‘Green’ Campus Efforts Should Focus On Infrastructure

To the editors:



Re “Campaign Pledges to Conserve Energy,” news, Nov. 7:

The Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI) is little changed from when I was involved in it in that it prefers to labor like Sisyphus rather than acknowledge that it is easier to change infrastructure than it is to change ingrained behavior. It would not be too hard to install more LED lights or master switches for suites that turn off all the lights and power outlets over holidays. This would save a lot of power and be a lot more durable than any marketing campaign. Similarly, extra glazing for windows to provide better insulation would go a lot further than buying wind energy for a few weeks a year. Essentially, the HGCI is not so much about making a difference as making statements, and it is all the more tedious for it.



ALEXANDER B. TURNBULL ’05

Hong Kong

November 7, 2005