Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.91
Liaison Natalie Hayes
Submission Date July 9, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Bentley University
IN-2: Innovation 2

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Natalie Hayes
Associate Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Green Certification Program

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:

Bentley's Student Eco-Reps created a Green Certification Program for faculty and staff offices and for student groups. The Eco-Reps serve as sustainability consultants, conducting sustainability audits of departments or student groups, identifying areas that the department or group is already excelling in and those in which they could improve, and making recommendations. Departments and groups are rated on items like recycling, double-sided printing, opting for electronic communication over printing flyers, and ensuring that all lights are turned off at the end of the day. At the conclusion of the audit the quantitative ranking allows the Eco-Reps to rate a department or student group "seed", "sapling" or "tree" (tree being the most sustainable).

The green certification project was promoted widely and was noticed on social media by a Bentley alumni working at a prominent Boston-area hotel. The alumni was leading the hotel's sustainability committee on site and was looking for a way to advance the program. She invited the Eco-Reps to conduct an audit of the hotels operations and report on results. Ten students served as sustainability consultants for the hotel and received wide recognition for their efforts.


A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):

The Eco-Reps have completed certifications for 12 Student Groups and 9 campus departments.

Student groups are given water bottles and a gift card for ranking highly in the program.
Departments are given a plaque to display in their offices and a letter from the president commending them for participation.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
Yes or No
Curriculum No
Research No
Campus Engagement No
Public Engagement No
Air & Climate No
Buildings No
Dining Services Yes
Energy Yes
Grounds No
Purchasing Yes
Transportation No
Waste Yes
Water Yes
Coordination, Planning & Governance No
Diversity & Affordability No
Health, Wellbeing & Work No
Investment No

Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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