Babson College to Install Campus Wind Turbine

WELLESLEY, Mass., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Babson College plans to
install a wind turbine on the school's campus as a demonstration project,
becoming the first college in the greater Boston area to utilize wind power
through an on-campus installation. Babson joins the growing number of US
colleges and universities that have chosen to develop their commitment to
sustainable business practices through the use of renewable energy
technologies.

Babson will install a residential-scale turbine, the Skystream 3.7 (1.8 kW),
manufactured by Southwest Windpower. It is expected to be operational before
the close of the spring 2008 semester. Based on production estimates and
Babson's wind resource, the turbine will produce enough energy to supply
roughly 60% of the annual energy needs at the school's entrepreneurship
gallery after planned lighting renovations are completed within the space.

The college's decision to complete the installation was the result of a
proposal spearheaded by a team of three graduate students (Rob Banagale-M'09,
Jonah Eidus-M'09 and Clinton White-M'08) and introduced through the Babson
Energy and Environmental Club (BEEC), a student-led organization at the F.W.
Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College.

"Managing the planet's resources sustainably and equitably is the greatest
challenge we face today," stated Fritz Fleischmann, Dean of Faculty at Babson
College. "Projects like this, and the innovative, entrepreneurial thinking it
represents, are needed to create new business models, manage change in thought
and behavior, and encourage others to participate in addressing this urgent
challenge."

The project itself is a testament to the level of innovation and collaboration
that Babson is known for and was created through extensive dialogue between
students, alumni, faculty and administrators, according to BEEC Co-President
Clinton White.

As a student led initiative, the project was introduced to the school's
administration as means of promoting sustainability programs at the college in
a manner that emboldens student innovation. To facilitate awareness, several
placards will be located near the turbine and around campus to describe the
project itself, recognize exceptionally innovative Babson graduates in the
energy sector, and to communicate sustainability projects at Babson. Through
collaboration between the college's facilities department and the BEEC, the
installation site itself will also be utilized on an ongoing basis as a space
to encourage visitors to support resource conservation and efficiency
improvements as primary divers in limiting environmental impacts and
operational costs.

The project will be funded in part though a $5,000 contribution that will be
given to the college on behalf of the BEEC. These funds were raised by the
club's membership over the past year through the organization's e-waste
recycling campaign along with solicited contributions. "This truly has been a
student driven project, representative of the incredible growth of interest in
renewable technologies among current students," said White. "We should be
proud of this great accomplishment and excited about being a part of an
academic community that is so receptive to student input."

That student interest is manifesting itself on both ends of the MBA program.
"Our Center for Career Development has seen an unprecedented spike in student
interest in cleantech and environmentally focused careers," says Beth Bristol,
Manager of Babson's full-time MBA program. "At the same time, our graduate
Admissions Office is receiving a consistent flow of inquiries from prospective
students looking to insure that Babson is in touch with this burgeoning
business trend."

The turbine installation itself will build upon a successful history of green
initiatives put in place by Babson's Facilities Management and Planning
Office, led by Shelley Kaplan, Associate Vice President of Facilities
Management & Planning. "The future of the world is heavily dependent on
today's students understanding the environmental impact of all actions they
take, so I have been especially pleased with the dedication, hard work,
quality research and financial support the BEEC has provided in moving this
wind turbine project forward. This project will be a source of sustainability
education and awareness for many years to come," says Kaplan.

Other campus sustainability projects that have been completed or are currently
ongoing at Babson include:

-- More than $900,000 invested in capital projects with energy efficiency and
carbon footprint benefits including efficiency retrofits and HVAC system
renovations

-- Dark Dorm competition and incentive program established to encourage energy
conservation in residence halls

--Multiple rechargeable electric vehicles purchased for campus transportation

-- Solar lighting installed on upper field walks

-- Biodiesel recycling program created to convert all used cooking oil to
biodiesel fuel for campus vehicles and lawnmowers

-- E-waste recycling program instated to provide students with opportunities
to dispose of old cell phones, PDAs, and printer cartridges in an
environmentally friendly manner

-- Campus standard for fluorescent lights moved from F32 to F28 lamps - energy
reduction of 13%

-- Electric power load shedding program established to reduce peak energy use

-- Metering devices for building level energy and water systems installed

-- Aggressive curtailment program established to reduce energy consumption
during holiday break periods

-- A recycling program that now recycles 40-45% of the campus waste stream.

In addition to the student generated turbine proposal, Babson students
continue to gain attention for their abilities to think critically about
sustainability concepts. Babson students shared over 22 unique cleantech and
environmentally focused business proposals at the school's 2007 Rocket Pitch
competition. Babson has also been singled out as one of eight international
schools invited to participate in the $20,000 "Sustainability Business Plan
Competition" sponsored by Wal-Mart.

The college plans to celebrate the installation of turbine during a public
groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for the morning of March 27th, 2008 and in
conjunction with the BEEC's second annual Entrepreneurial Energy Expo, a
half-day conference focused on clean energy. More information about the wind
turbine installation and the Energy and Environmental Club's Entrepreneurial
Expo can be found at www.babsonenergy.com.

PODCAST: President Brian Barefoot interviews MBA student Clinton White of the
Babson Energy and Environmental Club and Shelley Kaplan, Babson's Associate
Vice President for Facilities Management and Planning, on the growth of
interest and opportunities in environmental initiatives at Babson:
http://www3.babson.edu/Offices/President/podcast/2008_02_14121745.cfm.

The Babson Energy and Environmental Club is a student led organization at the
F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business. The club works to foster innovation by
hosting educational events, connecting alumni to the club and its members, and
helping students gain new employment opportunities within the energy industry.
For information, visit http://www.babsonenergy.com.

Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., is recognized internationally as a leader
in entrepreneurial management education. Babson grants BS degrees through its
innovative undergraduate program, and grants MBA and custom MS and MBA degrees
through the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Babson
Executive Education offers executive development programs to experienced
managers worldwide. For information, visit http://www.babson.edu.

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information,
visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE Babson College

Michael Chmura of Babson PR, +1-781-239-4549, mchmura@babson.edu