2007 Harvard Sustainability Pledge
Every year the Harvard Green Campus Initiative runs the Harvard Sustainability Pledge to raise awareness about campus environmental impacts, and to encourage each student, staff and faculty at Harvard to take simple steps to reduce his or her own environmental impacts.
Last year over 7,000 people signed the pledge - which literally means thousands of people are turning off their computers, turning down their heat when out of their dorm room, bringing a coffee mug, and buying recycled paper every day!
Our goal this year is to reach 10,000 people at Harvard!
Why Should I Pledge?
There are many reasons to take this pledge - to learn more about what you can do to reduce your impacts, to show support for campus sustainability efforts at Harvard, and as a reminder to yourself to help develop good eco-friendly habits. And there is one more good reason - in response to each pledge taken this year, Harvard will put $1.50 toward renewable energy (from the Renewable Energy Research Fund)!
In previous years the renewable energy was purchased in the form of "Renewable Energy Certificates" (known as RECs), from wind farms in Minnesota. This year, we hope to use this funding for renewable energy projects right here at Harvard, stay tuned for more info.
Who Can Pledge?
Anyone can take the pledge, and everyone should!
However, only pledges from Harvard staff, faculty or students will count toward the total investment in renewable energy resulting from the pledge campaign this year.
A few logistical details:
- If you have assigned space in more than one building, then you may pledge once for each of those buildings. "Assigned" means that you receive mail, hold the key to or are listed in a staff or student directory for a particular room in a particular building. If you have any questions on this, please contact us.
- Students in the Medical School who do not have assigned workspace can pledge under the Tosteson Medical Education Center (TMEC). Students in the School of Public Health who do not have assigned workspace can pledge under the Kresge building.