Skip top navigation Skip to main content
Leaves: The Magazine of Lasell University
Leaves: The Magazine of Lasell University

Sustainable Lasell: Director of Facilities and Sustainability Management (FSM) Wayne Lamoureux takes Lasell's environmental impact very seriously. "President Alexander signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), and our division takes consistent measures to reach that goal," he says. In the future, Lamoureux hopes to eliminate entirely all fluorescent lighting and look at solar energy solutions on campus. Here's what's currently in place at Lasell: Single stream recycling; Low flow showers and toilets; LED lighting retrofit projects; Sustainable landscaping; Boiler and burner conversations to 90% efficiency for heating and cooling; Composting partnership with CERO - since implementation in 2017, Lasell has diverted 203,913 pounds of waste from landfills and saved 97 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere; Hybrid police cruisers - first two in the state, plus five electric vehicles in fleet; Water containment tanks: rainfall drains from some rooftops into underground tanks to reuse for irrigation; Lasell Leftovers: Donation bins are left in residence halls during move-out. In 2018, 1,500 pounds of clothing, bedding, non-perishables, and school supplies that would otherwise have been thrown out were donated to Big Brother Big Sister Waltham, Pet Supplies plus, the Newton Food Pantry, and local elementary schools, respectively; Partnership with the IRN The Reuse Network's Surplus Property Program - In 2018, Lasell donated 273 pieces of surplus furniture totaling 15,199 pounds to relief efforts in Georgetown, Guyana; 24 refillable water stations (up from 2 in 2014); Elimination of trays in Valentine Dining Hall to reduce food waste; LEAF: Lasell Environmental Action Force has grown from five to 30 members and continues to push for campus members to ease on plastic use. The student club hands out reusable bamboo straws at events, advocates for resources such as more recycling bins and water stations, and coordinates trail cleanups with the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Director of Facilities and Sustainability Management (FSM) Wayne Lamoureux takes Lasell's environmental impact very seriously.

"President Alexander signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), and our division takes consistent measures to reach that goal," he says.

In the future, Lamoureux hopes to eliminate entirely all fluorescent lighting and look at solar energy solutions on campus.

Here's what's currently in place at Lasell:

  • Single stream recycling
  • Low flow showers and toilets
  • LED lighting retrofit projects
  • Sustainable landscaping
  • Boiler and burner conversations to 90% efficiency for heating and cooling
  • Composting partnership with CERO: Since implementation in 2017, Lasell has diverted 203,913 pounds of waste from landfills and saved 97 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
  • Hybrid police cruisers: First two in the state, plus five electric vehicles in fleet
  • Water containment tanks: Rainfall drains from some rooftops into underground tanks to reuse for irrigation.
  • Lasell Leftovers: Donation bins are left in residence halls during move-out. In 2018, 1,500 pounds of clothing, bedding, non-perishables, and school supplies that would otherwise have been thrown out were donated to Big Brother Big Sister Waltham, Pet Supplies plus, the Newton Food Pantry, and local elementary schools, respectively.
  • Partnership with the IRN The Reuse Network's Surplus Property Program: In 2018, Lasell donated 273 pieces of surplus furniture totaling 15,199 pounds to relief efforts in Georgetown, Guyana
  • 24 refillable water stations (up from two in 2014)
  • Elimination of trays in Valentine Dining Hall to reduce food waste
  • LEAF: Lasell Environmental Action Force has grown from five to 30 members and continues to push for campus members to ease on plastic use. The student club hands out reusable bamboo straws at events, advocates for resources such as more recycling bins and water stations, and coordinates trail cleanups with the Appalachian Mountain Club.