Green Living

HBS visits Blackstone's super duper green building!

2010-04-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

On a bright and sunny Monday afternoon (April 10, 2010) about 15 HBS students made their way across the Western Avenue bridge to visit one of Harvard's shining jewels as far as green buildings go -- the operations building on 46 Blackstone Street -- Harvard University’s first LEED® Platinum-certified building!

In 1888, the Cambridge Electric Light Company built the Blackstone Electric Station at the edge of the Charles River to power the city’s growing number of street lamps. However, due to overwhelming demand for electricity, construction of a new and larger plant began in 1901 on the corner of Western Avenue and Memorial Drive. The plant’s turbines were driven by steam which, beginning in 1930, was also used to heat many of Harvard’s buildings. Today, most of the campus is still heated by the Blackstone Steam Plant.

In 2003, Harvard purchased the Blackstone Steam Plant from the local utility, which included 3 adjacent buildings along Blackstone Street. While the Steam Plant was a going concern, these adjacent buildings were in a serious state of neglect. These buildings would become the focus of the Blackstone Office Renovation Project.

Here are my top 6 features of the building:

1. Exterior Lighting

All fixtures have high cut-off angles preventing light from being directed upward or outside of the property. Reducing light pollution helps to restore ecosystems and improves star viewing for city dwellers.

2. Building Envelope

All of the windows are double-insulated glass with a U-value of 0.25%. (U-value measures the rate of heat transfer through a building element over a given area, under standardized conditions. A smaller U-value is better).
The windows were specially designed to maintain the historic look of double-hung units but instead open with an awning. Nearly all of the windows are operable, a feature integral to the design and operation of the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system. The Building Automation System is programmed to notify occupants by e-mail whenever outdoor conditions (temperature and humidity) are appropriate for windows to be opened.

The decision to install high quality windows, as well as upgraded wall and roof insulation, resulted in a tight building envelope. These investments allowed us to design smaller, more efficient mechanical systems for heating and cooling.

A recycled foam insulation product (Icynene®) was applied directly to the surface of the brick on all exterior facing walls. This product provides a permeable vapor barrier resulting in a continuous R value of 12, more than 50% better than code requirements. The R value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. A bigger number means a better insulated building.

3. Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world making it a rapidly renewal resource. The species used at Blackstone grows at a rate of one foot per month!

4. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Wood

All of the wood used in the project is FSC certified. In many forests around the world, logging still contributes to habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples, and mistreatment of wildlife. FSC certification is one way to ensure that the wood has been harvested in a responsible manner.

5. Skylight

The large skylight on the fourth floor, directly above the communicating staircase, allows large amounts of natural light to flood the interior of the building. An insulating film was also applied to the glass to further improve efficiency.

6. Eco-Space Elevator

Our Eco-Space elevator utilizes a gearless traction system which is 60% more energy efficient than a conventional elevator. The gearless technology also eliminates the need for oil and hydraulic fluid which are potential groundwater contaminates.

Source: Much information in this blog post has been taken from: http://www.uos.harvard.edu/blackstone/tour/.

Film Screening: Who Killed the Electric Car

2010-03-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

HBS Green Living invites you to a movie screening of "Who Killed the Electric Car?" on Monday, March 8 @ 8pm in Aldrich 107 on the Harvard Business School campus. (Campus Map)

About the movie: "Who Killed the Electric Car?" is a 2006 documentary film that explores the creation, limited commercialization, and subsequent destruction of the battery electric vehicle in the United States, specifically the General Motors EV1 of the early 1990s. The film explores the roles of automobile manufacturers, the oil industry, the US government, the Californian government, batteries, hydrogen vehicles, and consumers in limiting the development and adoption of this technology.

Harvard Energy Expo!

2010-03-02T11:32:00.000-08:00

COME LEARN ABOUT FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND CLEAN TECH!

Hear about new technologies or products and get advice from 30 different organizations working on cutting edge solutions. Talk to companies and organizations about research, internships and future job opportunities.
EVENT: Harvard Energy, Environmental and Clean Tech Expo
DATE: Friday March 5th
TIME: 1:30pm-4:00pm
LOCATION: Radcliffe Gym (near the old Crate and Barrel store on Brattle Street)
AUDIENCE: Open to all Harvard University Students
BRING: Copies of your resume to share

Areas include
• Innovation in the Commercial Sector
• Alternative Energy
• Lifecycle and Full-system Analysis
• Federal and State Policies and Programs
• Energy Efficiency, Green Construction
• Venture Capital and Start-up Companies

For a list of participating companies and organizations or for additional information please see the EnergyExpo website.
We look forward to seeing you at this inaugural educational event!

Office of Career Services
The Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Co-sponsors: Harvard Center for the Environment, Office for Sustainability at Harvard, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Public Policy Department, Harvard College Council on Business and the Environment (student group), Harvard Energy & Environment Network (student group), Harvard Extension Environmental Club(student group)

Click here for more information.

Lighten Your Paper Load

2010-02-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

The average American uses more than 748 pounds of paper per year.* And here at HBS, it is probably safe to assume we consume more paper than the average American. Use these simple instructions to lighten your paper load. Tips include printing multiple pages per sheet, scaling document to fit the page, and printing multiple PowerPoint slides per page while also printing pure black and white- to avoid printing dark backgrounds which not only waste ink but are hard to read. And don't forget to reuse paper before recycling it, simply feed used paper into your printer and print on the blank side or use the blank side for notes. First Reduce- then Reuse-and then recycle!

*source: http://www.id2.ca/downloads/eco-design-paper-facts.pdf

Waste audit results are in: 23% of HBS trash is recyclable!

2010-01-25T13:43:00.000-08:00

On a cold Tuesday afternoon this past November, while most HBS students were busy reading cases, working out in Shad or enjoying our daily naps, a few HBS Green Living Representatives were digging through bags of trash in an Allston facility.

Yes, you read correctly - trash - smelly, slimy, completely uncensored garbage generated by all the HBS dorms, Spangler and Aldrich. Armored in surgical gowns, industrial dust masks and heavy-duty latex gloves, the reps were at least physically prepared for the task. But psychologically? Well, that was another matter. Let's just say that every bag was full of unmentionable surprises. But something was consistent in each bag of trash, whether it was from Chase, Morris or Spangler: each bag contained a substantial portion of items that are actually recyclable (i.e. paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, metals, etc.) In fact, 23% of the audited HBS trash is recyclable or reusable (by weight). In addition, 36% of the trash was organic material (i.e. food, napkins or paper towels).

Read the full Harbus article to learn what this all means in dollars and carbon dioxide emissions and how we can all do our part to reduce this percentage come the audit this spring.

New Sustainability Webpage for Students

2010-01-06T07:28:00.001-08:00

Check out the new webpage specifically for students on the HBS Operations Sustainability site. Here you will find quick tips and resources for water conservation, energy conservation and recycling and waste reduction. There is also great information about sustainability at HBS and the University at large. Enjoy!

Greening the Holidays

2009-12-20T11:52:00.000-08:00

Want to be environmentally conscious this holiday season? There are plenty of ways to be mindful of the planet while still spreading holiday cheer.

Go Local: when looking for the perfect gift, look no further than Cambridge! Check out the list of locally owned businesses that are members of the non-profit organization, Cambridge Local-First. In particular, check out Greenward, a store on Mass Ave that sells "eco-modern" goods. Or, consider a gift certificate to a local certified Green Restaurant.

Green Gifts: Check out these 101 Green Gift Ideas for an array eco-friendly gift ideas. And, learn the art of re-gifting and getting away with it...something we all are tempted to do every once and a while! You're sure to find an appropriate green gift for everyone on your list.

Give Less Stuff: Take your sister to a movie, make a donation in your mother's name, cook your boyfriend an organic dinner. There are plenty of ways you can give this season without giving stuff. And, think outside the box with these these alternative gift ideas.

Wrapping Reuse: Wrap your gifts with things you have around the house; magazine pages, retail shopping bags, old maps or even pickle jars (washed out of course). Give a gift within a gift by placing it inside a canvas bag, reusable gift wrap cloth, or wrapping it in a scarf. Reuse ribbon and add some natural flare, like a pine cone, instead of a bow. Green gift wrapping can be fun, functional, and save you money.

Mindful Decor: Save and reuse decorations, make garland out of cranberries or popcorn, buy a real tree (you can't beat the smell), nix the tinsel and fake snow and be crafty by making original decoration or ornaments from that junk-drawer of yours. Reduce what you send to the landfill this holiday season. Natural decorations can be beautiful (and tasty) and old/reused decorations add character.Checkout more ideas here.

Green Cuisine: Buy local, sustainable and organic for your holiday feast. And even better, do so on a budget. Wherever you will be this holiday, check what is in season for a fresh and delicious meal.

Photo Credit: jek in the box/CC-NA-ND 2.0

Hamilton Hall Wins the Reduce Your Juice Competition

2009-12-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

The results are in, Hamilton is the winner of the Reduce Your Juice Electricity Competition! It was a fight until the end, but Hamilton outperformed Gallatin with a 4% reduction in the last week making their average reduction for the competition 3.5%. Congratulations Hamilton!

In total, the 5 HBS dorms made a notable impact on the school’s electricity consumption. If we keep our energy conserving behaviors up throughout the year, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 metric tons of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to saving 1,020 gallons of gasoline, 21 barrels of oil and $3,600 per year. *

While the competition is over, it is still important to keep conserving, so let’s continue on the right path. Visit the HBS Sustainability site for simple tips on how to reduce your energy consumption.

*Source: EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator and the Office For Sustainability

Photo Credit: Amarand Agasi cc by-nc-sa

A Behind the Scenes Look at HBS Energy Projects

2009-12-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

For the first time ever, the HBS Green Living program coordinated with HBS Operations to offer students a tour of campus energy conservation projects. In 2008 President Faust announced the University’s greenhouse gas reduction (GHG) goal; to reduce GHG emissions 30% below a 2006 baseline by 2016, including growth. HBS has been hard at work and has since achieved a 27% GHG reduction! This behind the scenes tour of campus energy projects gave students insight into how HBS has been reducing their energy consumption and how they plan to continue on this downward trend.

In response to impressive student interest, two tours were offered on Tuesday, December 8. The first stop on the tour was the Shad Atrium, where the group was introduced to the tour leaders, Jason Munro, the HBS Associate Director of Facilities Management and Samantha Monaghan, the Assistant Manager of Sustainability. Jason and Sam then led the group up to the roof of Shad where we saw the green roof (well, we could see some of the 9,000 perennials peeping through the fresh snow). We also learned about Shad’s photovoltaic panels, which provide an annual savings of more than $11,000 and avert 75,000 of carbon dioxide per year.

From the roof we headed down to the basement where we saw (and heard!) Shad’s co-generation unit. The co-gen unit produces electricity and uses the thermal energy that would other wise be waste heat, to produce Shad’s domestic hot water (showers, laundry) year round and part of the heating hot water needed in winter. This unit saves HBS $51,566 and 1 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year. We then traversed through the tunnels, beyond the student mailroom, and ended up at the HBS Chilled Water Plant. Here we learned about how HBS has tightened the HVAC schedule and implemented new protocols that, with the help of the highly technical Environmental Monitoring System software, have helped contribute significantly to HBS’ 27% GHG reduction.

The Green Living Program and HBS Operations will be offering tours again in the spring semester. These are sure to be very educational if you are considering a career in cleantech/sustainability or if you are simply interested in learning about some of the green technologies that are right in our backyard.

Copenhagen Climate Summit Starts today!

2009-12-07T08:19:00.000-08:00

The largest and most important UN climate change conference in history, with diplomats from 192 nations in attendance, started today in Copenhagen. This could be the best, and last, chance for a global deal to be made to protect the world from global warming.

56 newspapers around the world have published this editorial today to coincide with the start of the negotiations; Fourteen days to seal history's judgment on this generation.

Check out the live blog of the conference to stay informed of summit happenings.

What you can and can't recycle at HBS

2009-11-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

What can and cannot be recycled depends on the recycling plant to which your recyclables are being sent. If you live in SFP, OWA, or on campus, the following recycling cheat sheets apply to you. If you live off campus, check out the City of Cambridge or Allston website at http://www.cambridgema.gov/ or
www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/recycling.

**Remember HBS offers Single Stream Recycling- meaning all recyclables can be recycled together in the same bin (plastics, paper, metals, glass, cardboard)!

Put these in your Recycle Bin
Aerosol cans
Aluminum foil
Books
Bottles
Cans (drinks, food)
Shaving cream containers
Cardboard
Cartons
Catalogs
Clamshells
Jars & jugs
Juice boxes
Junk mail
Magazines
Newspaper
Notebooks
Paper bags
Plastic cups
Plastic plates
Paper
(Items must have very minimal food and beverage residue. All plastics must be labeled with a recycling symbol and #1-7.)

Do NOT put in Recycle Bin
Coffee cups
Glass items other than jars/bottles
Metal items other than cans/foil
Napkins
Paper plates/cups
Paper towels
Pizza boxes
Plastic bags
Plastic film
Plastic utensils
Styrofoam
Tissues
Wax paper
Wax-lined cardboard
Greasy pizza boxes

Give these a special push

Batteries:
Dorms: Drop off in Rock Mail Room.
SFP/OWA: Bring to Management Office, 2 Soldiers Field Park

Cell Phones & Handhelds (ex. PDAs):
Dorms: Bring to Rock Mail Room.
SFP/OWA: Bring to Management Office, 2 Soldiers Field Park

CFLs:
Dorms: leave in a bag outside your room marked “recycle”
SFP/OWA: Bring to Management Office, 2 Soldiers Field Park

Computers:
Dorms: Call HBS Operations, 617-495-6811.
SFP/OWA: Bring to Management Office, 2 Soldiers Field Park

Inkjet Printer Cartridges: Bring into Staples and receive a $3 refund.

Plastic bags: “Bag caddy” in the dorm laundry rooms or collect them in your room and bring them back to the grocery store’s bin (and avoid using it in the first place – bring your own bag!

Gallatin Hall takes lead after Week 2 of the Reduce Your Juice competition

2009-11-25T14:09:00.000-08:00

At the end of Week 2 of the annual HBS RYJ competition, Gallatin Hall has taken the lead with a whopping 2.5% reduction in the 2nd week alone propelling it to a 1.15% reduction over 2 weeks putting it ahead of all the other resident dorms on campus. Residents of Gallatin were motivated by this result after an increase of 0.25% in the first week and many were caught discussing how they're going to try even harder in the coming days to try and win.

Competition is still quite tough, however, as most other dorms are only whiskers away from taking the lead away. One huge cut in a week can really mean a lot for the final scores in this 4 week competition.

More tips for cutting down on printing paper consumption!

2009-11-25T14:05:00.001-08:00

The HBS Green Living Program and MBA IT support recently discussed how to help students further reduce their paper consumption. There are some great tips now available online at the following links that not only cover your campus printing setup, but also tell you how you can get your own printer to do it on both sides for you! Enjoy!

http://my.hbs.edu/mbadocs/admin/quick_info/hbs/it/mbait/print_duplex_home.jhtml
http://my.hbs.edu/mbadocs/admin/quick_info/hbs/it/mbait/printing.jhtml

Check Out What HBS is Doing

2009-11-24T12:07:00.000-08:00

Did you know that HBS has recently installed a green roof on top of Shad Hall? Are you aware that HBS has achieved a 27% reduction in greenhouse gasses since 2006? Check out this brief presentation to learn how HBS is contributing to the University's sustainability goals and what you can do to help. http://green.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/oe/sustainability-at-HBS.pdf

Building an Eco-Friendly HBS Together

2009-11-22T07:12:00.000-08:00

The HBS Green Living Program recently conducted a student survey that attracted close to 500 respondents. The intent of the survey was to better understand the awareness among students of green initiatives within Harvard, the general green practices of students, and to see where some of the big opportunities for improvement are for us at HBS. Read the full Harbus article to see how we did and learn ways that we can do better.

Photo Credit: LouisL / CC BY-NC 2.0

Secure Indoor Bike Storage

2009-11-20T07:01:00.000-08:00

Did you know that HBS offers secure indoor bicycle storage for all students living in the dorms? The storage room is in the basement of Gallatin Hall. You can get the code to the room when you register your bike at the Operations Service Window in the basement of Shad Hall.

Credit: Joe Ringenberg, Harvard College '06

Introducing the HBS Green Corps

2009-11-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

How many times have you wondered if you should recycle a plastic container, which you subsequently threw in the trash because you just weren't sure? If you answered in the affirmative, keep reading…you just might learn something from your HBS green corps.

Cue Bond theme music; enter six non-descript individuals-channeling their inner super hero-armed with lots of personality, and a passion to make you live more greenly. Sure, Bond has his damsels in distress, but we have an altogether more convincing goal!...

Want to read more? Check out the full Harbus article online.

Students show off some newly acquired power strips during their Chase dinner.
Photo Credit: Jeff Engler

Welcome!

2009-11-18T14:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Green Living at the B School! We're your resource for green updates, news, articles and happenings at HBS and beyond. Check back often and as always, stay green.

Picture Credit: OFS