Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.58
Liaison Stephen Ellis
Submission Date April 26, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Boston University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.67 / 4.00 Dennis Carlberg
Associate Vice President for Sustainability
BU Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) Measurable Objectives (Yes or No)
Curriculum --- ---
Research (or other scholarship) --- ---
Campus Engagement --- ---
Public Engagement --- ---
Air and Climate No No
Buildings --- ---
Dining Services/Food Yes Yes
Energy Yes Yes
Grounds --- ---
Purchasing --- ---
Transportation --- ---
Waste --- ---
Water --- ---
Diversity and Affordability --- ---
Health, Wellbeing and Work --- ---
Investment --- ---
Other --- ---

A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:

Boston University will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from Scope 1 sources through energy efficiency and fuel switching, and for Scope 2 through the New England electrical grid becoming less carbon intensive. In 2016 the University began a climate action planning process to set new commitments for greenhouse gas reductions.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):

Boston University's goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by FY 2020 from a FY 2006 baseline.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):

Facilities Management & Planning and sustainability@BU.


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:

The University’s Food Sourcing Plan was updated in 2014 when it committed to get 20% of our food from sustainable sources based on AASHE STARS sustainable food criteria. In addition, BU Dining Services set a goal to have 100% of its dining facilities Green Restaurant Certified. This plan is being executed.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):

Goal 1: purchase 20% of the food and beverages it serves through sustainable sources by 2018
Goal 2: to have 100% of its dining halls Green Restaurant Certified


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):

Dining Services and Facilities Management & Planning.


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:

In 2013 Boston University’s Facilities Management & Planning presented the Energy Efficiency Plan to the University’s senior leadership. The plan established an energy efficiency goal to reduce energy consumption from a FY2012 baseline by 10% by the end of FY2017. This plan is being executed.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):

In 2012, the University set a goal to reduce energy consumption by 10% in five years. To meet the target, we have taken several important steps:
• In 2012 we developed a prioritized project list, which today includes 59 projects.
• In March 2015 Boston University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Eversource, our electrical utility, with a goal of reducing electricity consumption by 24,000,000 kWh between 2015 through 2017.
• In April 2015 Boston University signed a Strategic Energy Management Plan with National Grid, our natural gas utility, with a goal of lowering natural gas consumption by 218,000 therms per year.

Of the 59 projects slated for completion by the end of FY2017, about half have already been finished. Most of these early projects were lighting and steam trap upgrades and replacements that have produced 30% of the reductions needed to meet our goal. Major projects include the renovation of the West Campus Steam Plant and building HVAC systems. By the end of FY2017, we will reach the goal by implementing all of the projects on the list. All of these projects are funded, either through the Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund, or through capital improvement funding.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):

Facilities Management & Planning and sustainability@BU


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
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The institution’s definition of sustainability:
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Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.