“Green is the new Crimson,” proclaimed banners above the Sanders Theatre stage, as the Harvard University Office for Sustainability presented the second annual Green Carpet Awards on April 11. The awards recognized 55 individuals and 7 teams for creativity and enthusiasm in helping the University achieve ambitious energy-reduction goals.
The Longwood Medical Area was well represented: Teams from both HMS and the Harvard School of Public Health took home statuettes fashioned out of fence posts and coconuts, as did five individuals from HMS, three from HSPH and one from HSDM. The trophies, like the green carpet that welcomed the 160 nominees to Memorial Hall in Cambridge, evoked an Academy Awards ceremony—shifted to the Ed Begley Jr. range of Hollywood’s stellar spectrum.
By 2016, the University aims to curb greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from 2008 levels. By the start of this year, emissions already had been cut by 10 percent. As Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust, Lincoln Professor of History in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, noted in a videocast to awardees, “Success will depend on each of you.”
Team SpiritAn HMS team won in the Waste/Water Project category for their Lab Waste Reduction: Reusable Containers for Biowaste and Sharps Project. By providing reusable sharps and plastic reusable biohazard boxes in labs, the program eliminated the need for more than 11,000 disposable cardboard boxes last year.
“It makes you feel good,” says Vincent Mazzone, HMS manager of custodial services, who put the idea into action. Laboratory personnel were extremely cooperative, he says, and most labs on the HMS campus have since followed suit.
HSPH’s team won for their Green Building Project, the renovation of 90 Smith Street. The building’s green features are expected to cut energy usage by 28 percent. While negotiating the lease, the HSPH facilities team persuaded the owner/developer to incorporate sustainable features in the building’s common areas.
Individual award winners at HMS, HSDM and HSPH follow.
HMSNick Abreau, an HSPH student, a member of Students for Environmental Awareness in Medicine—also known as SEAM—coordinated the first Park(ing) Day. To encourage passersby to rethink the uses of urban space, transforming volunteers transformed two metered parking places in Brigham Circle into a city park for the day, complete with grass, lawn chairs and tent to encourage passersby to rethink the uses of urban space. Nick, who bicycles daily to HMS, is working to improve commuting options to the Longwood campus.
Amy Yelle, support services coordinator, Harvard Center for Comparative Medicine, models green alternatives used in everyday tasks, such as cooking. She uses reusable dining utensils at lunch and persuades others to compost. She also shares a wealth of cooking tips and recipes for environmentally sustainable ingredients.
Vincent Mazzone, manager, Custodial Services, oversees waste and recycling for the north campus, but his sustainability initiatives have been implemented campus-wide. He introduced the idea of reusing sharps and biohazardous waste containers as well as post-consumer composting in the HMS Courtyard and Atrium cafes. Mazzone is a founding member of the HMS Campus Operations/Recycling Operations Green Team, which converted the entire HMS campus to single-stream recycling. He also provides logistical coordination for green events such as FreeCycling and the Earth Week sustainability fairs.
Jennifer Bellows, executive assistant, Financial Operations and Analysis, leads the Green Team for HMS administration, which she founded in 2009. In 2010, Jen helped the department achieve Leaf Two Certification. Today she continues to promote sustainability, introducing light sensors, “green” power strips for all department computers, and plants for the office. Jen, who is pursuing an advanced degree in sustainability and environmental management, also volunteers at FreeCycling events.
Claudia Galeas, program administrator, Castle Society, shows by example how simple actions can have big impact. After she terminated the Society’s Poland Spring water contract, fuel and pollution costs associated with shipping the water jugs from northern Maine were reduced. A leader in eco-consciousness at HMS, Galeas counsels fellow Society administrators and leaders in making eco-friendly choices.
HSDMJim McBride, director, core laboratories, embraces the philosophy of sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint. He championed the sharing of equipment among laboratories on three floors at HSDM and promoted the use of recyclable biohazard waste containers as well as single-stream and battery recycling. McBridge co-chairs the HSDM Standing Committee on Environmental Health and Safety.
HSPHDavid Havelick, program coordinator, Epidemiology, initiated a department green team, reduced plastic bag waste and set up composting receptacles. He also encourages healthy and sustainable eating through the department’s catering options. Members report that they now turn off computers and lights nightly, recycle diligently and have a greater understanding of environmental issues.
Ranu Hardeep, research lab manager, Epidemiology, makes certain the lab recycles plastics and pipette tip boxes, shuts off all equipment on weekends, and works with lab vendors to accept packaging materials for reuse. She spearheaded the post-consumer composting initiative in the FXB mezzanine/study area and volunteers as a “composting ambassador” there during lunchtimes. Hardeep also helps coordinate the “Take the Stairs Competition” and is active on the HSPH EcoOpportunity Team and the Harvard-wide Green Team Leaders Group.
Robert Hughes, an HSPH student, founded the HSPH Students Climate and Health Forum, which aims to drive change by facilitating debate and learning about the health effects of climate change. Future events feature speakers from the United Nations and the Kennedy School and, through the use of videoconferencing, discussions with fellow public health students in Bangladesh as well as with the director of a climate change film slated for viewing.
For related stories, see:
Sustaining the Momentum, Green Carpet Awards recognize leaders in campus greening
Web-based Display Tracks Campus Energy Use
