About the Office of Sustainability

Sustainability activities have a long history at WPI, particularly through our Interactive Global Projects Program and in several research areas. However, the broad concept of sustainability was not explicitly addressed until the formation of the President’s Task Force on Sustainability in December, 2007. This group was chaired by the CFO and Provost and provided overall guidance, coordination, and stimulation for sustainability activities across our educational and research programs as well as in campus operations. The Task Force, together with the entire WPI community, produced the WPI Plan for Sustainability that was accepted by the Board of Trustees in February, 2014. A major recommendation of the Plan was for the establishment of a formal Office of Sustainability with a full-time director. This recommendation was implemented in May, 2014. The director position is currently implemented as two half-time positions. The efforts of the director and associate director are ably assisted by a group of student interns and the Advisory Committee on Sustainability. Each year the office issues an Annual Report documenting WPI’s current status with regard to sustainability aspects ranging from greenhouse gas emissions to energy research projects and community engagement. For questions or comments please email green@wpi.edu.

Contact

green@wpi.edu

What is Sustainability?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations." This definition encompasses the three aspects of environmental stewardship, social justice, and economic security for all people. WPI strives to implement these principles by operating the campus in a sustainable manner, by incorporating the principles of sustainability throughout our academic programs, by carrying out research that advances theory and practice in this critical area, and by positively impacting our communities.

News

Celebrating Earth Day: Sustainability by the Numbers

April 19, 2018

WPI Celebrates New Energy Storage System at Holy Name Junior/Senior High School

October 12, 2017

See More News

What's Happening?

Academics and Research

Operations

Student Action

Community Impact

WPI students are making continuous efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Be part of the movement! Check out our recycling guidelines and join the reusable container program.

Recycling Guidelines

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Gompei's Gears Bike Share is back, with upgraded software.

LEARN MORE

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Electric Vehicle Charging Information

WPI is pleased to be among the few universities in Central Massachusetts that provide free electric vehicle charging on our campus. We have three dual Chargepoint 4000 Series chargers, providing six charging ports, which were upgraded early last year from the two original charging units installed in 2011 and 2012. Two chargers are located inside the Park Avenue Garage on the side closest to the football field; the other is located at the exterior of the garage at the entrance. The Chargepoint software provides EV Drivers with information on the available ports and charging status.

As a convenience to our electric vehicle drivers, the Office of Sustainability created an email alias, evusers@wpi.edu, to facilitate communication about charging matters. Drivers have been using this alias to communicate with each other about issues and concerns. We also have used it to share information about charging problems or scheduled maintenance. As such, we encourage all of our EV drivers to join the email alias. If you are an electric vehicle driver, are not currently on our email alias, and would appreciate communication regarding the charging stations, you can request that your name be added by emailing green@wpi.edu.

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The WPI Sustainability Plan is an initiative launched by the WPI Task Force on Sustainability in the Spring of 2012. Our progress can be seen in the Annual Sustainability Reports listed on this page.

Here's The Plan

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WPI's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan has just been completed, and commits us to a reduction in our gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for 20% from FY14 to FY25. A summary of the plan is here and the complete report is here.

WPI is proud to announce that we have earned a STARS Gold rating! STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. With more than 800 participants on six continents, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in four overall areas: 1) academics, 2) engagement, 3) operations, and 4) planning and administration.