2002 Projects

The projects for the first year of the Harvard Green Campus Initiative's Student Internship Program include the following:

Environmental Procurement

power point presentation cover and link to final presentation

Sponsor

Harvard Planning and Real Estate (HPRE)

Intern Manager

Amy Sheehan, Coordinator of the Harvard Real Estate Services (HRES) Sustainable Buildings Program, Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI)

Intern

Paul Rosenau

Advisory Committee

  • Amy Sheehan, HRES Sustainable Buildings Program Coordinator
  • Catrina Macabagdal, Residential Real Estate Contracts Manager
  • Kate Rosenburg, University and Commercial Real Estate Contracts Manager
  • Bill McGrath, Residential Real Estate Mt. Auburn Area Manager
  • Emily Sadigh, Faculty of Arts and Science Computer Energy Reduction Program
  • Leith Sharp, HGCI Director

General Purpose

To establish environmentally sustainability procurement guidelines in support of the HGCI's mission and in conjunction with the HPRE Sustainable Building Committee's efforts.

Background

Work conducted from September 2001 to January 2002 identified cost-effective options for various products shown to have significant impacts on the environment, such as refrigeration and other heavy duty equipment, building construction materials, paper and plastic products, and VOC-containing paints. Many items remain to be analyzed and targeted for intervention. Examples include cleaning products, building materials, carpet, and HPRE office paper and equipment.

Overview of Tasks

The basic strategy of the Environmental Procurement intern consisted of the following:

  • Identify products of significant environmental and cost impact currently in use by HPRE, ranging from paper to building construction materials.
  • Establish priorities for these products based on cost, environmental impacts, implementation opportunity and ease of study.
  • Perform broad market research on those products to identify environmentally-preferred products.
  • Identify current vendors used by HPRE for procurement of these products.
  • Evaluate costs of preferred environmental products, and to the extent feasible, evaluate with full-cost accounting methods.
  • Issue recommendations to HPRE departments based on the above analysis.
  • Identify additional products based on ongoing findings.
  • Establish mechanism for continuity of efforts into future internship periods.
  • For the Residential Real Estate Group, develop a tenant's guide to energy efficient purchasing and use.

While all task categories are necessary for effective institutional change and learning, these steps have no set sequence. Rather, tasks were initiated and revisited as new information and program demands arose. Guiding process strategy were two principles:

  • Decisions regarding product interventions—from selection of product to the type of intervention pursued—should be pragmatic and followed by systematic assessment and reporting of environmental and financial profiles.
  • In addition to meeting cost and environmental impact criteria, selected products should support HPRE core services or office functions.

Deliverables

The intern provided instances of successful environmentally preferable procurement and enhanced the University's ability to optimize procurement decisions in an increasingly effective and institutionalized manner. In reference to the institution, this ability emerges from key linkages within a supportive human relations and information system, described by the HGCI as a "learning organization."

Institutional Impact

The intern developed a resource, "The Environmental Procurement Guide," which has been continually amended. Future projects looked at procurement of specific types of products, such as cleaning products and landscaping supplies.

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Building Systems

HPRE Building Systems Internship Final Presentation Cover

Sponsor

Harvard Planning and Real Estate (HPRE)

Intern Manager

Amy Sheehan, Coordinator of the Harvard Real Estate Services (HRES) Sustainable Buildings Program, Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI)

Intern

Andrew Bengtson, R.A.

Advisory Committee

  • Amy Sheehan, HRES Sustainable Buildings Program Coordinator
  • Larry McNeil, Facilities Engineer, University and Commercial Real Estate
  • Dan Ruddock, Facilities Engineer, Residential Real Estate
  • Rogelio Flores, Environmental Planner, Physical Planning Unit
  • Nathalie Beauvais, Assistant Director for Campus Design, Physical Planning Unit
  • Rick Schubert, Associate Project Manager CAD/CAFM
  • Leith Sharp, HGCI Director

General Purpose

To understand the energy consumption of mechanical equipment and lighting systems in selected buildings, to establish a methodology for University operations, and to identify energy saving opportunities.

Overview of Tasks

The intern established methodology to inventory and catalogue mechanical and lighting equipment energy consumption in various types of buildings. This involved the following:

  • implementing an audit of mechanical and lighting equipment in selected buildings
  • creating an information system to track work
  • integrating this new information system into existing ones
  • developing evaluative criteria to gauge building performance
  • proposing graphic representations of information
  • establishing a partnership with HPRE's CAD/GIS Services and HPRE's Physical Planning Unit
  • identifying opportunities for cost savings, environmental savings and funding
  • recommending energy use benchmarks to HPRE, HGCI and other audiences
  • identifying Green Campus Loan Fund opportunities within HPRE
  • establishing a mechanism for continuing project efforts into the next internship period, if applicable

Resources and Support

The HPRE Sustainable Buildings Program Coordinator will manage the intern, establish priorities, and ensure working relationships with all key HPRE personnel. There is a strong connect to the HGCI Building Management Resources intern, who is creating resource toolkits, case study libraries and training seminars for facilities managers involved in efficiency project identification and implementation. Also, interns for steering group member Dan Ruddick have catalogued energy consumption at one building, 29 Garden Street.

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Construction and Demolition Waste Management

C&D Waste Management Cover Image

Sponsors

Intern Manager

Amy Sheehan, Coordinator of the Harvard Real Estate Services (HRES) Sustainable Buildings Program, Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI)

Intern

Logan Granger, BA from New College of the University of South Florida, 2004 Candidate for Masters of Architecture, Harvard University, Graduate School of Design. Experience with design and image setting.

Advisory Committee

  • Karen Powers, EH&S
  • Rob Gogan, FMO
  • Amy Sheehan, HPRE

General Purpose

To develop and evaluate a system for processing construction and demolition (C&D) waste that addresses recent regulatory changes and supports the missions of the HGCI, EH&S, the Solid Waste Management Department of FMO and HPRE.

Logan Granger giving the thumbs up to recycling lumberBackground

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has banned disposal of unprocessed C&D waste starting in 2003. This fact and the multi-disciplinary aspects involved in disposing of C&D waste have resulted in the desire to create a system for C&D disposal that adapts to regulatory issues and that supports the University's mission.

Overview of Tasks

  • Identify and examine C&D waste disposal case studies demonstrating the environmental benefits and cost reductions.
  • Identify and examine key logistical questions involving the University's C&D waste disposal practices in relation to end markets, contractors and specifiers.
  • Recommend standards and protocols for C&D waste disposal based on analysis and consideration of the steps above and in collaboration with participating faculties and departments.
  • Demonstrate potential cost savings analyses on an existing project.
  • Recommend guidelines for establishing a C&D waste disposal pilot project.
  • Identify University's C&D waste disposal stakeholders.
  • Create strategy to disseminate project findings to the University's C&D waste disposal stakeholders.
  • Identify funding opportunities, particularly Massachusetts DEP grants for urban pilot projects.

Resources and Support

The intern had access to significant sources of reference information, including the following:

  • Construction and Demolition Waste Specifications, by Triangle J Waste Spec and the Regional Government of Vancouver
  • Model for Methods of Recovery and Reuse of Materials, by The Center for Ecological Technology

He also had logistical support from the Institutional Recycling Network and peer institutions. Ongoing work, including an HPRE carpet recycling pilot project, were also available to the intern.

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Lighting Efficiency

lighting internship presentation cover

Sponsor

University Operations Services (UOS)

Intern Manager

Leith Sharp, Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI) Director

Intern

Margot Rabinowitz

General Purpose

To work with existing lighting analysis models and adapt engineer-oriented programs into universally accessible applications for Harvard's diverse network of facility management teams.

Background

Maximizing the use of highly efficient lighting and lighting control technologies represented a significant energy conservation opportunity for Harvard. Normalizing the application of these technologies across campus presented a challenge given the number of building management structures involved in maintaining and upgrading Harvard's infrastructure. UOS wished to continue developing training seminars, feasibility assessment protocol, technology recommendations, and related software applications that help building management teams efficiently identify, assess and implement lighting upgrade projects. This work was started by Engineering and Utilities and HGCI staff, but needed the additional assistance of a dedicated intern to turn current technically geared in-house tools into more universally accessible resources for all facility management teams.

Overview of Tasks

  • Work with existing lighting analysis models to adapt engineer-oriented programs into universally accessible applications for Harvard's diverse network of facility management teams.
  • Create additional documents and training strategies to facilitate the transference of these resources to facility managers.
  • Develop relationships with pilot groups of facility managers interested in trialing the lighting efficiency project identification protocol and support documents.
  • Serve as a lighting specialist for other interns to consult with on lighting-related concerns.

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Building Management Resources

Building Mananagement Resources Internship Presentation Cover and link to final presentation

Sponsor

Facilities Maintenance Operations (FMO), University Operations Services (UOS)

Intern Manager

Dan Olson, Coordinator, Green Campus Loan Fund, Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI)

Intern

Michael Crowley

General Purpose

To produce a High Performance Building Management Toolkit that:

  • demonstrates whole-building methodologies across Harvard's faculties;
  • presents resource efficiency and conservation tools, technologies and programs;
  • provides a series of case studies at Harvard and elsewhere showcasing successful high performance buildings.

Background

As Harvard University modernizes its infrastructure, it is essential that facility managers are empowered with the knowledge and resources needed to efficiently identify their faculty's best energy and resource-efficiency project opportunities. They will also benefit from understanding how to most efficiently implement project ideas, working with contractors, vendors and individuals within their organization to create support for their vision of efficient and environmentally friendly operations.

A high performance building is generally defined as a building that operates at optimal efficiency in equipment, operations and maintenance, while providing improved indoor air quality and occupant comfort. High performance buildings utilize a whole-building approach to resource efficiency and conservation through an analysis of how building systems interact with each other, occupants and the external environment.

The High Performance Building Management internship was developed to succeed a 2001 internship that looked at the possibility of developing an in-house energy efficiency consulting service through UOS. One year later, FMO, a division of UOS, became interested in disseminating the tools and resources necessary for resource efficiency and conservation to every building manager in Harvard's decentralized campus. FMO fully funded the project and provided technical and administrative support.

Overview of Tasks

The Building Management Resources intern will be responsible for the following:

  • creating resource toolkits, case study libraries and training seminars for use by facility managers involved in efficiency project identification and implementation
  • interfacing with Harvard facility managers to identify what resources are most needed (an effort that greatly informed the remainder of the intern's work)
  • researching public and private sector resources to develop tools commensurate with stated needs
  • creating an outline of training seminar modules
  • working with the HGCI Communications Coordinator to develop a strategy for making the project findings accessible on the Web

Resources and Support

Intern worked closely with building and facility managers from all of Harvard's faculties to identify high performance building efficiency and conservation opportunities.

Deliverables

The results of this project are compiled in the "Harvard University High Performance Building Management Toolkit." This 100+ page document uses a whole-building approach to resource efficiency and conservation through a comprehensive review of auditing and commissioning, electrical systems, water systems, building envelope, and heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) systems.

Institutional Impact

The intern was extended as the Building Management Resources Coordinator. FMO offered further funding to support the continued development of the Toolkit as well as a Building Audit Methodologies Guide and other materials. The intern later became the High Performance Building Services Program Manager.

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Pesticides Reduction

Pesticides Reduction Presentation Cover and link to final presentation

Sponsor

Harvard Divinity School Child Care Centers

Intern Manager

Leith Sharp, Director, Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI)

Intern

Takako Tajima

General Purpose

By working with the daycare centers as a model, this internship aims to further the understanding of the various issues involved in integrated pest management (IPM) and to develop the techniques and protocols needed to implement such a plan throughout the University.

Background

Harvard University and its vendors use outdoor chemical treatments for the maintenance and beautification of grounds and for the purpose of controlling pest and rodents. The use of chemicals for these purposes was not standardized to comply with any University-wide policy on outdoor chemical applications. In many instances, it was difficult to ascertain what type and amount of chemicals were used for any given application.

takako pictureIn light of the increased awareness of health and environmental concerns associated with the excessive use of chemicals, summer 2002 seemed an opportune time to review the decision-making processes comprising the University's chemical use profile. Integral to this effort was benchmarking the University's current chemical usage, exploring alternative techniques that may reduce or in some cases entirely end the use of chemicals, and investigating sustainable design ideas for a more holistic and long-term approach to the University's landscape practices.

Some individuals at Harvard were already involved in exploring more sustainable practices that would reduce the use of potentially harmful chemicals. In the summer of 2001, Wayne Carbone from Facilities Maintenance Operations began trialing three organically maintained lawns. The results of those trials would not be available for two more years, but based on the success of that program, more organic plots were thought possible. In addition, Dr. Gary Alpert from Environmental Health and Safety had recently begun working with the University-affiliated daycare centers to develop an integrated pest management (IPM) plan to reduce the use of chemicals inside and outside the daycare centers. Gary's work would help the University comply with the new Act to Protect Children and Families from Harmful Pesticides.

Other individuals from Environmental Health and Safety were responsible for developing a set of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to help educate the campus community on what could be done to reduce storm water pollution. During a rainfall, chemicals that had accumulated on University grounds were flushed away in the form of polluted storm water, often draining into nearby water bodies like the Charles River. Thus, the University's reduction or elimination of outdoor chemical applications would have a direct impact on the the Environmental Protection Agency's goal to make the Charles River a swimmable and fishable river by the year 2005.

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Alternative Fuel Vehicles II

AFV 2002 Internship Presentation Cover

Sponsor

Transportation Services, a division of University Operations Services (UOS)

Intern Managers

Intern

Elizabeth Gerber

General Purpose

To reduce environmental impact of Harvard's vehicle fleet, provide demonstration of cost savings, and find sources of funding that may be tapped for similar projects in the future.

Background

This was phase II of the Alternative Fuel Vehicles internship conducted in 2001.

Overview of Tasks

The intern investigated grant funding possibilities to cover the cost of a pilot alternative fuel vehicle project. The following tasks will need to be accomplished to guide the decision-making process and coordinate the grant proposal:

  • Determine what project will best serve Harvard's needs.
  • Determine what project will provide the greatest environmental benefit at a reasonable cost.
  • Investigate participation in the Green Campus Loan Fund (GCLF).
  • Investigate other funding sources, if necessary.
  • Determine infrastructure needs to support project and recommend schedule for implementation.
  • Write grant proposal.
  • Submit grant proposal.
  • Perform related duties as required.

The intern accomplished the above tasks during a 12 week period, beginning June 1 and terminating on September 1. She worked 40 hours per week, for a total of 480 hours. An alternative scenario would have been to have two interns working 20 hours per week, for a total of 240 hours each.

Resources and Support

Holly Bogle, Manager of the CommuterChoice Program, was available for assistance targeting appropriate funding sources. Dan Olson, GCLF Manager, helped ascertain the feasibility of using the fund source for the alternative fuel vehicle project. David Mattoon-Thompson, an AFV I intern, provided guidance on preferred fuels and technologies.

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Bicycle Sharing Program

bicycle sharing internship presentation cover

Sponsor

Transportation Services, a division of University Operations Services (UOS)

Intern Manage

Holly Bogle, Commuter Choice, UOS

Intern

Benjie Yolken

General Purpose

To review best practice in bike sharing programs and to assess the viability of a bike sharing program for Harvard University.

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Longwood Energy

Longwood energy internship presentation cover

Sponsor

Harvard Medical School (HMS) Facilities and Operations

Project Managers

  • Jessica Woolliams, Coordinator, Longwood Green Campus Initiative (now the Longwood Green Campus Initiative), Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI)
  • Gary Valcourt, Manager of Facilities Engineering, HMS

Intern

Adam Modesitt, undergraduate degrees in physics and art history from Wesleyan University, candidate for Masters of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Previously employed at A.T. Kearney, a management consulting firm.

General Purpose

To research contracting an energy service company (ESCO) and prepare a request for proposals (RFP).

Background

The Facilities and Operations Department at HMS had recently began investigating routes towards a large-scale retrofitting process with the goal of improved energy efficiency and reduced operating costs. Changes in the Facilities and Operations Department and a variety of energy conservation measures had created a variety of equipment and system efficiencies within HMS.

Overview of Tasks

  • Research contracting an ESCO.
  • Prepare a RFP.
  • Initiate interviewing ESCO experts and representatives.
  • Research ESCOs and ESCO procurement.
  • Collect Harvard Medical School energy data.
  • Present project results as part of the HGCI presentation series.

Resources and Support

The internship was jointly run by the HGCI and HMS, and responsibilities were divided between the two.

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