Greening Program

The Greening Our Science Centers initiative is a solutions-based program designed to track, quantify and improve energy use, and reduce emissions output.  The program allows participating institutions to operate more efficiently, "walk their talk" and gain a unique educational opportunity to share their efforts with constituents.

 

Step 3: Site Visit

The Greening Our Science Centers Initiative site visit brings outside expertise to your aid. It consists of:

  • A PowerPoint presentation
    This background information focuses on the benefits and challenges of energy and GHG reduction projects by establishing links between energy use and climate change.  Reductions, cost savings and successful science center projects are highlighted.
  • Facilities tour
    Participating science centers will host a visiting team of 3-5 technical experts and peer mentors.  This day-long visit offers your Green Team access to specialists, assesses opportunities and needs and results in a formal report for use with your administration and Board of Trustees.
  • Follow-up dialogue
     An important element of the program is follow-up. For one-year after the project begins  Greening Our Science Centers Initiative staff will stay in contact with your Green Team to provide support and help keep the project on track.

Tools and Resources:

** Northeast Sustainable Energy Association - local professional expertise
** Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University
** Green Building Council - info on high-performance, energy efficient facilities

 

The written report that follows from this site visit, developed in collaboration between internal and external experts and stakeholders, will provide a foundation for the next step in your science center's greening: adopting a plan.

  • Step 1: Establish Commitment
  • Step 2: Research and Preparation
  • Step 3: Site Visit
  • Step 4: Adopt a Plan
  • Step 5: Implement Your Plan
  • Step 6: Institutionalizing "Green"

Greening home

Greening case studies