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Green Living Program

The Harvard Law Green Living Program is a peer-to-peer education program that promotes sustainable living in the Harvard Law School dorms. Four Green Living Representatives (Reps) connect with fellow residents about energy and water conservation and recycling and waste reduction through activities and information sharing. They also suggest infrastructure and policy improvements that will remove barriers to student conservation. The program is supported by the HLS Facilities Management and is coordinated through the Harvard Green Campus Initiative.

More information can be found at: http://www.greencampus.harvard.edu/greenliving-hls/about.php

Harvard Business School dorms and Harvard Real Estate Services' Peabody Terrace, Soldiers Field Park, One Western Avenue apartment complexes also participate in the Graduate Green Living Program.

Recycling
Reps conduct two waste audits and recycling weighings every year to document recycling rates in the HLS dorms. Reps also distribute recycling bins and bags to all dorm residents and educate residents about recycling.

Recycling is available in all HLS dorms. Dorms are equipped with either a recycling bag or bin. HLS recycles paper and metal, plastic, and glass in dorms. Computers and other electronic waste can be taken to the computer lab in the basement of Hauser Hall. Below is a list of materials that can be recycled at HLS:

Paper & cardboard:
Colored paper, white paper, junk mail, newspapers, magazines, 3 ring binders, books, catalogs, phone books, cardboard, and paperboard (cereal and food boxes).

Cans & Bottles
Cans, bottles, and plastic containers labeled #1-#7, rigid plastic cups (Solo cups), deli containers, plates, clamshell containers, clean aluminum foil, laundry detergent containers, and aseptic packaging including juice boxes, juice and milk containers.

Do not recycle:
Pizza boxes, light bulbs, mirrors, waxed cardboard, foam peanuts, polystyrene end caps, or plastic shopping bags.

Electronic waste (take to Hauser Hall basement):
Computers, monitors, laptops, cds, diskettes, and tapes

Recycling is available in all HLS dorms. Dorms are equipped with either a recycling bag or bin. HLS recycles paper and metal, plastic, and glass in dorms. Computers and other electronic waste can be taken to the computer lab in the basement of Hauser Hall. Below is a list of materials that can be recycled at HLS:

Paper & cardboard:
Colored paper, white paper, junk mail, newspapers, magazines, 3 ring binders, books, catalogs, phone books, cardboard, and paperboard (cereal and food boxes).

Cans & Bottles
Cans, bottles, and plastic containers labeled #1-#7, rigid plastic cups (Solo cups), deli containers, plates, clamshell containers, clean aluminum foil, laundry detergent containers, and aseptic packaging including juice boxes, juice and milk containers.

Do not recycle:
Pizza boxes, light bulbs, mirrors, waxed cardboard, foam peanuts, polystyrene end caps, or plastic shopping bags.

Electronic waste (take to Hauser Hall basement):
Computers, monitors, laptops, cds, diskettes, and tapes.

Green Living Program Goals

Recycling: Increase recycling by 30 – 40%
Energy: Decrease energy usage by 10%
Water: Decrease water usage by 10%

2005-2006 Accomplishments Include:

fall and spring waste audits and fall paper recycling weighing in Gropius dorms
coffee and donuts introductory event
Green Living eco-boards
recycling bin distribution in Gropius dorms
recycling bin inventory / request
recycling education
Harvard Sustainability Pledge
Red White and Green Living Wine and Cheese Parties
two focus groups: energy conservation, water conservation
toiletries and cosmetics drive
energy conservation education
computer energy conservation tabling
inter-dorm energy conservation and energy pledge competition
water conservation education
water signage in bathrooms
water quiz tabling
promotion of Vision 2020 Harvard Sustainability Conference

Recycling guidelines can also be found at: http://www.uos.harvard.edu/information/dep_fac_sol_rec_res.shtml

Energy

Projects that Reps focus on include switching incandescent light bulbs for CFL ones, holding an energy pledge and electricity conservation competition between the dorms, putting reminder stickers on computers, educating residents on efficient heating use and energy saving actions, promoting the Harvard Sustainability Pledge, and energy saving when doing laundry.

Water

Reps work to reduce the amount of water that students use in the dorms. They educate students on water use, conduct focus groups, and table in Harkness Commons to tell people how they can reduce their water use.

For more information, contact Dara Olmsted dara_olmsted@harvard.edu or 617-496-4678 or visit our website at http://www.greencampus.harvard.edu/greenliving-hls/

Facilities Management Office

Last modified: August 20, 2010