| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Debra Shepard |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Wentworth Institute of Technology
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Debra
Shepard Sustainability Consultant N/A |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Published Plans That Address Sustainability
Strategic Plan
Yes
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Sustainability is included in the 2013-2017 Strategic Plan under the initiative, "Pursue Operational Efficiency - Strategic Objective: Effectively establish sustainable standards, encourage collaborative opportunities, reduce redundancies and promote cost effective procurement practices."
A copy of the strategic plan:
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The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Sustainability Plan
No
A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Climate Action Plan
Yes
A copy of the climate action plan:
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The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
Other Published Plans
Yes
A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
Wentworth submits regular updates of its Institutional Master Plan to the City of Boston. This plan includes Wentworth's approach for complying with the City's Green Building Code, requirements for reduced impacts from transportation, enhanced community connectivity, and other aspects of sustainability. Plans can be found online:
https://www.wit.edu/about/administrative-offices-services/institutional-master-plan
Measurable Sustainability Objectives
Curriculum
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Wentworth tracks the number of courses related to or focused on sustainability for reporting progress on the climate action plan.
Research
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Wentworth has set a strategic priority to become a leader in EPIC learning by 2032. Strategies and a timeline have been developed by the Academic Leadership Team. Other initiatives are tracked and reported on a qualitative basis through the Carbon Commitment.
Campus Engagement
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Measurable objectives include tracking the number of events, and the number and type of attendees. This information is reported as part of Carbon Commitment and annual Princeton Review submissions.
Public Engagement
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Air & Climate
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Measurable objectives include tracking annual GHG emissions against a series of GHG reduction targets, tracking the number and type of energy conservation projects, the budget for climate action, and estimated savings where feasible.
Buildings
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Measurable objectives include the LEED scorecards developed for Article 37 compliant green building projects, tracking the number of green building projects, number / type of retrofits which address sustainability, and square footage of green buildings.
Energy
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Refer to the description above for OP 1. These efforts are primarily focused on energy conservation.
Food & Dining
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Measurable objectives include monitoring and tracking food production and food waste in the kitchen, and periodic audits of post-consumer waste streams to estimate diversion rates. Other initiatives are in development (i.e. refining the measurement of sustainable food choices).
Grounds
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Measurable objectives include tracking the amount of campus area which provides green space and/or groundwater recharge, and qualitatively tracking projects which enhance community connectivity and pedestrian access.
Purchasing
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Wentworth does not currently track expenditures on sustainable goods, however these strategies are mandated through the Sustainable Purchasing Policy, and environmentally preferable products are specified wherever feasible through centralized procurement programs.
Transportation
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Measurable objectives include tracking fuel use, the number of alternatively fueled vehicles within the fleet, commute modal split for local and state transportation demand management reporting, and commuter miles for the climate action plan. Business travel is also tracked for the GHG inventory. Numerous strategies are employed to reduce the number of commuter trips to campus (see OP 21) and reduce the amount of fuel used by the Physical Plant fleet (see OP-18).
Waste
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Strategies include communications and outreach to the campus on recycling do's and don'ts, hands-on training at New Student orientation and in the student center, and continuous improvement in the collection process. Volumes of each waste stream and overall waste diversion rates are tracked monthly and trended on an annual basis.
Water
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
While not measured quantitatively, water management strategies include low-flow fixtures and stormwater management technologies for new construction and retrofit projects, and installation of bottle-filling stations to promote hydration and drinking tap water rather than bottled water.
Diversity & Affordability
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Wentworth's diversity and affordability program is managed by its Center for Diversity and Social Justice: https://www.wit.edu/center-diversity-social-justice
Investment & Finance
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Wellbeing & Work
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Wentworth's wellness program is managed by its Center for Wellness and Disability Services, and by the Human Resources department:
https://www.wit.edu/center-wellness-disability-services
https://www.wit.edu/human-resources
Other Impact Areas
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Optional Fields
No
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
At Wentworth, our approach to sustainability aspires to improve environmental, social, and economic performance, drawing from the Brundtland Commission’s definition of sustainable development: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The Wentworth Creed, which dates back to 1904, echoes this in its principle of Economy, stating, “We seek to use our resources wisely at all times. We accept our obligation to safeguard the earth, its resources, its life, and its energy for the benefit of future generations."
Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | No |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | No |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | No |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | Yes |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | No |
| UN Global Compact | No |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | No |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
Wentworth has been a signatory of Second Nature's Carbon Commitment since 2007, and continues to use this program to help shape and disclose its sustainability program's priorities and performance.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.