Tufts has been recognized for its environmentally-friendly initiatives in a National Wildlife Foundation (NWF) survey of college campuses. The University was included in a list of 30 colleges "especially committed to energy conservation" in the NWF's report, The State of the Campus Environment, which detailed the survey's findings.
NWF gauged the recycling and energy conservation policies of almost 900 colleges and universities around the country. The organization considers college campuses, often on the cutting edge environmental change, particularly important to its cause.
The Tufts Climate Initiative (TCI), founded in 1998 to promote environmental awareness, is behind many of the improvements responsible for the University's high ranking in the survey. Sarah Hammond Creighton, TCI project manager, says she is pleased with the findings.
"Tufts has been a leader for 12 years in this issue," she said, adding that Tufts was the first university in the country to implement an environmental policy. "I'm satisfied with how we are doing, but I hope that we can improve."
TCI's initial goal was to meet the standards set by the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When then-president Bill Clinton signed on to the protocol in 1998, the nation agreed to reduce greenhouse emissions by seven percent below 1990 levels.
In 1999, then-University president John DiBiaggio announced that Tufts would meet and beat the standards set by the protocol. Doing so would require the University to slash carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent before 2012. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere as a result of transportation, heat, and energy consumption.
According to the TCI, however, current carbon dioxide emissions at Tufts are on the rise, and the University must first slow growth of carbon dioxide emissions before it can hope actually begin to reduce them. Creighton added that she is pleased by Tufts' progress and confident that the University will reach its goal.
Creighton is also certain that TCI's initiatives will receive the support of the University's new president, Larry Bacow.
Most of TCI's work takes place in the University's buildings. Facilities assists TCI in implementing energy efficient systems and renovating the boilers, lights, heating, or insulation systems of existing buildings to spend less energy while conserving a healthy environment.
TCI has a silver gas-electric hybrid car which emits less carbon dioxide than a regular car. Driven by the University's grounds manager, the car runs well on electricity over short distances and uses gasoline for long trips.
Another TCI initiative on campus is the motion-detecting vending machines that turn on only when someone approaches them, sometimes scaring people with sudden noises and flashing lights. Occupancy sensors inside the vending machines detect motion and turn on the machine for someone to purchase a drink.
But the most effective energy saving initiative is student awareness, not motion detectors, say TCI organizers. According to TCI, if all students turned off their computers for six hours each night, the University's annual carbon dioxide emissions would decrease by 572 tons. This does not include the reduction of electricity costs, which TCI said would amount to $87,000 every year in savings.
