History of the Harvard Sustainability Pledge
2002 -2004
In 2002 the first annual pledge campaign "Go Cold Turkey" started, and about 1,000 Harvard students pledged each year to to turn off lights, computers, etc. over Thanksgiving Break.
2005
The annual campaign was expanded in 2005 to the "Harvard Sustainabilty Pledge", with a broader goal to encourage a culture of environmental sustainability on campus.
4,300 students, staff and faculty signed the pledge, resulting in a purchase of 4 million kWh of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECS).
2006
In 2006 over 7,000 students, staff, and faculty from across the campus pledged to reduce their own environmental impacts! A few examples:
- 5,700 people pledged to turn off computers and lights at night.
- 5,400 people pledged to enable sleep mode on their computer.
- 3,700 people pledged to buy paper made with at least 30% recycled paper.
- 4,600 people pledged to double-side when they make copies.
- 3,821 people pledged to bring their own coffee mug or water glass instead of using a disposable one.
31 buildings met the 50% pledge rate challenge, earning wind power to offset 10% of the building ghg emissions, and the resulting purchase of 6 million kWh of wind power will offset 56 million pounds of greenhouse gases.
2007
Our goal for this year is to reach 10,000 people at Harvard!
And the incentive has been changed a bit this year, for each staff, student, or faculty who pledges, Harvard will put $.1.50 toward renewable energy. This year we hope to use the renewable energy funds for an on-site renewable project, instead of purchasing wind power recs -stay tuned for more information!