College of the Holy Cross
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Carly
Thibodeau Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s featured program initiative, or accomplishment:
The College of the Holy Cross added compost collection for student food waste in three college-owned apartments, William Hall and Figge Hall. Instead of traditional indoor collection bins, small freezers at the collection zones are used, which require less frequent pickup and provide flexibility for changing demand. A semesterly raffle encourages sustained student engagement, and student liaisons give student residents approachable resources and role-models. This project successfully meets the goal to expand compost collection beyond the traditional dining facilities and secondary goal to offer a student engagement opportunity beyond typical behavioral change programming.
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the second featured program initiative, or accomplishment:
In 2007, former president Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., signed Second Nature's Carbon Commitment, promising that Holy Cross would reduce its carbon emissions over the coming decades. The College has exceeded the first stage of its Carbon Neutral Plan, which called for a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2015. In fact, Holy Cross has reduced its carbon emissions by over 57% through initiatives like integrated REC purchasing into electricity supply contracts, its Green Building policy or its single-stream recycling. With a goal to reach net zero emissions by 2040, the College continues to implement projects that conserve energy, reduce waste, minimize water usage, and foster environmental awareness.
A photograph or document associated with the second featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a third featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the third featured program initiative, or accomplishment:
Bringing 11 different departments together, the Environmental Studies program explores contemporary and past environmental issues, including a hands-on examination of their causes, mechanisms and effects. The program investigates local, national and global issues through a multi-disciplinary study of culture, art, economics, history, biology, and the physical sciences.
A photograph or document associated with the third featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Notes about the information provided for this credit:
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.