About Info

The idea for HEAT was formed by Sarah and Jennifer Wolfson, both students at Northeastern, in August 2006. They decided to create a chapter of Campus Climate Challenge at NU. Campus Climate Challenge is a nationwide coalition that works with students nationwide to aid them in making their schools carbon neutral. Students for Environmental Action (SEA) helped HEAT get started on campus. It was first registered as a Law School student group and as an official undergraduate student group in February 2007.

HEAT's first priority was awareness and education. In the spring of 2007, HEAT launched its semester long promotion campaign and petition drive, encouraging the newly appointed President Aoun to sign onto the Presidents Climate Commitment (link to www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org) and begin the process of making Northeastern carbon-neutral.

Several movie screenings and events took place to draw attention and educate students on the growing problems of global warming. One of the most notable campaign moves was a three week long competition between all of the dormitories on campus to reduce their energy consumption, known as Do It In The Dark. The Northeastern Facilities department and Residential Life Services were glad to assist in the process, as well as nearly twenty other student groups. The competition began with the largest "dorm storming" Northeastern has ever seen, which was proven successful since all of the dorms reduced their overall energy consumption.

The semester ended on a high note with over 5,000 petitions signed and President Aoun signing the Presidents Climate Commitment in June 2007.

Like most Northeastern Students, HEAT was still in Boston for the summer semesters, formulating where to take the campus in the fall and making friends with neighbors, the Solar Fenway Committee and MYCA.

The fall began with more technical terms as HEAT tried focusing in on working with administration. Two topics highlighted the agenda, Parcel 18 and Renewable Energy. HEAT was invited to hold a booth at the September AltWheels Festival at government center. Several events, movie screenings, speakers and demonstrations marked the calendar for October, including a mini campaign for No New Coal.

2008 began with enthusiasm as a Student Generated Renewable Energy Fund was under way to being included on the September 2008 tuition, the Parcel 18 towers loomed over Ruggles at their peaks, Focus the Nation was fast approaching, and Do It In The Dark 2008 was highly anticipated.

With this came the reminder of the petitions from '07 and the need to follow up on the work being done to achieve those goals.

There is much to be done and Northeastern's campus is just beginning to evolve in an environmentally sustainable manner.