Sustainability in Action:
Greening your Office and Lab at MIT

Campus Sustainability Tool Kit Contents

Looking for some helpful tips and tools to start “greening” your MIT office, lab or dorm? Look no further - below is a Tool Kit of items designed to provide resources of information to start the greening process in your place at MIT. Have something to add to the list or ideas that have worked in your area? Contact green-ambassadors@mit.edu to share your ideas with others or to sign up to the green ambassador network. Would you like assistance to set up a program in your area? Contact be-green@mit.edu to help start the process. Here are some things you can do in the meantime.

First Steps:

G – Gather with your fellow ambassadors to discuss ideas, practices and ways to improve sustainability in your area.

R – Recruit co-workers, staff and students to join your local effort. Put together a green team in your area and set goals that you want to reach within a determined timeframe.

E – Educate those around you about the current practices in your area. Design a bulletin board that focuses on a new “green” practice your office, lab or dorm – smart printing, turn off lights, recycling Do’s & Don’ts, shut the sash, etc. Use the various communication venues to share information.

E – Emphasize the campus behavior change campaigns. Signs are available in the Poster section at http://sustainability.mit.edu/resources/tools-and-templates.

N – Network with others by becoming a Green Ambassador. Get more people involved so you’re doing the brunt of the work, no matter how much fun it is. (email green-ambassadors-owner@mit.edu)

Getting Started:

1. Implementation Plan (pdf)
2. Office Audit (doc)
3. Planning your Efforts Checklist (doc)
4. Information to Drive More Sustainable Office Practices (pdf)
5. Minimizing Environmental Impacts in the Lab – What can you do at MIT? (pdf)
6. Resources to Drive More Sustainable Practices at MIT (pdf)
7. Lab Recycling Guidelines – Oct 23, 2009 (doc)
8. Lab Sustainability FAQ – October 23, 2009 (doc)
   

Posters

1. 8 ways to live a little greener at MIT sheet
   
2. ‘Shut Your Sash’ 8 ½” x 11” poster (color)
   
3. ‘Flip The Switch” 8 ½” x 11” poster (color)
   
4. ‘Resolve to Revolve!’ 8 ½” x 11” poster (color)
   
5. ‘Power IT Down!’ 8 ½” x 11” poster (color)
   
6. Print Smarter 8 ½” x 11” poster (color)
   
7. Greening MIT 8 ½” x 11” posters
   

Presentations

1. Sustainability in Action: Greening Your Place at MIT presentation (final version w/ comment slides completed)

Instructions

1. VOIP Phones Energy Saving Instructions (IS&T)
2. Double-sided Printing Instructions for Windows XP (pdf)
3. Computer Energy Saving Setting Instructions – Windows XP (pdf)
4. Computer Energy Saving Setting Instructions – Windows Vista (pdf)
5. Computer Energy Saving Setting Instructions – Mac OS (pdf)

Related Links

1. MIT Energy Initiative
   http://web.mit.edu/mitei/index.html
2. Sustainability at MIT
   http://sustainability.mit.edu/projects/campus
3. Department of Facilities
   http://web.mit.edu/facilities/environmental/index.html
4. Information Systems & Technology
   http://web.mit.edu/ist/initiatives/it-energy/
5. Working Green at MIT;
   http://web.mit.edu/workinggreen/
6. Harvard Sustainability
   http://www.greencampus.harvard.edu/labs
   FAS Green Labs Resources PDF
7. Lab Specific Recycling Flyer: http://web.mit.edu/facilities/environmental/recycling.html
8. Battery Disposal Flyer: http://web.mit.edu/facilities/environmental/recycling.html
   

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