Campus Climate Lab

Each semester, BU Sustainability, in collaboration with the Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) and the Office of Research, invites project proposals from BU student and mentor teams to advance sustainability and climate solutions using the BU campuses as a living lab. Campus Climate Lab research projects support the goals of the University Climate Action Plan by helping to decarbonize our campus, improve the sustainability of buildings and operations, and reduce waste and Scope 3 emissions.

There were 13 projects in 2025, with students and faculty from the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Fine Arts, and College of Communication. This convergent approach addresses diverse research topics such as resiliency, climate-related health impacts, and critical equity issues. Projects include:

• Roadmap for Green Lab Certification
  This project supports BU’s Climate Action Plan by evaluating sustainable practices in research and teaching laboratories across the Charles River and Medical campuses. The team is focused on My Green Lab certification, examining sustainable purchasing, energy-efficient equipment, and green chemistry practices.
• Analysis of Energy Efficiency & Decarbonization Options for Campus Buildings
  This project aims to develop an energy efficiency and decarbonization plan for the 20 largest buildings on the Charles River and Medical campuses — structures that collectively account for over 35% of BU’s direct greenhouse gas emissions. The team evaluates HVAC-related efficiency opportunities before developing decarbonization strategies to be integrated into the Climate Action Plan update.
• Art Studio Waste Education and Reduction
  This project is building a lasting sustainability framework within the School of Visual Arts’ darkroom. The team is developing new protocols to minimize chemical use, improve waste handling, and reduce the lab’s overall environmental footprint, instilling a culture of reuse and responsible practice in the studio environment.

Janetos Climate Action Prize

The Janetos Climate Action Prize is awarded annually to the Campus Climate Lab project judged to have the most substantial potential impact on advancing BU’s Climate Action Plan and shifting the University toward more sustainable operations. The prize is named in honor of Professor Anthony Janetos (1954–2019), who served as Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future and Professor of Earth and Environment. Professor Janetos chaired BU’s Climate Action Task Force, which developed the University’s Climate Action Plan.

In 2025, the prize was awarded to a team of College of Engineering students for their work on improving indoor air quality in academic buildings. The winning team pioneered the use of low-cost, continuous indoor air quality monitors to quickly and economically identify which BU spaces would benefit most from improved heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.

Sustainable Curriculum

Integrating climate change and sustainability into the curriculum is a central theme of BU’s Climate Action Plan. Sustainability-focused courses are offered across all 17 of the University’s schools and colleges, engaging students from every academic discipline in real-world exploration of sustainability challenges and solutions. This past academic year, new courses in sustainability included:

• Global Heritage Conservation (College of Arts and Sciences)
  Professor: Jan Haenraets
  This course examines global approaches towards heritage conservation through a study of topics such as world heritage, cultural tourism, new design, intangible heritage, historic landscapes, conflict, disasters, revitalization and reconstruction.
  
• Exploring Walkability in Boston (Cross-College Challenge)
  Professor: Tom Anastasi
  This course partners with WalkMassachusetts, a nonprofit that makes walking safer and easier in Massachusetts. Using video storytelling, students will explore walkability through a diversity of perspectives and create projects that amplify community voices and strive for social justice.
• Introduction to Environmental Engineering (College of Engineering)
  Professor: Uday Pal
  This course provides a technical introduction to a wide range of environmental engineering topics to quantitatively understand and analyze environmental problems. Topics covered include models for resource consumption and risk analysis, energy systems, air pollution and prevention strategies, and water quality assessment and supply issues.