Welcome!
Soaring to Sustainability is an on-line resource dedicated to sustainability efforts at Boston College, with information and articles related to conservation, tips for reducing your carbon footprint, as well as initiatives conducted by Boston College students, faculty and staff.
Boston College recognizes that there are limits to the world’s resources. To ensure the quality of life for future generations, Boston College seeks to become a leader in environmental stewardship and sustainability. The Facilities Management Department works with students, faculty and staff to support local farmers, waste reduction, recycling, water and energy conservation, and alternative forms of transportation. We are committed to conserving resources and reducing the impact our services and activities create on the environment.
Please continue searching the site to learn what Boston College is doing and what you can do to help the environment.
Testimonials
Learn what other members of the Boston College community have done to be more sustainable in our Testimonials Archive. This month’s featured Environmental Guru: Steve Bianchi! For the past few years Steve has collected bottles and cans to raise money through recycling for cancer organizations in honor of his son, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Read More!
Sustain BC Survey
Would you like to learn more about sustainability through your coursework? Have you taken a course, or offered a course, that includes an environmental or sustainability theme? As an educator, are you interested in seeing the incorporation of these themes into the BC curriculum?
If you answered yes OR no to any of these questions, please take the online, SustainBC Curriculum Survey. In less than 10 minutes, you can help Sustain BC learn what's happening and what the BC community wants regarding incorporation of sustainability themes into the curriculum.
What's New?
Farmers Market Returns!
The BC Dining Farmers Market will grace the Corcoran Commons Plaza on Thursdays again this fall. See the flyer for more information.
Back to School Shopping
Looking to be more eco-friendly when stocking up on supplies for the dorm and class? Check out this list of sustainable brands found in stores located near the Boston College campus, or visit the Boston College bookstore for new environmentally friendly products including new reusable water bottles.
Institutional Master Plan
On June 20, Boston College presented to the Boston Redevelopment Authority its Institutional Master Plan (IMP), where the university details goals for a more sustainable future.
Sustainability Garden
The Sustainability Garden is growing beautifully. See pictures or our slideshow! If you would like to be involved in this effort over the summer, please email Merril Putnam at merril.putnam@gmail.com.
Bike to Work Week Winners
Boston College is the winner of the MassRides 2008 Bike to Work Week Challenge for Worksite Participation. BC had 29 participants, nearly 3 times that of last year. Read More by the Boston College Transportation Department or the Boston Globe article, Record Numbers of Bicyclists on the Roads.
Front Row
Watch Bill McKibben's talk from his recent visit to Boston College in the new Front Row video.
Big Belly Trash Compactors
Boston College welcomes the addition of five new solar powered trash collectors to areas with high volumes of trash. The City of Boston has purchased fifty BigBelly on site solar compaction systems to place throughout the city, including at Fenway Park. Read The Heights article, BigBelly Trash Cans Compact on Campus.
Recycle Mania
This year, Boston College came in 12th place in the RecycleMania contest with a cumulative recycling rate of 38.72%, about 418,575 pounds of recyclables were collected, which is about 23 pounds per student. This places the university 2nd out of Massachusetts schools and 1st out of the ACC schools. See the results!