College spearheads sustainability efforts with LEDs, trayless dining, solar panels

In a world of users and consumers, beneath a sky with a hole torn in its ozone layer, the Wellesley College community has decided to take a definitive stance on sustainability: the campus is deeply invested in trying to make Wellesley as green as possible. LED lights, solar panels, rehabilitated marshlands, an electric van, trayless dining, and a rummage sale are all examples of Wellesley’s environmental sustainability efforts.

One of the most recent on-campus projects is switching the incandescent bulbs in the streetlamps to LEDs. While incandescent bulbs only last two to three years, LEDs remain bright for about fifteen to seventeen years—which, of course, guarantees astronomical savings. “Over the life of LEDs, we can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in terms of energy, labor and materials,” Director of Sustainability, Patrick Willoughby said. Students might recognize him as the driver of the tiny green and white electric car powered by solar energy.

Hiring a director of sustainability is just one example of the College’s efforts to increase its commitment to environmental friendliness. In 2005, Wellesley created the Sustainability Advisory Committee, whose members include students, environmental experts and the director of sustainability.

The committee sponsors many sustainability projects each year, such as Sustainability Month (October) and competitions between residence halls.

Amanda Faulkner ’11, an environmental studies major, sits on this committee and is also the co-president of Wellesley Energy and Environmental Defense (WEED). “We’re trying to spread the word on sustainability and impact environmentalism efforts,” Faulkner said of WEED. The group’s fall theme is “Consumption,” and WEED is currently working to educate the campus community on cleaner and decreased consumption.

Willoughby supports WEED’s efforts. “There tends to be this complete focus on greenhouse gases and carbon footprint,” he said. “That’s outrageously important, but I think that if we don’t take an ecological holistic look at how we approach things, we’re going to make some big mistakes.”

This “holistic look” encompasses an enormous variety of goals and plans. Although many students might not be aware of this, Wellesley College has its own self-sustaining water supply, which needs to be protected. As a result of sustainability efforts, Willoughby doesn’t believe that we’re in any danger of draining the College’s aquifer. “We’re using about twenty-five million less gallons now than we did ten years ago,” he said.

This incredible statistic is just one of a string of impressive figures to emerge from the College’s focus on sustainability. During the recent renovation of Alumnae Hall, 92 percent of all construction debris was recycled. Last spring, students left behind hundreds of pounds of unwanted possessions that were resold this September in a rummage sale. An additional 7,360 pounds of clothes—which otherwise would have been thrown out—were given to Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

While Wellesley has come a long way, both Willoughby and Faulkner are quick to note that there are still many improvements that need to be made.

“I think we need to make a better focus on recycling,” Willoughby said. He stresses that it is always better not to use something than to recycle it. “At this point recycling should be a habit. And if you can take it out of the waste stream by not using it, whether you opt for a reusable coffee mug or double-sided printing, you’re saving energy and resources.”

We need to be conscious of all aspects of our consumerism, from recycling to water use. “Try to take shorter showers,” Faulkner suggested. “The less water we use, the less chemicals we need to truck in to treat that water, the less our pumps are running, and the less electricity we use,” Willoughby said.

The message: be aware. Even thoughtless actions like leaving the water running while brushing teeth or washing our faces can have a negative impact on the environment.

“I maintain strongly that there’s a much better chance of major positive change coming from the students we have here today than there ever will be from me,” Willoughby said. He jokingly added, “No pressure.” As Director of Sustainability, one of his tasks is to work with students and get them “geared up” about environmental efforts. He drives an electric car not only because it is more green than a gas-burning vehicle, but because he hopes it will inspire enthusiasm for “going green” amongst the student body.

“I’d like to think that Wellesley is going to become a real leader in sustainability,” Willoughby said.

In 2008, President Kim Bottomly echoed these sentiments in her Convocation address. “Colleges and universities around the world must and will play a crucial role, not just because of the research and education that happens there…but also because of the intellectual communities that exist there.”