CLEAN ENERGY NOW!

Spring 2002 Energy Summit Speakers

Sarah Brush Kristen Jule Melissa Payne Steve Smith Kristin Casper Patrick Keegan Karl Rábago Joel Swisher Sarah Creighton Duncan Marsh Kassie Rorhbach Mark Udall Faith Gemmill Peter Morton Claudine Schneider Randy Udall Susan Innis David Orr Walter Simpson Sarah Zisa

 

Sarah Creighton

Sarah Hammond Creighton is Project Manager of the Tufts Climate Initiative, a project to steer Tufts University on a cleaner energy path that will enable it to “meet or beat” the international targets for reducing emissions related to global warming. Previously Creighton was Project Manager of Tufts CLEAN!, a program to reduce Tufts University’s environmental impacts and Energy Conservation Planner for the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management. Her book, Greening the Ivory Tower: Improving the Environmental Track Record of Universities, Colleges and Other Institutions is a motivational and how-to guide for staff, faculty, and students and offers detailed “greening” strategies for those who may have little experience with institutional change or environmentally friendly technologies.

Presentation
View Sarah Creighton's presentation for the Spring 2002 Energy Summit.

Interview

What is your position at Tufts University? Project Manager of the Tufts Climate Initiative. Can you describe the Tufts Climate Change Initiative? TCI is an advocate and resource for helping Tufts to meet the goals of the Kyoto Protocol for its own activities. All of TCI's projects happen because of a partnership with Facilities. Why did the university commit to this program? Tufts has a long-standing commitment to environmental issues. In April 1999 Tufts then-president John DiBiaggio was convince that a leadership position by the university was an imporatant and achievable goal. The rationale was that perhaps if the people will lead, the [national] leaders will follow. What role does the president of Tufts play in this effort? His commitment gives credibility to the effort. How is the Climate Change Initiative funded? TCI's work is funded by small grants from a local foundation. However, the university has invested in energy efficiency, in response to our efforts. The amount of university investment resulting from TCI is one and half times the investment from the foundation. All of TCI's projects happen because of a partnership with Facilities. Is Tufts more broadly committed to "Greening the Ivory Tower"? Tufts has a long-standing commitment to action on "greening". The more recent focus on climate change gives a greater emphasis on energy issues, but still incorporates solid waste, waste reduction, purchasing, transportation etc.