| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.39 |
| Liaison | Tina Woolston |
| Submission Date | Nov. 12, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Tufts University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.50 / 4.00 |
Tina
Woolston Director Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
| Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) | Measurable Objectives (Yes or No) | |
| Curriculum | --- | --- |
| Research (or other scholarship) | --- | --- |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | No | No |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food |
Yes
Date Revised: Dec. 3, 2015
Date Revised: Dec. 15, 2015
|
Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds |
No
Date Revised: Dec. 3, 2015
|
No |
| Purchasing | Yes | No |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | No |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | Yes | No |
| Investment | Yes | Yes |
| Other | --- | --- |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
The Campus Sustainability Council Report set forth a number of goals related to campus engagement around sustainability, specifically in the areas of waste, water, and energy.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Within 5 years, the entire Tufts community will: know how to divert and reduce waste and actively participate in waste reduction and diversion practices; understand how individual actions impact water usage and quality, why water conservation is important, and how to reduce use and mitigate negative impacts on the watershed; and know how to reduce energy consumption as building occupants and use that knowledge to create less energy-intensive habits.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Office of Sustainability; Campus Sustainability Council
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
Tufts' campus energy plan for the Medford campus seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by installing co-generation capacity, utilizing metering systems, centralizing cooling capacity, and performing building assessments on the highest energy using buildings.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
The Campus Sustainability Council Report articulated the following air and climate goals: reduce greenhouse gas emissions 10-25% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 75-85% below 2001 levels by 2050; address non-carbon greenhouse gas emissions; begin the process of adaptation planning within 1 year.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Operations, Environmental Health and Safety
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Tufts' campus energy plan for the Medford campus includes the installation of a centralized energy metering system, centralizing cooling capacity, and performing building assessments on the highest energy using buildings.
In presenting the five-year capital plan in early 2013, university leadership identified a number of basic principles for strategic capital projects that will benefit not only building occupants but the campus community as a whole.
• Enhance the campus experience for the students, faculty, and administration
• Create academic synergies within buildings
• Promote design excellence
• Co-locate uses with shared building infrastructure needs
• Develop and implement university-wide standards for high-performance buildings
• Develop and implement university-wide standards for space use
• Integrate information technology and wellness initiatives
• Minimize footprint expansion (replacing poor space)
• Support revenue producing programs and seek sources of funding if applicable
• Develop solid business plan for building operations and academic programs
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
The energy master plan is on a timeline to be complete in the next two years or so.
The principles for strategic capital projects and space management guidelines are currently being pilot tested in two new buildings projects. They will then be evaluated for adoption in all building projects.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
University Energy Program Director, Strategic Capital Program Director, Vice President of Operations, Senior Facilities Director
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
Tufts Dining has a formal "Dining Goals" annual plan that contains specific, measurable goals in areas such as Finance, Personnel, Service, Communications & Marketing, and Sustainability and guides their work throughout the year.
Date Revised: Dec. 9, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Tufts Dining sustainability goals for FY14:
•Report on the energy and water used by the new dish machine and pulper in Dewick to determine actual savings
•Promote the Farmer’s Market with the intention of increasing participation by staff and faculty as well as students
•Adapt the Green Options in Catering written for the Fletcher School for the rest of the Medford/Somerville campus; promote among catering clients
•Continue the work started in FY13 on food waste management to reduce food waste during the production and service processes
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Tufts Dining
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
Tufts seeks to reduce its own contribution to climate change through a number of energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
The Campus Sustainability Council Report set forth the following energy goals: Reduce energy consumption 5-7%; develop a renewable portfolio standard within 1 year.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
University Energy Program Director, Vice President of Operations, Facilities Technical Services, Office of Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
Plan to increase the use of low emission lawn maintenance equipment (e.g. electric mowers)
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Grounds Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
Tufts' Campus Sustainability Council Report, released in 2013, contains purchasing-related goals.
Date Revised: Dec. 9, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
GOAL: Reduce waste by 3 percent each year, on average, through source reduction, waste management strategies, and behavior change.
Objective: Through careful planning and consistent enforcement of purchasing policies and practices, reduce the source of Tufts’ waste and increase the percentage of purchased products that are recyclable and otherwise environmentally preferable in order to support a cradle-to-cradle economy.
Date Revised: Dec. 9, 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
Purchasing Department
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The Campus Sustainability Council Report set a goal to convene a stakeholder group to provide input for a long-term transportation initiative. Pursuant to this goal, a transportation working groups was convened in Fall 2013 to work on developing a clear set of protocols and policies surrounding the use of Tufts vehicles and the use of vehicles by student drivers as well as a transportation demand management plan for the Medford/Somerville campus and possibly the Boston and Grafton campuses.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
The Fleet Management plan culminated in the creation of a new fleet management position and the hiring of a fleet manager who will also dedicate 25% of her time to transportation demand management. A transportation demand management plan has been completed and is available at http://sustainability.tufts.edu/wp-content/uploads/TDM-Report-April-2015.pdf.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Office of Sustainability, Tufts Environmental and Public Safety Department, Transportation Working Group
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
The Campus Sustainability Council Report lays out a plan to reduce the university's waste with the vision that the entire Tufts community plays an intentional role in fostering a cradle-to-cradle economy.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Reduce waste by 3% each year on average, through source reduction, waste management strategies, and behavior change.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Waste Reduction Program Manager, Office of Sustainability, Purchasing, other departments as needed.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
Tufts' Campus Sustainability Council Report, released in 2013, contains water-related goals.
Date Revised: Dec. 9, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
GOAL 1: Within one year, develop a plan to evaluate and prioritize targets to reduce consumption.
GOAL 2: Within one year, identify water reuse opportunities and implement appropriate strategies.
GOAL 3: Within one year, institutionalize policies and protocols to proactively meet and exceed federal, state, and local wastewater and stormwater regulations.
GOAL 4: Within five years, increase understanding of water issues and water-saving practices.
Date Revised: Dec. 9, 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Facilities Services
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
In December 2013, Tufts released the "Report of the Council on Diversity." The Council’s report presented specific, actionable recommendations to achieve greater diversity among the student body, faculty, and staff and to make Tufts University more inclusive and welcoming to all.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
The recommendations presented in the Report of the Council on Diversity include hiring a chief diversity officer; increasing financial aid to attract and retain talented students who traditionally have not considered Tufts; examining curricula and other programs to ensure they support diversity and inclusion; and articulating more clearly how central these values are to Tufts’ mission and vision. A full list of recommendations can be found in the report: http://president.tufts.edu/wp-content/uploads/Council-on-Diversity-Final-Report-December-2013.pdf
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Chief Diversity Officer
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
"Wellness" is articulated as one of Tufts' core commitments in the university's T10 Strategic Plan.
Date Revised: Dec. 9, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Recently a health and wellness advisory committee with staff and faculty representation was created and charged with creating a plan. The plan is for the advisory committee to meet and create a plan with objectives, strategies, and timeframes.
Date Revised: Dec. 9, 2015
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Executive Vice President
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
Create a sustainability investment fund and measure the success of those investments.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
Create a sustainability investment fund (created 2015) and measure the success of those investments.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
Executive Vice President
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
The idea of sustainability, as we understand it, was developed to describe human practices that actively protect and do not negatively affect the earth's natural ecosystem’s ability to support healthy biological systems and human well-being now and in the future.
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Tufts' T10 Strategic Plan (2013-2023) commits to "creat[ing] physical spaces consistent with strategic initiatives and sustainability goals," including those set forth in the Campus Sustainability Council Report.
The plan also highlights sustainability as one of the university's Core Commitments, stating that "we are committed to... sustainability and an understanding of its multifaceted issues and requirements which are the most basic focuses for our broader commitments to live responsibly, nurture university-wide initiatives to meet global challenges, and to be strong stewards of our own campus to ensure long-term viability as an institution." Learn more at http://strategicplan.tufts.edu/.
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
For additional information on sustainability planning, see http://sustainability.tufts.edu/about-the-office-of-sustainability/sustainability-council-report-released/
For additional information on sustainability planning, see http://sustainability.tufts.edu/about-the-office-of-sustainability/sustainability-council-report-released/
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.