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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 4: Adopt a Plan

After completing the site visit and engaging in follow-up dialogue, your visiting team will present a report tailored to your center. The report will provide baseline data on current energy use, operating costs and emissions based on your GHG inventory; identify opportunities for operational improvements and increased efficiencies; offer a correlation of various reduction strategies with cost savings or output; recommend commitment to annual measurement of energy use and emissions; and suggest targets for energy use, emission reductions and cost savings. Your science center can use this report as a basis for developing a Greening Plan.  The plan will be edited, approved and then adopted by the Green Team and your Center's leadership.

A comprehensive Greening Plan will examine opportunities both internally and externally:

  • Operational (Internal):
    - energy conservation and efficiency in facilities
    - renewable energy use
    - waste reduction, recycling and disposal
    - transportation
    - sustainable food systems
    - responsible purchasing
    - building design and construction
    - land use and long-term planning.
  • Educational (External):
    - employee awareness and behavior
    - exhibits and activities
    - media and public relations
    - mentoring other organizations.

Tools and Resources

** Twelve Steps to a Green Science Center - information about effective energy and ghg reduction programs, models and measures in all of the areas outlined above, from Eastern Connecticut State University's Institute for Sustainable Energy

 

Once your plan is in place you will need to focus on implementation.

  • 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