You won’t find Justin Stratman driving his car to work from his home in Roslindale; he’ll either be on the train or riding his bike. “I ride in whenever I can,” says Stratman. “It’s great for the environment and for my health.”
At home, Justin’s whole family actively recycles. Roslindale was one of the first neighborhoods in Boston to have single stream recycling so his kids have grown up knowing that not all refuse belongs in the trash. Both his eight year old daughter and five year old son know to check to see what can be recycled.
The Stratmans also consider the environment when shopping. Not only do they keep reusable bags in the car for grocery shopping, Justin’s wife also carries a small, folding bag on her key chain to be used when making a quick stop at a store on her way home from work. The family also takes advantage of locally sourced businesses and services whenever they can, such as buying local produce through farmer’s markets when in season.
As Assistant Director for Property Operations for Harvard Real Estate Services’ (HRES) Residential Real Estate portfolio, Justin has ample opportunity to support Harvard’s commitment to greenhouse gas reduction. He works closely with the HRES sustainability group on projects such as an audit of common space lighting, which will identify old-fashioned magnetic ballasts that will be replaced by more energy efficient electronic ones. He also encourages all members of his team, who know their properties inside and out, to look for ways to operate their buildings more efficiently. Together, they are committed to making Residential Real Estate properties as green as they can be.
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