BU has the only certified food court in the

country, at three stars.

Curriculum

The Venice Environmental Studies Program was one notable addition in

FY14 to the expanse of programs and classes focused on and related to

sustainability across the University.

Research

Sustainability research continues to grow with 186 faculty and 87 departments

involved in projects related to energy, environment, and sustainability.

Co-Curricular

An exciting new partnership was developed in FY14 between sustainability@BU and

the BU Arts Initiative to host a Sustainable Art Contest in tandem with Earth Day.

Participants created art pieces with at least 90% recycled content.

What Remains to be Done

With the doubling of the sustainability@BU Revolving Loan Fund in FY14, BU can

accelerate building energy efficiency projects, save money, and further reduce

the University’s carbon footprint.

96%Students Use

Sustainable Transportation

3Highest Rated

Green Restaurants

183Sustainability Related

or Focused Courses

186Sustainability

Research Faculty

18Sustainability Related

Student Groups

4

Education & Research

100Sustainability

Related Courses

83Sustainability

Focused Courses

186Sustainability

Research Faculty

87Sustainability

Research Departments

6

CURRICULUM

Where We Are Today

STARS 2.0 provides the following definition for sustainability courses:

• Foundational courses in which the primary and explicit focus is on sustainability as an integrated concept having social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

• Courses in which the primary and explicit focus is on the application of sustainability within a field. As sustainability is an interdisciplinary topic, such courses generally incorporate insights from multiple disciplines.

• Courses in which the primary focus is on providing skills and/or knowledge directly connected to understanding or solving one or more major sustainability challenges. A course might provide knowledge and understanding of the problem or tools for solving it, for example Climate Change Science, Renewable Energy Policy, Environmental Justice, or Green Chemistry. Such courses do not necessarily cover “sustainability” as a concept, but should address more than one of the three dimensions of sustainability (i.e. social wellbeing, economic prosperity, and

environmental health).

A one-year inventory1 of academic classes offered at BU found that there were 1832

courses related to, or focused on sustainability offered across 53 departments in 14 of

BU’s 16 schools and colleges. In FY14, the Department of Earth and Environment and

BU Study Abroad launched the Venice Environmental Studies Program in Italy that

encourages students to explore critical issues linked to climate change. The program

has a dual focus on the scientific drivers of climate change and sea level rise and

how the Venice lagoon is changing, and on the effects of change on the culture and

economy of Venice.

1 In order to avoid the inclusion of courses that are more ambiguous in their relationship to sustainability, this inventory does not include any .5 credit courses, 1 credit academic labs, internships, externships, practicum, international courses, independent study, directed study, field work, theses, or dissertations. In addition, cross-registered courses are only counted once.

2STARS Version 2.0 has updated the criteria for counting sustainability related and focused courses. Two criteria contribute to the reduction from 481 in last year’s report: refined definitions and limiting the data set to one year rather than three years.

7

RESEARCH

Where We Are Today

STARS 2.0 provides the following definition for sustainability research:

Sustainability research is research that leads toward solutions that simultaneously support social wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health. It includes academic research that:

• Explicitly addresses sustainability and/or furthers our understanding of the interconnectedness of social, economic and environmental issues;

• Contributes directly toward solving one or more major sustainability challenge (e.g. contributes toward achieving principles outlined in the Earth Charter); and/or

• Engages community members with the aim of combining knowledge and action to achieve positive social, economic and environmental outcomes (e.g. participatory and community-based research and engaged scholarship)

Under this definition, BU had 186 faculty members and 87 different departments

conducting sustainability research at the University during FY14.

Sustainability research at BU covers a wide range of topics, from carbon dynamics in

tropical peatlands to the prediction of humanitarian disasters. Several professors in

the School of Engineering are making great progress on a self-cleaning technology that

can be embedded in or adhered to solar panels which cause dust particles to levitate.

This technology has the potential to reduce the maintenance costs of solar panels.

A group of researchers from across the University along with several Massachusetts

businesses, city and state agencies, and planning groups are working on an effort called

SCOPE (Smart-city Cloud-based Open Platform & Ecosystem). SCOPE will use cloud

computing-based services to help mitigate urban problems like traffic congestion and

air pollution.

8

Operations

318kSquare Feet

LEED Silver, Gold

613kSquare Feet

LEED Registered

25%GHG Reduction

Since FY06

4%Energy Reduction

Since FY06

10

BUILDINGS

Where We Are Today

As BU continues to expand and improve building area across its campuses, building

design, construction, and operations are becoming more and more sustainable.

Currently, there are several large ongoing construction and renovation projects that are

expected to receive LEED Gold Certification: the Law School, the Engineering Product

Innovation Center (EPIC), and the Alan and Sherry Leventhal Center. The School of

Theology’s Community Center achieved LEED Gold. Additionally, the new Center

for Integrated Life Sciences and Engineering Building is pursuing LEED Gold. It will

employ climate resilient design strategies and act as evidence that lab buildings can be

designed and built with markedly lower EUIs (Energy Use Intensities) than the average.

Since FY06, Boston University’s building area has increased 14% and now has a total of

931,000 square feet on campus that are LEED Certified, Silver, Gold, and Registered.

All major projects in design and construction are seeking LEED certification.

• LEED Certified 88,000 sf

• LEED Silver 3,000 sf

• LEED Gold 227,000 sf

• LEED Registered 613,000 sf

• LEED Pipeline 855,000 sf

• CAMPUS LEED Total 1,786,000 sf

• MGHPCC Platinum* 120,000 sf


1. Continue to update sustainable design standards incorporating lessons

learned.

* The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computer Center was designed and built and now operated through a consortium of institutions: Boston University, MIT, UMass, Harvard, and Northeastern universities and is located in Holyoke, MA.

11

CLIMATE

Where We Are Today

This year, Boston University met its 2020 goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 25%.

While the campus has grown 14% since FY06, greenhouse gas emissions have been

reduced by 25%.

This was achieved through three parallel efforts: improving building energy efficiency,

switching to cleaner

burning fuels, and the

greening of the grid in

the Northeast.

Prior to the

announcement of the

25% reduction, BU

received one of Mayor

Walsh’s Carbon Cup

awards at the 2014

Greenovate Boston

Summit for reducing

carbon emissions of one

million square feet by

35% and committing to

reducing an additional

4 million square feet by

35% by 2020.


1. Update Climate Action Plan for 2020.

2. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for renewable energy

production on campus as well as an off-site renewable energy program

President Brown receiving the

Mayor’s Carbon Cup from Mayor Walsh and Chief of Environment, Energy, & Open

Space, Brian Swett.

Fiscal Year20060

200,000

2014

MTC

O2e

Fiscal Year20060

180,000

2014

MTC

O2e

12

CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS

Building on the City of Boston’s leadership in preparing the City for the impacts of

climate change, BU is in the process of creating a climate preparedness report to

plan for its campuses. The Climate Ready BU report explores the three major climate

change induced threats facing the campuses in the coming years: flooding, heat,

and storm intensity. Remote sensing research conducted by graduate students Eric

Bullock, Tyler Lockamy, and Molly Wilder, under Professor Suchi Gopal, provides the

comprehensive mapping for the University to understand the potential flooding risks

on campus under different sea level rise and storm scenarios.

Sea level in Boston Harbor has increased 11 inches in the last century and the rate of

change is accelerating. Under current sea level rise projections, BU will experience

flooding from storms with increasing frequency over the next several decades, then,

unless significant regional

measures are taken,

from tides twice a day by

the end of the century.

About 20% of the total

campus area is low-lying

and at particular risk,

as it was built on tide

flats that were filled as

Boston expanded.

In addition to examining

the effects of flooding,

Climate Ready BU also

considers the impacts

of heat on campus

infrastructure, energy

demands, and human

health, and the effects

of more intense storms

on building integrity and

enterprise continuity.

13

Climate Ready BU makes recommendations for policy and changes to the physical

campus to prepare the University for the impacts from climate change. This document

provides tools to better inform decision making for campus planning and construction

that can be incrementally implemented for each climate-induced hazard anticipated

for BU through the year 2100.

Since rising waters do not respect jurisdictional or property boundaries, preparing for

climate change requires thoughtful collaboration with a broad set of stakeholders.

The Green Ribbon Commission provides many avenues for regional collaboration

and sustainability@BU is deeply engaged. In addition to ongoing collaboration,

recommendations for BU include:

• Encourage federal, state, and local policy change to address regional solutions

• Implement “if you touch it, raise it or protect it” strategy

• Increase permeability of landscape and paved surfaces to reduce stormwater

runoff

• Incorporate resilient design standards for vulnerable buildings

• Implement a white roof and pavement program to reduce urban heat-island

effect

• Develop and implement a tree canopy expansion plan to reduce urban heat-

island effect

14

DINING SERVICES

Where We Are Today

BU’s commitment to sustainable dining enabled the University to become the first

in the country to have a four-star Certified Green Restaurant© - and we have three

- certified by the Green Restaurant Association for the dining facilities’ sustainable

construction, operations, and sourcing practices. Rize, Late Night Kitchen, and the

Fresh Food Company at Marciano Commons have received this recognition with

Marciano Commons having the distinction of being the highest rated of any university

in the country. Union Court in the George Sherman Union is the only food court in the

country to be a Certified Green Restaurant©.

The GRA takes environmental standards into account such as water efficiency, waste

reduction and recycling, sustainable furnishings and building materials, sustainable

food, energy, disposables, and chemical and pollution reduction. BU Dining addressed

these challenging criteria in many ways, such as local food sourcing, the use of cage-

free eggs, Energy Star appliances, and water-efficient dishwashers and sink fixtures.

BU Dining Services’ sustainability program continues to create positive environmental

and social impacts through responsible procurement. Sourcing food from local and

sustainable farms and

producers enables

Dining Services

to provide the BU

community with

wholesome options,

support the local

economy, preserve

farmland in New

England, and support

environmentally-friendly agricultural practices. Additionally, an emphasis sourcing

produce within a 250 mile radius helps reduce our carbon footprint by reducing

shipping distances. Barley from Four Star Farms in Northfield, MA, cider from Carlson

Orchards in Harvard, MA, seafood from Red’s Best in Boston, MA, and sprouts from

Czajkowski Farms in Rochester, MA are just a few examples of foods and their local

15

sources that BU Dining works with to make meals that make a difference. In 2012,

Dining Services partnered with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to promote

underutilized Gulf of Maine species, such as the Atlantic Pollock that was served

across campus during the month of October.

Dining Service’s Zero Waste Commitment continued throughout the year with staffed

catered events, from orientation through commencement. In FY14, Dining Services

switched from plastic sandwich bags at Subway to paper, for the 155,000 bags

needed. Employees created an 8% reduction in food waste in FY14 by weighing their

food prep waste as part of a food waste reduction program. The SOMAT extractor and

pulper, extracts 85% of water from organic prep scraps and post-consumer food waste

which reduces the number of pickups and hauls from the Yawkey Center from six days

a week to just one - that avoids 400 tons of CO2 from being produced each year.

Improving food waste management and connecting the BU community to the sources

of our food have been important commitments that BU Dining Services continues

to deliver on. In addition to the weekly farmers market and CSA farm share in FY14,

Dining hosted a Cabot farmer and local fisherman during Earth Week, led tours of

local cranberry bogs and apple orchards, and installed two new energy-efficient dish

machines at the Fresh Food Co. at West Campus. Dining continued to implement

Make a Difference Mondays every week highlighting vegetarian, fish, and poultry

options in lieu of beef and pork.

For more information on BU Dining Sustainability, see Boston University Dining

Services 2014 Sustainability Report.


1. Continue to expand dining sustainability success to BUMC.

2. Procure 20% of our food from sustainable sources by 2018.

3. Reduce waste from packaging and use of disposable cups.

16

ENERGY

Where We Are Today

Since FY 2006, the University has reduced its total energy consumption by 4%

while growing the size of our facilities by 14%. This equates to a reduction in campus

Energy Use Intensity (EUI) from 150 kBtu/sf in FY 2006 to 126 kBtu/sf in FY 2014.

The improvements in efficiency have been gained through a complete renovation

of the University’s central heating plant, heating and cooling system upgrades,

commissioning, and lighting projects, and lamp replacement programs.

Energy demand

reduction is the most

important issue

within the University’s

sustainability efforts for

a host of reasons. Energy

efficiency improves air

quality, reduces CO2

emissions that contribute to climate change, and reduces operating costs.

Since FY 2006, the University’s energy mix has changed:

Electricity Consumption: +2% Oil Consumption: -90%

Steam Consumption: -12% Natural Gas Consumption: +60%

Boston University’s strategic approach to energy efficiency is focused at the system

level. While lighting and other energy projects continue to be implemented, the focus

is on leveraging existing building automation systems to optimize building performance

coupled with behavioral change education.

LED lighting has been increasingly incorporated into both the Charles River and

Medical campuses. The University has implemented LED lighting upgrades, replacing

over 8,000 fixtures since 2011 for an annual energy savings of over 2.4 million kWh of

electricity, or about 1% of the University’s total electrical consumption.

Reducing energy consumption is

an important part of reducing BU’s

carbon footprint.

1,900,000

1,600,000

Fiscal Year2006 201412

15

MM

BTU

s

Mill

ion

sq. f

t.

17

BU is continuing to pursue its initiative to reduce campus energy use by 10% by

the end of FY 2017. To accomplish this, the University has doubled the size of the

Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund to $2 million, and continues to pursue large projects

with capital funding.


1. Continue to implement 10% energy conservation strategy.

2. Develop a plan to reduce energy consumption an additional 10%.

3. Benchmark Portfolio Manager to FY 2006 for publicly reporting building

energy and water use for buildings over 35,000 square feet.

4. Complete Memoranda of Understanding with NStar and National Grid.

Where We Are Today

Sustainability has deep roots when it comes to improving the quality of student life

on campus. It provides important opportunities for collaboration between students,

faculty, and staff, especially at Facilities Management & Planning. This year saw

several important collaborations with meaningful outcomes: a reflection garden next

to the Alan & Sherry Leventhal Center, the Warren Towers Patio, and Warren Towers

Recycling.

The reflection garden

was developed through a

collaboration between the

student leaders from the

Environmental Student

Organization, Questrom

Team Synerg-E, and

the Community Service

Center and convened

through sustainability@BU and FM&P Grounds Manager, Ray Bourgeois. The project

was funded by the Student Senate.

GROUNDS

18

PURCHASING

The Warren Towers patio project envisioned and executed by Claire Richer (CAS ‘15)

and Andrew Cho (CAS ‘16), the President of Warren Towers RHA, in collaboration with

Residence Life, sustainability@BU, and FM&P. Richer and Cho set a goal to create “a

community green space where people could enjoy being outside but still in the dorm,”

said Cho.

The University integrates many eco-agricultural initiatives into its grounds keeping

practices. BU composts 100% of yard waste, limits pre-application of snow and ice

removal chemicals, and applies organic lawn treatments. Additionally, BU uses organic

fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizer for four out of the six treatments applied each

year, and uses only non-toxic, dormant oil spray as pest prevention.


1. Continue to transition to more native, drought resistant plantings.

2. Increase permeable surfaces in landscapes and pavement to reduce storm-

water runoff

3. Develop and implement a light pavement program

4. Develop and implement a tree canopy expansion plan

Where We Are Today

When it comes to cleaning supplies, office paper, and electronics, BU works to

purchase sustainable products to the extent possible.

Boston University successfully meets its high standards for cleaning through a

comprehensive Sustainable Cleaning Program. In FY13, BU rolled out the Sustainable

Cleaning Program with the opening of the Yawkey Center for Student Services.

100% of the cleaning products used by Custodial Services are Green Seal or EcoLogo

certified in most areas of campus. In the coming years, BU will continue the shift to

Green Certified Cleaning products from the current 91.4%. The reduction of waste,

19

improvementof the indoor environmental quality, and cost reduction provided through

the Program has led the University to extend the program out across the Charles River

Campus.

University stationary including letterhead, business cards and #10 Envelope paper,

is FSC, Carbon Neutral, Green-e certified, and has 100% post-consumer waste

recycled content. BU also continues to partner with Office Depot on providing green

office supply options. Additionally, BU continues to meet EPEAT Gold standards for

purchases of desktops, laptops, and monitors.

A University-wide print program is being explored to right-size and optimize the

University’s fleet of printers and multi-function devices. In 2014, pilot surveys were

conducted in a number of locations, including IS&T, VPFA, Office of the Budget, and

1 Silber Way 8th and 9th floors, resulting in a proposal to remove approximately 123

devices, or 62% of the pilot printer fleet. Additionally, the managed print project team

is working to create University-wide printer standards and to promote printing best

practices to better meet the needs of a sustainable, digital university such as BU.

Concur Travel, a digital travel and business expense reimbursement system, was

piloted in Fall 2014 and subsequently rolled out across the University in February 2015.

Along with the Concur system, the University also launched a new travel credit card

program. The University Travel Card is a corporate-liability Visa card, directly billed to

and paid for by the University, and integrates directly with Concur to streamline the

reimbursement process. The system is expected to increase workflow efficiency, speed

up the reimbursement process, and reduce paper use for approximately 30,000 two+

page expense reports annually.


1. Complete the Sustainable Cleaning Program rollout on the CRC.

2. Continue to develop the Managed Print Program.

3. Develop printer standards to include cost- and energy-efficiency University-wide.

4. Develop guidelines and report progress on sustainable purchasing.

20

5. Allow W-2 forms to be received in electronic format University-wide.

Where We Are Today

On a daily basis, 96.5% of our students and 52% of our employees use sustainable

means of transportation to get to campus.

Between our two campuses, sustainable modes of transportation include 11 MBTA

subway stops, 8 bus routes, 4 Zipcar locations, 6 Hubway bike share stations, and

the BUS linking the two campuses with 13 stops. In addition, with 12 electric vehicles

registered on the Medical Campus, BUMC provides 4 electrical vehicle charging

stations and 6 parking spots, and the Charles River Campus has added preferred

parking spaces for low emitting vehicles.

With over 4,100 bike spaces along the Charles River campus (600 of which are within

bike rooms), BU provides the infrastructure needed for the campus community to bike

to and around campus.

BU partners with Boston

Bikes and MassBike.org,

promoting City and State

laws and initiatives.

The University has a

bike safety website

and smartphone

app which promote

safety, education, and

awareness, provide riding classes, interactive Google maps of bike racks and routes,

and information about community cycling events and activities. Every year, the

Bike Safety Committee and sustainability@BU partner to promote bike safety at the

Sustainability Festival on Marsh Plaza. Local bike shops provide free bike tune ups, the

community receives information about cycling laws and safety tips, and attendees can

register their bikes with BUPD.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation Highlights

4 Electric vehicle

charging stations

4,100 Bike parking spaces

6 Hubway bike-share

locations

21

BU also aims to make sustainable transportation more available for students, faculty,

and staff through the BU Rideshare Database, which helps members of the BU

community coordinate carpooling. On the Medical Campus, carpoolers are given

preferential parking on the first floor of the 610 Albany St garage. BU currently has over

100 active carpoolers.


1. Continue to expand preferred parking for Electric Vehicles, Low Emitting

Vehicles and High Occupancy Vehicles.

2. Continually improve bicycle safety.

Where We Are Today

In 2006 a waste audit was conducted on the Charles River Campus, which established

a recycling rate of 3%. In FY14, that rate increased to 33%. More importantly, the

University has reduced its total waste by 9%.

In FY11 through FY13

improvements to the

University’s recycling

rate began to flatten out

and in FY14 it continues

to hover near 30%. In

response to the flattening

progress, BU piloted

a Trash Buddy program across the Charles River Campus. Trash Buddies are small

trashcans that fit inside recycle bins. This saves space and more accurately illustrates

the ratio of recyclables to trash in the waste we create. A pilot showed an average

recycling rate increase from 47.4% to 73.2%. We attribute the 3% improvements in

2014 campus recycling to the Trash Buddy Program.

WASTE

12,000

0

Fiscal Year2006 2014

Tons

22

Scarlet Squad embraced being green again at 2014 move-in. Members helped direct

incoming residents to recycle their cardboard – 31.4 tons of it. Since beginning

move-in cardboard diversion, BU has recycled over 100 tons of cardboard! Scarlet

Squad members also distributed recycle bags and postcards showing residents what

and where they can recycle to ensure that their recycling success continues in the

academic year.

This year Student Government initiated a proposal to make recycling more convenient

in the large dormitories, pairing recycling and trash bins on every residential floor. The

program was piloted in Warren Towers, where the initial results suggest a recycling

rate increase of 10 percentage points during the pilot.

At the end of each semester, the University implements its move-out program

“Goodwill not landfill”

to capture all the usable

stuff students leave

behind when they move

out of their residences.

This year 100 tons of

perfectly good stuff was

donated to Goodwill,

and since May 2009 this program has diverted 348 tons of clothing, electronics,

and housewares from the landfill. Goodwill Industries sells these items to support

important social programs that benefit the Greater Boston community and BU saves

the waste removal fees.

Once again BU participated in RecycleMania, a national eight-week campus recycling

competition for colleges and universities to encourage recycling among the student

population. Of the 256 schools participating in the Per-capita Classic, BU ranked 197th,

compared to 146th in FY13. Clearly, there is still opportunity for improvement in BU’s

recycling and waste diversion rates.


1. Continue to improve recycling in the dorms.

Since beginning cardboard diversion at move-in, BU has

diverted over 100 tons of cardboard.

In May, sustainability@BU’s move-out program

diverted 100 tons of stuff to Goodwill.

23

Where We Are Today

Since FY06 Boston University’s water consumption has been reduced by 13%. The

strategies the University continues to employ on campus to reduce water consumption

include rain water harvesting to capture rain water for landscape irrigation, rain sensors

installed on the 140 systems across campus, drip irrigation systems, self-charging

hands-free sink faucets, sensor based toilets, and the elimination of dining hall trays.

The University continues

to install sub-meters

for water to better

understand water

consumption and abate

cooling tower water

costs. We are exploring

the concept of gray water

systems for new construction projects.

The University has reduced the quantity of stormwater runoff as it piloted sustainable

urban drainage systems, or “green infrastructure” with the design and construction of

New Balance Field. This is a strategy that the University will need to continue to make

its campuses more resilient to intense storm events.


1. Expand implementation of rainwater harvesting systems on campus.

2. Continue to implement sustainable urban drainage systems

3. Establish scope for a comprehensive campus-wide storm water management

plan in concert with climate preparedness efforts.

4. Continue to replace inefficient fixtures with low-flow/high-efficiency fixtures as

upgrades are scheduled.

WATER

Water efficient fixtures are

constantly being installed across

campus.

450 15

12300Fiscal Year2006 2014

Mill

ion

Gal

lons

Mill

ion

sq. f

t.

24

Planning,Administration,

& Engagement

64Sustainability

Liaisons

63Departments with Liaisons

18BUMC

Sustainability Ambassadors

26

COORDINATION AND PLANNING

DIVERSITY AND AFFORDABILITY

Where We Are Today

As student demand for more sustainability-focused Universities increases,

sustainability continues to become more broadly and deeply integrated in University

infrastructure and daily operations.

BU continues to dedicate resources to coordination, planning and implementation. The

University’s 2013-2023 Institutional Master Plan dedicated a chapter to sustainability.


1. Integrate a campus climate risk reduction and preparedness strategy into

the campus planning process.

Where We Are Today

To encourage equal opportunity actions in BU’s plans, the Faculty Equity and Inclusion

Committee and the Equal Opportunity Office serve as a resource for employees.

The University has committed itself to meeting the needs of part-time faculty through

an informative website and the Part-Time Faculty Working group. In 2014, the Working

Group brought to light a number of sensitive issues with regard to how part-time

faculty are regarded at BU and made recommendations including increased access to

benefits and increased job security.

The Equal Opportunity Office provides formal training for managers, employees and

administrators on sexual harassment, discrimination, and other EO topics. In the

Fall ‘14, the University rolled out mandatory sexual misconduct trainings. Training is

offered on a regular basis through the Get Trained! series of professional development

workshops provided by Human Resources. Training is also provided for departments

and other employee groups by request.

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The Howard Thurman Center offers a number of cultural competence activities and

trainings to students throughout the year. The HTC acts as a cultural hub on campus

that welcomes and promotes diversity and equality.

Boston University is committed to ensuring that students from low-income

backgrounds have access to and are knowledgeable about BU. The University has

strategically hosted, visited, and partnered with organizations that serve students from

low-income backgrounds. Additionally, in 2014 BU awarded over $53 million in need-

based grants and merit awards to incoming students.


1. Coordinate with the HTC and the CAS Office of Student Academic Life

to provide more robust sustainability and diversity-related training and

engagement opportunities to students in the First Year Experience.

Where We Are Today

In order to reduce resource consumption and operating costs, it is important for BU to

incorporate sustainability into human resource programs and policies to equip faculty

and staff with the tools, knowledge, and motivation to adopt more sustainable actions.

This year, sustainability related materials were included in new employee orientation

packets.

Each semester Human Resources offers “Greening Your Office,” a course offered

to staff and faculty through its Get Trained! program. The sustainability outreach

coordinator teaches the course.

To more effectively engage the BU community and motivate behavioral change through

peer-to-peer education, the Sustainability Liaisons and Ambassadors meet to share

best practices to advance sustainability within schools, colleges and departments.

These individuals are active in their departments and help to implement the Green

Office and Green Department Certification programs.

HUMAN RESOURCES

In addition to educating their

colleagues, Sustainability

Liaisons and Ambassadors help

disseminate monthly action materials.

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Additional resources are available, such as childcare, to faculty and staff through the

Office of Family Resources and the Faculty/Staff Assistance Office provides counseling

and referral services for health and wellness.


1. Integrate more robust sustainability programming in new employee orientation.

Where We Are Today

Since the Sustainable Endowments Institute released its first Green Report Card in

2007, promoting sustainability through endowment investment strategies in higher

education has become increasingly topical. In 2012 investments once again came into

focus through the fossil fuel divestment movement that continues to spread across the

country and on campus with faculty and students engaged in DivestBU. The University

continues to work towards finding balance between making sustainable investments

and securing the financial health of the University. Throughout this debate, the

University stays focused on ensuring its investment strategy has the highest returns,

while endeavoring to make progress on socially responsible investing.

In 2012, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees endorsed President Brown’s

recommendation for the establishment of a standing Advisory Committee on Socially

Responsible Investing (“ACSRI”). The Committee provides the University with a

framework and forum for the consideration of socially responsible investment policy

issues, including sustainability. In fall 2014, the ACSRI began considering the issue

of divestment from fossil fuel interests and will bring its findings to the University

administration for consideration.

Notable socially responsible investment decisions made by BU include a University-

wide Sudan divestment program. BU maintains a negative screening of its entire

investment pool to meet the Sudan divestment policy. Each external manager of

INVESTMENT

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securities directly held by the University has been informed of the policy and their

requirements to comply. Compliance with this policy is monitored regularly and can be

verified by members of the Investment Office or Office of Financial Affairs.

The University has made investments through third-party investment managers

in the development of “clean” technologies, alternative energy sources, emissions

controls/reductions, sustainable forestry/farming techniques, and other

environmentally responsible investments. The University will continue to evaluate

similar investment ideas as part of the endowment portfolio.


1. Conclude the issue of fossil fuel investments and consider the ACSRI’s

investment recommendations.

Where We Are Today

The University’s sustainability outreach program focuses on providing students with

opportunities to learn about the impacts of their actions and on facilitating smooth

behavioral changes to make our campuses more sustainable. The goal of student

outreach is to foster long-lasting sustainable lifestyles that will continue to serve

students, our campus, and the planet well for generations to come.

Students work to engage the campus community around sustainability as well through

the 18 student organizations related to sustainability, such as the Environmental

Student Organization, the BU Energy Club, and the Vegetarian Society. Students

also have the option to reside in the Earth House and commit to a more sustainable

lifestyle.

Outreach efforts on campus during the 2014 fiscal year included many one-time events

and recurrent activities. Both the outreach coordinator and the sustainability director

CO-CURRICULAR EDUCATION

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presented throughout the year to various student organizations and on campus

activities, including:

CELOP: Sustainability at Boston University

Environmental Leadership Network: Student Leaders Monthly Meeting

Slone Epidemiology Center

Earth House Specialty Residence: Sustainability at Boston University

From Rainforests to the Renaissance - co-presented with Professor Douglas Zook as part of BU International Education Week

Graduate RA Training: The Green Room Assessment

Orientation & FYSOP Staff Training: Peer Education for Sustainability

The sustainability@BU communications intern staffed the weekly Sustainability Help

Desk in the George Sherman Union, having one-on-one conversations with students

and employees. The Sustainability Help Desk acts as a gateway for students to

get insight on sustainable events and opportunities for involvement on campus. A

sustainability@BU intern is a regular presence at the Help Desk and provides students

with information on how to reduce their carbon footprint, how to get involved in clubs

and sustainable initiatives on campus, and asks students how sustainability@BU can

help them with their own sustainability goals. .

Sustainability continues to be deeply ingrained in campus culture, with sustainability

efforts coming from many different parts of the University. For example, BU researchers

are continuously releasing informative press releases about sustainability-related

research efforts, Events & Conferences continues to use only FSC certified paper

products at Commencement and their website encourages the BU community to

make their events green, Barnes & Noble at BU sources all caps and gowns from

100% recycled content made from 108,000 plastic soda and water bottles, and

many incoming students said they chose to attend BU because it has a sustainability

program.

Student government, after being elected on an environmental platform has actively

moved sustainability initiatives forward. In September Student Body President, Dexter

On-Campus Outreach

Highlights

BUMC Earth Day Festival

Sharing resources and information about BU’s sustainability initiatives

Sustainability Festival

Connecting students to sustainable groups and

activities on campus

Earth Week+Make a Difference

Monday, MGHPCC Field Trip, Vegan

Cooking Class, Sustainable Arts

Contest, and more.

RecycleManiaRecycling competition

between colleges

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McCoy announced the Dorm Energy Challenge where each dorm competed to see who

could reduce there electrical consumption the most from a three-year baseline. 8 of

the 11 dorm areas successfully reduced their electrical use with Danielsen Hall winning

with 15%.

The internship program at sustainability@BU continues to be a leader on campus.

Interns are empowered to take the lead on projects such as receiving and reporting

sustainability metrics and verifying carbon reductions through the Chevrolet Campus

Clean Energy Campaign.

In FY14, sustainability@BU student interns managed the 2013 Eco Rep Symposium

hosted at Boston University in November 2013. The event, co-hosted by sustainability@

BU and GreenerU, had a turnout of nearly 150 participants from colleges across the

Northeast to share insights, ideas, and questions about sustainability on college

campuses.


1. Continue with existing communications and outreach activities.

2. Educate students about Energy Use Intensity and focus communications on

energy reduction strategies.

3. Continue collaborations with Student Government to organize the annual

Dorm Energy Challenge.

4. Maintain a robust internship program.

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Where We Are Today

The Green Office Certification program has been an ongoing effort through

sustainability@BU to educate faculty and staff about the sustainable actions they can

take in their offices. With a recent surge of certifications as IS&T decided to certify all

of their offices, sustainability@BU has now certified over 1,200 offices. Additionally, the

program has four departments certified.

In addition to engaging faculty and staff, one of the core objectives of the University is

to give back to the community through service, engagement, and partnerships.

Boston University’s leadership in sustainability is shared well beyond our campus in the

public engagement realm as well. BU launched the Initiative on Cities, co-directed by

the late Mayor Tom Menino and Professor Graham Wilson, “to promote and advance

the adaptive urban leadership strategies necessary to support cities as dynamic

centers of economic growth and development in the 21st century.”

President Brown is an active member of Boston’s Green Ribbon Commission, which

connects businesses and civic leaders with a shared desire to make Boston a leader in

the green economy and meeting the challenge of climate change. The sustainability

director is active on the GRC’s Higher Education and Climate Preparation Working

Groups and the Clean Power Purchasing Group.

BU is engaged with the City of Boston’s 2014 Climate Action Plan update. In Spring

2014, the University collaborated with the Mayor’s Environment, Energy, and Open

Space department to host an event to give the BU community an opportunity to be a

part of the planning process.

During the sustainability@BU Move-out program, Boston University collaborates with

Goodwill Industries to collect household items and clothing students leave behind

when they move out. In 2014 BU also participated in Goodwill’s Put Your Clothes to

Work clothing drive, expanding the donations to target BU employees for professional

clothing. Proceeds from the goods collected at BU help support Goodwill programs.

Active Memberships

GRC City of Boston’s Green

Ribbon Commission

AASHE Association for the

Advancement of Sustainability in

Higher Education

MOS Boston Environmental Sustainability

Committee

STARSSteering Committee

USGBC U.S. Green Building

Council

NECSC Northeast Campus

Sustainability Consortium

ULI Urban Land Institute

Climate Resilience Committee and

Sustainability Council

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

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The sustainability director, outreach coordinator, and Dining Services sustainability

coordinator have presented to many constituencies outside BU during FY14, including:

AASHE Annual Conference: Effects of Behavioral Signage on Dormitory Recycling Rates

AASHE Annual Conference: Food Waste Diversion and Evolution on Campus: Preparing for the Upcoming MA Organics Waste Ban (Poster Session)

AASHE Annual Conference: Strengthening Sustainability through External Partnerships - co-presented with assistant sustainability directors at Harvard, and MIT

Mass Recycles R3 Conference: Zero Waste

MIT: Organics Diversion

NEACUHO: Goodwill, Not Landfill - co-presented with BU Residence Life

Round Square: Sustainability at Boston University

Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) Regional Conference: Beyond Boundaries: Building Resilient Campuses and Communities

Urban Land Institute: The Urban Implications of Living with Water

Urban Land Institute: Advisory Services Panel - Regional Strategies for Creating Resilient Waterfronts

The Community Service Center has 15 student-run programs that involve interaction

with the Greater Boston Area community, one of which, Branch Out, specifically

focuses on environmental service and engagement.


1. Launch the Green Dorm Certification program, and expand the Green

Department Certification program.

2. Better integrate sustainability into the new student and staff orientation

programs.

3. Continue to support and promote the activities and initiatives of

Greenovate Boston.

sustainability@BU is currently engaged

with The Green Ribbon Commission

on aggregating stakeholder demand

for large scale renewable energy.

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THANK YOU

Thank you for taking the time to learn about Boston University’s efforts to create a

more sustainable campus and community. We hope you have a better understanding

of the extent of the University’s sustainability program and are inspired to take action.

To start, Join the Challenge. Working together we can make a positive contribution to a

more sustainable future.

Photo Credits

Cover Eric Levin

Page 4 Joe Chan

Page 8 Tim Llewellyn

Page 11 Greenovate Boston

Page 14 Kalman Zabarsky

Page 17 Lindsey Chew



Page 24 Lauren Alzate


Page 32 Steve Lipofski

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