Successes Since 2007

Leadership
- Engagement since 2007
- 2012 Strategic Plan
- Committee established 2015
- 2015 Action Plan
- Sustainability web page creation in 2012
- 2017-2025 Action Plan
- Monthly sustainability article in YSPH e-newsletter
- Annual Celebrate Sustainability events/campaigns
- Promotion of Green certifications for workplace, lab and events
- Partnership with SAYPH (YSPH student organization)
Empowerment
- Developed a sustainability vision statement to guide the Committee’s work and in the 2017-2025 YSPH Sustainability Action Plan
- Common Ground High School Urban Farm Workdays
- New Haven Land Trust Community Garden Clean-ups
- New Haven Farms Community Service Days
- Green prizes for BYOs at school-wide social events
- International Coast Clean-up Days
Health and Well-Being
- Healthy Meeting Toolkit created 2016
- Created a healthy food restaurant list for new YSPH students
- Use and promotion of local (and preferably environmentally responsible) catering vendors
- Healthy Pizza student project 2017, led to university-wide implementation
- Installed water bottle fountains-hydration stations in common spaces
- Water filtration dispensers have replaced most bottled water units
- Conversion to water pitchers to replace single water bottles at school-wide events; replicated by most departments
- Eliminated soda, pizza and sweets from Dean’s Office-hosted events
- Advocated for (recent) healthier vending options; ongoing
- Health Challenge 2016 – to encourage physical activity and reduce energy use
- Tobacco-Free Yale/YSPH champion
Climate Action
- Expanding the Yale Climate Change and Health Initiative (CCHI) as a means of addressing climate change and health on a global scale
Stewardship
- Swaps programs: Supplies, Clothing, Holiday wrapping supplies
- Community impact: Common Ground HS Urban Farm Workdays, New Haven Land Trust Community Garden Clean-ups, Community Carbon Fund fundraiser, International Coastal Clean-Up Days, New Haven Farms Day of Service, Massaro Farms Day of Service
Built Environment
- Conducted night-time energy survey and audit in May of 2014
- Yale Carbon Charge Pilot Project participant 2015-2016
- Yale “Deep Dive” Energy Investigation participant 2018
- LEED Certification was obtained for the 6th and 7th floors
- The 7th floor received the CT Green Building Award
- LEED Requirements for new labs have been met
- Picnic tables installed to promote outdoor use
- Plumbing and electrical upgrades requested in four high-traffic restrooms and common rooms
Mobility
- Additional bike racks installed
- Promoting the Commuter Benefits Program, and use of Yale-sponsored mobility initiatives including ZipCar, Zagster and Yale Shuttle services (continuous)
- Encouraging tele/video-conferencing to reduce carbon footprint from travel
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Materials
- Distributed BYO campaign giveaways; reusable food containers and utensils to entire YSPH community
- SWAY student project gradually removing disposable utensils from seminars
- Conducted a $5000 paper reduction competition and saw 38% reduction in paper usage in an 8-month period
- Implemented PaperCut for paper waste minimization and monitoring
- Administrative offices’ conversion to flash drives, file share software, and YSPH intranet to replace volumes of paper documents distributed annually
- YSPH flash drive giveaways to all faculty and staff
- Lab recycling program implemented on 3 floors
- Green Lab Certification (highest level) achieved in 3 labs, and counting
- Furniture re-use, repurpose practice
- Green Purchasing promotion
- Central toner recycling site
- YSPH travel mug sale/education campaign to replace paper cups 2009
- Office Supply Swaps held annually or semi-annually
Technology
- Personal printers policy
- A/V upgrades in conference rooms and classrooms to facilitate paperless meetings
- Distance learning initiatives