UPDATED 5/13/21 For the past year plus, staff and faculty across the college have been working on the innumerable pivots necessary to ensure that the college could still operate. The Zilkha Center has been working with our colleagues to support sustainable operations and has also been… Continue reading »
The momentum of the push to finalize the strategic plan was slowed due to COVID-19, but the Zilkha Center has been working with the Provost and colleagues across campus to continue to advance innovative sustainability solutions. We are beginning to lay the groundwork for more specific and detailed… Continue reading »
In 2015, President Falk and the Board of Trustees committed to reducing ghg emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by the end of 2020. During our most recent emissions check-in – the 2019 fiscal year (FY19) emissions report –… Continue reading »
The Zilkha Center and the Office of Planning Design & Construction (PD&C) collaborate to pursue sustainability projects campus-wide. As part of the sustainability commitments set in 2015 by President Adam Falk, the College continues to commit resources to on-campus emission reduction projects… Continue reading »
As you prepare to leave your dorm for an extended break take a couple of minutes to reduce your impact with a few simple steps: Donate things you no longer need. Clean and gently used clothing can be donated to benefit ABC Greylock in… Continue reading »
CambridgeSeven, the architecture firm behind the design of the new Williams Inn and the Williams Bookstore, has released a self-guided sustainability tour that features highlights of the buildings intended to increase efficiency and reduce energy costs. The firm kept stormwater design, local materials, and solar energy in mind while designing… Continue reading »
Wondering about the impressively deep hole being dug next to the Class of 1966 Environmental Center? Well, it turns out that this construction is necessary in order to install six (6) pole-mounted solar photovoltaic arrays! The new solar arrays are thanks to the Envi Center’s efforts to complete… Continue reading »
Last year, Williams along with Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, and Bowdoin announced that they would collaborate in a purchase and development of a solar electricity site, the NEC Renewable Partnership. The site found its location in Farmington, Maine on land that used to operate as a… Continue reading »
Jennifer Lee ’22, our graphics intern, created an infographic about the College’s water use on campus. Learn more about it by taking a look at the poster! Click to enlarge. You can read more about water use on campus by exploring our Water page. Continue reading »
The bathrooms at the Class of 1966 Environmental Center are the only ones on campus with informational posters about the toilets lining the walls, but at first glance they don’t seem much different from any other toilet on campus. It wouldn’t appear to take much thought to press… Continue reading »
How can we reduce our energy consumption? Professor Jeannie Albrecht has a powerful theory: we must understand our energy usage before we can change it. In this vein, this summer we have been working with Professor Albrecht to develop, fine tune, and compare ambient visualizations of real-time energy and power… Continue reading »
To qualify for a Williams high-efficiency vehicle (HEV) sticker, a car must be on the LEED Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles list. There is a wide range of fuel efficient, low-emitting cars on the list – more than 4300 qualifying cars from model years 1998-2018. As can… Continue reading »
As you prepare to leave for break, take a couple of minutes to reduce your impact with a few simple steps: Unplug devices and appliances in your office Even if they’re turned off, your electronics still use energy while plugged in. Make sure to unplug your computer, printer, copier, lamps,… Continue reading »
Happy Homecoming, Ephs! With Homecoming on its way, the Williams community is preparing for a weekend of celebration, school spirit and reunions with friends and family alike. While enjoying the events, remember to be sustainable with these tips: Recycle SOLO cups – Williams looks so… Continue reading »
With the arrival of Fall comes changes members of the Williams community look forward to all year: shades of red and orange foliage scattered across the purple valley, warm drinks that complement cooler weather, and Mountain Day, of course. At the start of this academic year students may have noticed… Continue reading »
*Click to enlarge* Vampire energy graphic from energysmartshow.com Live Sustainably! Follow these simple tips to reduce consumption and energy use from the comfort of your dorm room. Developing sustainable living habits now will benefit you and the planet for years to come. Things to Buy: Stop… Continue reading »
I just can’t seem to stay away from Amherst (really, the Pioneer Valley more broadly), and it’s not the wider range of restaurants and good coffee that are drawing me there. I’m recently taken my second work-related trip to the Pioneer Valley in as many weeks. Williams, Amherst, Smith, Hampshire… Continue reading »
How should we reduce greenhouse gas emissions? That seems like a pretty simple question on the surface, but dig down and things get complicated quickly. Williams has emissions reduction goals – 35% below 1990 levels by 2020, then carbon neutrality (through the purchase of carbon offsets) by the end of 2020. Continue reading »
In September of 2015, President Adam Falk and the Board of Trustees announced that the College would achieve carbon neutrality by the end of 2020, first by reducing energy use and investing in renewable energy, and then by purchasing offsets to account for the remainder of our carbon footprint. Many… Continue reading »
The chefs with just some of their dried herbs, spices, and essences. by Quan Do ’19, Zilkha Summer Intern 2016 For almost a year now, Jim Guiden, Charlotte Clark and James Godfrey at the Faculty House have adopted a new strategy to combat food waste: drying several types of… Continue reading »
Williams’ emissions come largely from heating, cooling, lighting and ventilating our campus buildings. The College has been investing actively in energy conservation and efficiency in campus buildings since 2007, and will continue to do so – about $1,000,000 every year. That money will be focused going forward on… Continue reading »
You may have noticed that over the course of the past week some high efficiency vehicle (HEV) parking spaces were installed in two of the lots adjacent to Sawyer Library. As can be seen on the campus map, HEV spaces are next to LEED building projects – the Hollander/Shapiro project, Weston… Continue reading »
By Michael Blanding ’95 The helicopter swung low over the hills on a crisp November evening, veering over the top of Lasell Gymnasium on its way to trace a path across campus. Suspended beneath it, an infrared camera took images of each building as it passed. Looking at the rainbow-colored images later, facilities… Continue reading »