Hsu says that energy changes depend not only on a grassroots bottom-up approach, but also on well-coordinated efforts by Faculty and staff—efforts that need to be prompted by communication from students.

“In order for the College to be receptive, the students have to make noise,” he adds. “So it takes effort on both parts. Neither party can do it all by themselves.”

From the Top Down

Energy efficiency demands much more than students remembering to turn off their lights and computers, says Director of the College’s Office of Physical Resources (OPR) Michael N. Lichten.

With the help of Director of Building Maintenance and Operations Jay M. Phillips, Lichten focuses on improving energy efficiency in FAS’s mechanical systems, including the motors of ventilation systems and fume hoods—the fresh air exchange systems in laboratories—which Phillips says, “are the highest energy consumers” at Harvard.

As OPR continues to focus on updating the campus’ buildings with more efficient digital energy systems, Phillips says they also look forward to tackling the problem of inefficient fume hood use, which is estimated to cost the College $100,000 each year.

He stressed that while the environmental effects of Harvard’s energy use cannot be ignored, financial cost is of primary concern in making energy efficient changes.

“We do every project on a payback analysis, determining how much we spend versus how much we will save,” Phillips says. “We don’t throw money at things. We do a project when it makes sense.”

One such effort, started in 1999, replaced popular but inefficient halogen floor lamps in undergraduate roomswith a more economical florescent model, developed by engineering student Linsey C. Marr ’96 for her senior thesis.

OPR estimates that the lamps, which now exist in every dorm room, have saved the College close to $300,000 and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2,000 tons.

A Global Partner

Over at Leith Sharp’s Green Campus Initative, other environmental projects are in the works, including an interest-free loan fund for environmentally friendly campus renovations, and an exchange to educate campus decision-makers on how best to conserve energy.

Sharp laments the lack of energy awareness at most administrative levels at the University. To meet the basic standards of the Kyoto Protocol—a 1997 international treaty to reduce global warming—she says that the University would need to reduce its already growing CO2 emissions by 35 percent during the next five years.

“It would be ideal if [Harvard] followed some of the leadership we see in the corporate sector, where environmental reporting and energy efficiency targets are standard,” she says.

But, Sharp notes, the first step may be to incorporate some form of environmental education at all levels throughout the University.

“People here—students, faculty and administrators—are often too busy to realize the impact of their daily decisions. Harvard needs to invest in its own ability to learn,” she says. “If a university can’t meet its profound responsibility as a member of a global community, then who will?”