| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.67 |
| Liaison | Julie Newman |
| Submission Date | Sept. 30, 2021 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
MIT
Office of Sustainability Director Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:
MIT has a number of sustainability newsletters, which complement each other and provide a wide range of information to the MIT community and its partners. The MIT Office of Sustainability offers a monthly newsletter focused on solving global challenges of sustainability at the local level. Each issue features sustainability news and research from campus and beyond along with events, case studies, data visualizations, and more. Archives are available here: https://sustainability.mit.edu/about#!contact%20us.
The MIT Environmental Solutions runs a weekly overview of MIT environmental events and opportunities.
The MIT Energy Initiative newsletter features low-carbon energy research, events, and news affiliated with the Initiative.
The MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative's weekly newsletter covers environmental events, news, and opportunities with a focus on MIT's business school.
MIT Climate Portal offers two newsletters: MIT Climate on... provides monthly overviews of critical climate change topics directly from MIT experts and Research + Action offers a twice-a-month digest of climate change research from across the Institute.
Each of these groups also has a presence on Twitter and/or Facebook and Instagram.
Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:
With the commencement of work on a new graduate housing tower and office space on campus, the Office of Sustainability spearheaded a number of sustainably measures to empower and engage new building occupants. Among these measures was a permanent educational signage series throughout the LEED Platinum building. This signage includes a large first floor display noting and explaining several of the building’s LEED credits and sustainable features. On each floor, additional signage is included to direct occupants to sustainability features on that floor as well as individual sustainable choices and actions occupants can take. This educational signage series being replicated in additional new and newly renovated building across campus including Hayden Library and a new undergraduate residence.
Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The MIT Office of Sustainability and the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiatives both provide maps, detailing sustainability features on campus that community members can visit. A map detailing sustainable buildings can be found here: https://sustainability.mit.edu/tool/sustainable-buildings-map. A map highlighting departments, centers, labs, initiatives, groups, and efforts around sustainability can be found here: https://mit.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=23aeb70e9b684970b68aa01a3a2400fd.
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The graduate student sustainability committee developed an online Recycling training course for new students and employees. The course is designed to train participants on how to properly sort waste at MIT, with the aim of reducing the quantity of waste that MIT sends to the landfill. The undergraduate student sustainability committee also provides resources for students living in dorms to be more sustainable in their everyday lives.
Undergraduate Association Tips for a Sustainable Campus: http://sustain.scripts.mit.edu/resources/tips.pdf
Training on Responsible Waste Management: https://adminconnect.mit.edu/news/web-based-training-responsible-waste-disposal-practices
A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:
The Working Green at MIT Committee, led by MIT administrative staff, provides a number of resources on their website for on and off campus sustainability actions. Resources range from where to donate used furniture to how to purchase sustainable materials for meetings. Additionally, the Office of Sustainability provides a number of certifications to guide sustainable events and office spaces. See: https://sustainability.mit.edu/certifications.
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.