Can we change faster than the climate?

BU’s portfolio of LEED-certified spaces now exceeds 1.85 million square feet, due to
recent renovations to the Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences lobby and classrooms and the
9th floor of Kilachand Hall. Both have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold
certification from the US Green Building Council, another notable step in our ongoing
commitment to be net carbon neutral by 2040.

The Campus Climate Lab brings students and faculty together to conduct research designed to make campus more sustainable. This year, a project at the College of Engineering hit on a creative way to get real-time data about air pollution in neighborhoods across Boston: riding a bike.

The project team developed an air-quality sensor attached to the front of a bike from Bluebikes, Boston’s bike-share system. As air passes through the device, it measures levels of carbon dioxide, methane, particulate matter, and nitrous oxide, while recording temperature and humidity. A GPS tracks where data is collected.

Early testing indicates enormous potential for identifying where gas pipes may be leaking methane or urban heat islands could use more trees and shade.

The team was awarded the 2024 Anthony Janetos Climate Action Prize, given to the Campus Climate Lab project judged to have the greatest impact on BU’s Climate Action Plan. Their invention emphasizes environmental health and neighborhood equity—paving the way for a better future for us all.