WHOI Sustainability Task Force

Engaging with the community to develop a healthier environment for everyone

Our Mission

The Sustainability Task Force is an advocate for sustainable initiatives within the WHOI community. Our mission is to integrate sustainable practices and resource conservation in research, education, and operations to reduce human impact on the environment.

Want to get involved? Email sustainability@whoi.edu.

Join our Sustainable WHOI social media pages - Instagram and Facebook.

LEARN MORE

Our Initiatives

Energy & Climate

Timeline of WHOI’s Sustainability Efforts

Shut the Sash

Measure Energy Usage

Solar

Freezer-Fridge Energy Star

Heat Pumps

Waste & Recycling

Recycling Program

Glove Recycling

Composting

Sustainable Event Management

Sustainable Coffee

Beach Clean Up

Green Transportation

Social Sustainability

Meet on your Feet Maps

WHOI Beekeeping

WHOI Garden

Lunch 'n Learn and more

Botany Walks

WHOI Recreation

News & Events

Earth Day Campus Cleanup

April 23, 2024

To honor this year’s Earth Day theme of “Planet vs Plastics”, the Sustainability Task Force organized a friendly Campus Cleanup Competition. Many groups got out to pick up trash around campus and enjoy the spring sunshine. The winners for the fullest bags were the team from Fye, including Helen Fredricks, Laura Motta, Gretchen Swarr, and…

Beekeeping Pep Talk Lunch n Learn

March 19, 2024

Anne Richards, March 27, 12:00 – 1:00pm at Carriage House and Online WHOI’s beekeeping project started in 2020, with hives now on the Quissett Campus and in the Village. This talk will center on the main tasks required of beekeepers month by month, and how interested community members can step in and help with the…

Upper Cape Household Hazardous Waste Disposal 2024

February 26, 2024

Residents of Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, and Sandwich can bring household hazardous waste to any of these four local drop offs: April 20, 2024, 9am-1pm, Sandwich High School June 15, 2024, 9am-1pm, Falmouth High School August 17, 2024, 9am-1pm, Mashpee High School October 19, 2024, 9am-1pm, Bourne Landfill See the attached flyer or visit www.loveyourlocawater.org for…

Freezer Ice Scraping Tools Distributed around Campus

March 3, 2023

Following the Lab Freezer Maintenance Lunch n Learns, the Facilities Dept has purchased some ice scraping tools to help people carry on with the regular maintenance of their freezers. Sets of rubber mallets and plastic scrapers have been distributed in the freezer rooms of Redfield and Fye and soon to be Watson as well. Be…

Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Days

February 27, 2023

Wondering what to do with your household hazardous waste? Local towns have a variety of days and locations for drop off.

WHOI is a 2022 Mass Save Climate Leader!

October 25, 2022

WHOI has been selected as a 2022 Mass Save™ Climate Leader; one of just 19 commercial and industrial organizations across the Commonwealth to receive this recognition. WHOI has leveraged the incentives, support, and rebates offered by the Sponsors of Mass Save to make impactful investments in energy efficiency as well as reduce the Institution’s carbon…

WHOI Activities Fair

October 25, 2022

The Sustainability Task Force, the Women’s Committee, and the Workplace Climate Committee hosted an Activities Fair on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. The goal was to connect people with the many different activities and affinity groups at WHOI ranging from DEI to Softball to Tunes at Noon and more. Many groups were represented, lots of interested…

Residential Solar Lunch ‘n Learn

June 15, 2022

Electricity prices are rising! Join 3 local experts to learn how you can save money and reduce your carbon footprint by installing solar panels on your home. Matt Liles from Cotuit Solar, James Manzer from Revision Energy, and Megan Amsler from Self-Reliance will share their knowledge and expertise about residential solar. Tuesday, June 21 at…

Repair Cafe

May 17, 2022

Members of the WHOI community came together on Thursday, May 12 for the most recent installment of Repair Cafe. People brought in small appliances from home that weren’t working, and WHOI technicians volunteered to help troubleshoot and repair these items. It was a wonderful community building event, with the added benefits of saving appliances from…

3 ways YOU can be more sustainable this Earth Day

April 18, 2022

At WHOI, we believe that integrating sustainable practices and resource conservation in research, education, and operations can reduce human impact on the environment. Here are 3 ways you can be more sustainable on this Earth Day, brought to you by WHOI’s Sustainability Coordinator Stephanie Madsen. Avoid fertilizers and use alternatives When fertilizers are tossed on…