The HKS Green Team was formed in 2008 by a group of dedicated Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) staff and students who wanted to minimize HKS's environmental impact and turn it into a more sustainable campus.
The HKS Green Team is coordinated by the HKS Operations Department and Harvard Office for Sustainability. The group includes HKS students, staff, and faculty from multiple departments and centers and is open to any interested HKS affiliate.
The Green Team focuses on recycling, waste reduction, composting, energy efficiency, water efficiency, environmental purchasing, and community education.
Meetings
We meet once a month for an hour as a large group; subcommittees meet at the group's discretion.
Contact Dara Olmsted if you would like to join us at our next meeting.
Green Team Projects & Events
The HKS Green Team works on multiple projects throughout the year. Below are highlights of our (and other groups') projects:
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Composting
We have composted at major events, including the staff and faculty picnic, student picnic, and holiday party.
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Sustainability Pledge
2008 was the first year that HKS participated in the 2008-2009 Harvard Sustainability Pledge. More than 230 students, staff, and faculty took the pledge. Take it now: Harvard Sustainability Pledge
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Green Tip of the Month
Sign up to get our Green Tip of the Month email and/or poster. It’s a great reminder each month for you and your co-workers on how to make small changes that are more sustainable.
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SingleStream Recycling
The Green Team has worked hard to bring SingleStream recycling—including re-labeling bins, creating and posting signage, and educating the community.
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Café Recycling
Our Café & Catering subcommittee worked with Sodexho to expand recycling to their kitchen areas and put signs on environmentally friendly products in the cafe.
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HKS Sustainability Brochure
The HKS Sustainability Brochure is a quick and easy way to get acquainted with all that's green at HKS. Feel free to download and distribute it!
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KSSG Water Bottle Ban
The KSSG has made history at Harvard by being the first student government organization to ban the purchase of bottled water with their funds.
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Departmental Green Teams
Departmental Green Teams have sprung up across the HKS campus, usually led by a Green Team member. These Green Teams include ones in Executive Education, the Ash Institute, and the Belfer Center. Other Green Team members have worked with their departments to green their purchasing, energy use, and other daily habits.
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Earth Day
The Green Team helps to celebrate Earth Day by tabling in the Forum, easel posters, a green gift basket raffle, and educational posters around the school.
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Climate Collaborative representatives
Two students from HKS (Andrew Foss & Allison Myers) are representing HKS in Harvard's Climate Collaborative, a group of students and administrators from across Harvard that are working to reduce Harvard's greenhouse gas emissions.
