STARS 2.0

Boston University

Boston, MA, US


Rating Score Valid Through Liaison Submitted Executive Letter
Silver - expired 55.58 Oct. 22, 2020 Stephen Ellis April 26, 2017 Download
Curriculum
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Students at Boston University have diverse educational opportunities related to sustainability in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and special degree programs offered through 13 of Boston University’s 17 schools and colleges. These opportunities include a broad range … read more
Credit Status
Academic Courses Complete
Learning Outcomes Complete
Undergraduate Program Complete
Graduate Program Complete
Immersive Experience Complete
Sustainability Literacy Assessment Complete
Incentives for Developing Courses Not Pursuing
Campus as a Living Laboratory Complete
Research
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Boston University's faculty and students engage in various research projects in order to more effectively understand and interpret vast and ever-changing issues related to sustainability. Research spans multiple disciplines, focuses on local, national and global … read more
Credit Status
Academic Research Complete
Support for Research Complete
Access to Research Complete
Campus Engagement
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University sponsored co-curricular offerings help integrate sustainability into the campus culture. Boston University has developed co-curricular education programs that actively involve the student body, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Credit Status
Student Educators Program Not Pursuing
Student Orientation Complete
Student Life Complete
Outreach Materials and Publications Complete
Outreach Campaign Complete
Employee Educators Program Complete
Employee Orientation Complete
Staff Professional Development Complete
Public Engagement
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Boston University connects to the community through a broad range of sustainability-related public engagement activities, often partnering with the City of Boston and other area universities to help broaden the number of people engaged in … read more
Credit Status
Community Partnerships Complete
Inter-Campus Collaboration Complete
Continuing Education Complete
Community Service Complete
Community Stakeholder Engagement Complete
Participation in Public Policy Complete
Trademark Licensing Complete
Hospital Network Not Pursuing
Air & Climate
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From a FY2006 baseline, by FY2016 Boston University reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25%. This progress comes from energy efficiency, fuel switching from oil to natural gas, and from the New … read more
Credit Status
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Complete
Outdoor Air Quality Complete
Buildings
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Boston University incorporates sustainable building practices into small renovations and large construction projects alike. Building design and construction takes a broad spectrum of green building strategies into account. To accomplish this, the University uses the … read more
Credit Status
Building Operations and Maintenance Not Pursuing
Building Design and Construction Complete
Indoor Air Quality Complete
Dining Services
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The Dining Services Sustainability Program makes a campus-wide effort to reduce environmental impacts by seeking out vendors that are committed to sustainable agriculture practices, and by purchasing local food. The Program is committed to pre-consumer … read more
Credit Status
Food and Beverage Purchasing Complete
Low Impact Dining Complete
Energy
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Among all of the University’s sustainability strategies, sustainability@BU views energy efficiency as the most important issue to address. The efficient use of energy reduces the University's exposure to market volatility and ongoing operating costs. It … read more
Credit Status
Building Energy Consumption Complete
Clean and Renewable Energy Not Pursuing
Grounds
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In keeping with BU’s commitment to sustainability, the University has introduced a number of eco-agricultural initiatives on campus, such as integrated pest management, composting yard waste, and implementing organic lawn treatments.

Credit Status
Landscape Management Complete
Biodiversity Not Pursuing
Purchasing
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In an effort to reduce the University’s environmental footprint through the products and services it procures, Boston University first launched its Green Purchasing initiative in 2004, choosing products and services that have a smaller environmental … read more
Credit Status
Electronics Purchasing Not Pursuing
Cleaning Products Purchasing Complete
Office Paper Purchasing Complete
Inclusive and Local Purchasing Complete
Life Cycle Cost Analysis Not Pursuing
Guidelines for Business Partners Complete
Transportation
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At Boston University 96.5% of our students and 53% of our faculty and staff take sustainable means of transportation on a daily basis. The reason for this high rate is simple; Boston University is well … read more
Credit Status
Campus Fleet Complete
Student Commute Modal Split Complete
Employee Commute Modal Split Complete
Support for Sustainable Transportation Complete
Waste
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Boston University began work to improve the University’s waste and recycling efforts in 2006 with a waste audit conducted on the Charles River Campus. The audit revealed a recycling rate of 4% for the Charles … read more
Credit Status
Waste Minimization Complete
Waste Diversion Complete
Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion Not Pursuing
Hazardous Waste Management Complete
Water
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From a FY2006 baseline, water consumption has been reduced by 6% while the campus facilities have grown. This increase in water efficiency on campus is due to efforts that include tray-less dining saving 35,000 gallons … read more
Credit Status
Water Use Complete
Rainwater Management Complete
Wastewater Management Not Pursuing
Coordination, Planning & Governance
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Boston University's Sustainability Committee was established in 2008 with a Steering Committee and four working groups. After developing recommendations to integrated sustainability strategies into the structure and operations of the University, and seeing them integrated, … read more
Credit Status
Sustainability Coordination Complete
Sustainability Planning Complete
Governance Complete
Diversity & Affordability
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Boston University awards millions of dollars in need-based grants and merit awards to incoming students annually. We strive to ensure that equal opportunity is a reality at Boston University, that our faculty, staff, and students … read more
Credit Status
Diversity and Equity Coordination Complete
Assessing Diversity and Equity Not Pursuing
Support for Underrepresented Groups Complete
Support for Future Faculty Diversity Not Pursuing
Affordability and Access Complete
Health, Wellbeing & Work
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Investment
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Credit Status
Innovation 1 Complete
Innovation 2 Complete
Innovation 3 Complete
Innovation 4 Complete

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