• The guiding principles for the HGCI include:
• Engage with local area leaders to define local needs and opportunities for institutionalizing environmental impact reduction
• Support the development of a learning organization and a living laboratory for the practice and development of environmentally preferred practices at the local level through the provision of training, education, information, measurement, communications and network building, research, trials, standards and guidelines
• Build communities of participation across university student, administration and academic constituencies to maximize synergies by aligning and synchronizing efforts
• Provide clear measurements of progress in engagement and activity

1. Engage in some early exploratory efforts with administration staff to draw out system and personnel opportunities, limitations and needs.
2. Identify faculty champions and engage in discussion and strategy development to build support for school environmental efforts and investment in support functions
3. Engage student environmental leaders in developing knowledge base, networks, and leadership skills to build support amongst faculty and administration for school environmental efforts
4. Work with interested alumni to identify funding and leadership opportunities
5. Collaborate with other universities, leading organizations, business, funders and the external community to support learning, share information, leverage purchasing, raise funding and generate profile and support for school environmental efforts.
6. Build links between all constituencies to foster shared learning and partnership opportunities

• Presentations(6) to Harvard Project and facility managers covering the case for environmental sustainability and approaches to green building design.
• Green Building Forums(2) open to the general Harvard community
• Forum events(2) at the KSG featuring leading environmental speakers
• Green Building Symposium open to the general community
• Natural Step seminar for UOS
• Workshop given to Boston area students providing environmental leadership skills
• Spring training program designed to build environmental planning skills of Harvard facility and project managers

• The first greenhouse gas inventory for Harvard University nearing completion
• HGCI website design underway
• Database of students, administration, alumni and faculty environmental advocates

• Review of Resource Conservation Incentive Program undertaken within HSPH
• Four green building trials have been undertaken to test applicability of the LEED standards

• Extensive research undertaken by the UDO to identify a range of potential foundations and corporations who may be interesting in supporting the HGCI
• Proposals put forward to 3 organizations. One successful, one rejected, one still processing.
• Networks of alumni established to support the HGCI
• Alumni event planned for reunion

• Advocates identified in HMS, FAS, SPH, HBS, KSG, HPRE, UOS and Radcliffe
• Partnerships established with advocates and support provided in the form of training, information, network development, fund raising and promotions.
• Students funded to organize school environmental speaker events (Funded through Provosts Fund for Student Collaboration.)

To catalyze energy and water conservation projects, in 1993 Harvard established a five-year trial of a revolving interest-free loan fund to finance energy and water conservation initiatives with a payback period of five years or less. The success of this trial was substantial and the opportunities it has uncovered represent the most economically strategic element of any future campus environmental initiatives at Harvard, especially considering the potential to influence green building design and renovation.

During this trial, approximately $2.6 million in interest free loan funds were approved for a range of conservation projects. The average annual return on this investment was 34%, resulting in an annual saving of $880,000 and a reduction of some 8 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

An analysis of the trial conducted through the School of Public Health has provides the two conclusions:

1. The RCIP generates significant financial and environmental gains throughout Harvard University
2. Support staff are critical to ensure the continuity and growth of the RCIP. Critical tasks include management and dissemination of case study information, network development, promotion and administration of the loan fund and provision of ongoing feasibility assessment support.

• Provide new incentive to support low risk innovation
• Reinforce existing incentives to manage efficiently
• Stimulate increased investment in new technology systems and behavioral solutions
• Provide a dedicated source of capital to resource conservation
• Invest in the most cost-effective projects through competitive selection
• Create a continuous system of reinvestment through savings produced
• Be self-managed by the users with a minimum of administrative complexity
• Enhance collaboration in the management of facilities across the University
• Generate, capture and allocate funding for environmental initiatives that cannot self-fund and that will become useful educational, research, political, social and environmental assets for Harvard

• That the previous RCIP be immediately re-established on the basis of its proven success.
• That an increase staff funding element be included in this renewed RCIP.
• Conduct annual reviews of the RCIP to assess opportunities for expansion.

This document was last modified on 02/20/2002 10:43:02 AM