For information about Web accessibility, please contact the Webmaster at webmaster@haverford.edu.

Haverford College

Greening Haverford

CER: Past Projects

Student Garden

"In such a short span of time, we generated a vast quantity of food and, much more importantly, a wealth of interest in the student body. " - Andrew Bostick '12. Visit the Generative Gardening blog for photos and more >

  • Haverford College Apartments (HCA) Student Garden
    • Garden was expanded and raised beds installed.
    • Bumper crop of vegetables this year. Produce included beets, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, peas, herbs, beans and potatoes.
    • Student worker position position created to tend garden during summer months when students aren't here.
  • Composting
    • Composting was revisited at Haverford College Apartments.
    • A more permanent structure was installed and composting buckets were distributed to participating apartments.
    • Still working on making dining center composting more sustainable.
    • Students educated on proper ways to compost.
  • Green Purchasing Document
    • Document drafted and submitted to President Emerson and Senior Staff for approval.
    • Provides Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) guidelines for Haverford employees.
  • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
  • Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ratings System (STARS)
    • Haverford became a Charter Participant in the AASHE/STARS program.
    • STARS is a transparent, self reporting framework for colleges and universities to gauge relative progress toward sustainability.
  • Desiderata for new Tritton Dorm
    In anticipation of the new dorm CER proposed the following features:
    • Ground Source heat pump HVAC system
    • Integrated Smart Metering
    • Dual flush toilets to help conserve water
    • Green Roof
    • Grey water reuse
    • Sustainable landscaping
    • Covered bicycle parking
    • Incorporating recycling work flow into plan
  • Green Plan for managing and reducing waste on campus
    With assistance from an outside consultant, CER devised a plan that would eventually shift the campus-wide waste management and recycling practices toward more sustainable methods.
    • Provide for on-site composting of Dining Hall food waste.
    • Develop a plan to double Haverford College's recycling rate and implement programs that would allow Haverford to materially benefit from the increase in recoverables.
    • Revise waste collection practices to reduce amount and frequency of trash removal from campus.
    Preliminary approval has been given to purchase a Vegawatt Power System which turns waste vegetable oil from food service operations into electricity with a 5kW generator.
  • Student Farm/Garden proposal
    Students got approval to expand the current student garden at HCA. Historically, farming has been a part of Haverford College and CER students would like to resurrect this tradition.
  • CPGC: Walking the Walk
    CER has joined with the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship (CPGC) to help them "Go Green". Learn more >
    • CPGC has agreed to higher costs for using sustainable products for their cafe events.
    • Educating the college community on recycling.
    • Composting food scraps from the cafe.
    • Buying "Green" office products.
    • Buying offsets for business travel and visiting speakers.
  • Recycling
    • Encouraging , libraries, administrative departments to purchase recycled paper for all uses.
    • Educating that recycling guidelines have changed. We can now recycle plastics 1-7.
    • Recyclemania kicks off March 2010.