Working Group and Teams

The Sustainability Working Group, organized in 2006, involves representatives from all parts of the university. The group advises the president and provost and prepares policy and program recommendations designed to:

  • Continuously improve Stanford’s leadership in demonstrating environmental sustainability in campus operations
  • Use faculty, staff and student expertise in this evolving field
  • Advance opportunities for hands-on sustainability-related learning and service in the campus community

Sustainability Working Teams

The Sustainability Working Teams, assembled in 2008, develop program recommendations, assess progress and help implement policy recommendations in major operational areas related to sustainability. The teams are composed of campus subject experts, representatives of key Stanford community groups and people with authority to take action in the relevant operational areas.

Operations-Focused Teams

Energy & Atmosphere

Mission: Evaluate measures for energy conservation, energy efficiency, clean energy supply and development and implementation of campus greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Chair: Mike Goff, Director, Utilities
Contact: mikeg@bonair.stanford.edu

Green Buildings

Mission: Evaluate guidelines and standards for sustainability in new building construction, renovation, ongoing building operation and maintenance, and building demolition and materials recovery.
Chair: Fahmida Ahmed (interim chair), Manager, Sustainability Programs
Contact: fahmida@stanford.edu

Green Purchasing & Food

Mission: Explore and evaluate measures to enhance the sustainability of campus purchasing and food supply management practices.
Chair: Stuart Davis, Chief Procurement Officer
Contact: spdavis@stanford.edu

Information Technology

Mission: Work across the university to identify and implement opportunities to reduce energy usage through our Information Technology infrastructure.
Chair: Joyce Dickerson, Director, Sustainable IT
Contact: jdickerson@stanford.edu

Transportation

Mission: Explore and evaluate measures to reduce the environmental impact of university-owned private and commercial vehicles, as well as business travel by campus staff via other modes of transportation.
Chair: Brodie Hamilton, Director, Parking and Transportation Services
ontact: brodie.hamilton@stanford.edu

Waste

Mission: Explore and evaluate measures to enhance the sustainability of waste management, reuse and recycling practices.
Chair: Julie Muir, Manager, Stanford Recycling Center
Contact: juliem@pssi.stanford.edu

Water

Mission: Explore and evaluate measures to advance sustainable water use for the Stanford campus.
Chair: Tom Zigterman, Associate Director and Civil Infrastructure Manager, Utilities
Contact: twz@stanford.edu

Cross-Functional Teams

Communications & Community Relations

Mission: Explore and evaluate measures for communicating information on the Sustainable Stanford initiative, establish relationships with internal and external stakeholders and address topics of equity, university relations and creating a culture of sustainability.
Chair: Fahmida Ahmed, Manager, Sustainability Programs
Contact: fahmida@stanford.edu

Economy

Mission: Consider environmental sustainability issues that may arise in the areas of endowment transparency, investment priorities and shareholder engagement.
Chair: Fahmida Ahmed, Manager, Sustainability Programs
Contact: fahmida@stanford.edu

Evaluation & Reporting

Mission: Develop measures for evaluating and reporting on sustainability activities.
Chair: Tom Fenner, Deputy General Counsel
Contact: tfenner@stanford.edu

Green Funding

Mission: Explore and evaluate options for funding the advancement of sustainability in campus operations.
Chair: Fahmida Ahmed, Manager, Sustainability Programs
Contact: fahmida@stanford.edu
“Sustainability must become a core value in everything we do. As a community we are committed to developing our core campus in a sustainable fashion that preserves what we cherish, that demonstrates leadership in the university’s commitment to be a good environmental steward and that safeguards the ability for future generations to thrive at Stanford.”
— John L. Hennessy
President, Stanford University
Targeted policies and practices—as well as individual, everyday actions—are essential to realizing our vision of a sustainable Stanford.
The Sustainability Working Group advises the president and provost and prepares policy and program recommendations.
The Sustainability and Energy Management Department leads the initiative to advance sustainability in campus operations.

Sustainability Working Group members represent:

Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU)
ASSU Graduate Student Council
Athletic Department
Budget and Auxiliaries Management
Development Office
Environmental Health and Safety
Facilities Operations
Government and Community Relations
Graduate School of Business
Haas Center
Land and Buildings
Legal Office
Procurement
Public Affairs
Residential and Dining Enterprises
School of Earth Sciences
School of Engineering
School of Medicine
Stanford Alumni Association
Stanford Hospitals and Clinics
Stanford Law School
Stanford Linear Accelerator
University Architect/Campus Design
University Communications
Woods Institute for the Environment

Contact Elsa Baez for information about the Working Group.