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 »
The end of the semester is a stressful time for everyone, but as you finish your exams and prepare to leave campus, make environmentally-conscious choices with this handy to-do list! Sustainable choices are often easier on you in the long run, but most importantly, your community and your planet will… 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 »
Williams publicly reports its emissions and progress towards goals on an annual basis. Williams’ emissions are calculated by fiscal year (July 1-June 30), rather than academic or calendar year. The reports are finalized and shared every fall. To read the report and analysis visit: Fiscal Year 2018 Williams College Emissions… 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 »
Check out the interview by WGBY’s “Connecting Point” of Amy Johns from Williams, Laura Drauker from Amherst, and Dano Weisbord from Smith talking about our collaborative approach to renewable energy. … 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 »
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., April 19, 2018— Five of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges have formed a pioneering collaborative that will allow them to offset 46,000 megawatt hours per year of their collective electrical needs with electricity created at a new solar power facility to be built in Farmington, Maine. The… Continue reading »
Here are a few of the items of note from our Emissions Report for the 2017 fiscal year As of the end of FY17 (June 30), Williams is approximately 46% of the way toward reaching our current greenhouse gas emissions goal of 35% below 1990’s level by 2020. Between 1990… 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 »
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 »
Smart power strip infographic from green.harvard.edu Did you know that your electronics and appliances always use energy when plugged in, even when not in use? During their freshman year, Eco-Advisors Amina Awad ‘18 and Flor Marmolejo ‘18 began to explore how to increase sustainable behavior on campus. “We were thinking about ways that… 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 »
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 »
Six rental properties have been weatherized this winter under the Mass Save program. Cellulose insulation is densely packed into empty wall cavities and under attic floor boards. Loose-fill cellulose is added to attics to achieve an insulation value of R-60. The cellulose is manufactured locally (… Continue reading »