STARS 2.1

Boston University

Boston, MA, US


Rating Score Valid Through Liaison Submitted Executive Letter
Silver - expired 53.97 Aug. 1, 2022 Stephen Ellis Aug. 2, 2019 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 16 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
Research and Scholarship Complete
Support for Research Complete
Open 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
Assessing Sustainability Culture Complete
Employee Educators Program Complete
Employee Orientation Complete
Staff Professional Development Not Pursuing
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
Participation in Public Policy Complete
Trademark Licensing Complete
Air & Climate
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From a FY2006 baseline, by FY2018 Boston University reduced its adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user by 29.9%. This progress comes from energy efficiency, fuel switching from oil to … 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
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
Food & Dining
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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
Sustainable Dining Complete
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 and composting yard waste

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 are economically viable and … read more
Credit Status
Sustainable Procurement Complete
Electronics Purchasing Complete
Cleaning and Janitorial Purchasing Complete
Office Paper Purchasing Complete
Transportation
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At Boston University 97.5% of our students and 60.1% 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 and Diversion Complete
Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion Not Pursuing
Hazardous Waste Management Complete
Water
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From a FY2006 baseline, potable water consumption per weighted campus user has been reduced by 17.45% while the campus facilities have grown. This increase in water efficiency on campus is due to efforts that include … read more
Credit Status
Water Use Complete
Rainwater Management Complete
Coordination & Planning
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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
Participatory 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 Complete
Support for Underrepresented Groups Complete
Affordability and Access Complete
Investment & Finance
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Wellbeing & Work
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