Boston University Earns STARS Gold
July 24, 2023 –Boston University has earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
Guided by its Climate Action Plan (CAP), BU has set the goal of net carbon neutrality by 2040. As of 2023, BU is 64% of the way toward that goal. Building on the CAP, the University has implemented numerous initiatives and programs to decarbonize and integrate sustainability as part of University life:
- BU Wind, a 205,000 MWh wind farm in South Dakota, the largest of any college or university in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership, matches all of the University’s electricity demand.
- A University-Wide Effort on Sustainability is a key component of BU’s Strategic Plan for 2030.
- In the STARS ranking, Boston University received maximum points for:
- The Board of Trustees’ approved plan for 100% divestment from fossil fuels while investing instead in fossil fuel-free energy production.
- Utilizing the campus as a living laboratory through programming such as the Campus Climate Lab.
- Making sustainable transit easily accessible to faculty, staff and students through bike shares, affordable passes with the MBTA, and the free BU Shuttle.
- Boston University’s leadership within the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, including
its work to support other higher education institutions in their climate action planning processes. - BU Dining Services’ Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that is available to the BU community.
“Achieving STARS Gold for the first time is a testament to our dedication and implementation of the Climate Action Plan,” said Dennis Carlberg, Associate Vice President for Sustainability. “Making sustainability a strategic priority at BU had enabled University-wide collaboration to tackle the global challenge of climate change and make BU stand out as a leader in higher education.”
“Getting to Gold has been in no small part to the collaboration and support of our campus partners,” said Stephen Ellis, Director of Data Analytics for BU Sustainability. “We have worked with over 80 individuals across more than 30 departments in the past year to pull together this report. Their hard work has allowed us to strengthen our institutional standing and improve our campus infrastructure and offerings that enhance the BU experience.”
With more than 900 participants in 40 countries, 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 five overall areas: 1) academics, 2) engagement, 3) operations, 4) planning and administration, and 5) innovation and leadership.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Boston University has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
Unlike other rating or ranking systems, STARS is open to all higher education institutions, and the criteria that determine a STARS rating are transparent and accessible to anyone. You can view BU’s report here.
“Although we have achieved STARS Gold, our work does not stop. It continues to grow and strengthen,” said Carlberg. “We are proud to have achieved this rating; however, if we want to ensure the vision of a sustainable and equitable future for Boston University, this work must continue, and that is what I am most looking forward to.”
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