Harvard Medical School

The DePace Lab in the Systems Biology Department at Harvard Medical School recently achieved LEED (“Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design”) Gold certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. This makes the DePace Lab the first LEED certified wet lab at Harvard!

The Center for Health & the Global Environment (CHGE) at Harvard Medical School has been active in greening its office practices through the Harvard Office for Sustainability’s Green Office Certification Program.

During the week preceding Earth Day 2009, a group of Students for Environmental Awareness in Medicine (SEAM) club members and the Longwood Sustainability Coordinator undertook a week-long daily trash audit of the TMEC building at Harvard Medical School. Students were trained by the Longwood Sustainability Coordinator and HMS Custodial staff and were provided with appropriate protective gear.

Dear PRISE students,

As announced at this week’s Environmental Jeopardy studybreak, the FAS Green Labs Program has partnered with PRISE to promote sustainable research practices in the labs, through the PRISE Green Challenge. The FAS Lab Sustainability Reps will be available on Tuesday nights at dinner to answer any questions and provide advice for pursuing sustainable projects.

The end of November marked the public kick-off of SingleStream recycling at Harvard Medical School (HMS)! HMS recycles less than half its trash, 46 percent last year compared to 55 percent on Harvard's Cambridge campus. Per ton, recycling costs only half the disposal fees of trash, and in a better economy, it saves even more money.

Harvard Medical School (HMS) began a green cleaning program in fall 2006. HMS Campus Operations began this program out of their concern for the environment, occupant health, and a desire to be consistent with the medical credo of "first do no harm."

On a foggy March evening, Harvard Medical School (HMS) proudly joined with the rest of the Harvard Schools in order to participate in Earth Hour, sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund.

Restaurant Associates (RA) has planted a small herb garden in the Elements Café, as part of the Sustainable Dining Program that was initiated last year, which focuses on using local and sustainable produce in the menus.

Currently, the basil, tomatoes, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and various other herbs are growing nicely in innovative “Earth Boxes” that are specially designed for growing food plants in small spaces with minimal water usage.

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

This is the mantra that led to the birth of freecycling - the act of giving away unwanted items at no cost. Just say the word FREE and the crowds will follow. Freecycling is a great way to reduce environmental impact through the diversion of waste that otherwise could have ended up incinerated or in a landfill, and it also results in decreased demands on new manufacturing processes.