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Sustainability Standards

The Office for Sustainability is committed to raising the standard of sustainability at Harvard. From the chemicals we use to clean our buildings, to the materials we use to construct state-of-the-art buildings, we are ensuring our operational choices are informed and intentional to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future on our campus and beyond.


Upcoming Sustainability Events

September

30

Wednesday
2:00 pm-3:00 pm GMT+0000

EcoOpportunity Green Team Meeting on Longwood Campus

Join us to connect and build a sustainability-minded community. We’ll be gathering to paint garden rocks while we discuss sustainability topics. HUID required for building entrance.

Please RSVP to susan_bottino@harvard.edu

October

08

Thursday
5:00 pm-6:30 pm GMT+0000

Charles Bullard Lectures | Megafires in the Far North: From Global Impacts to Local Solutions (Cambridge)

Climate warming is causing wildfire activity to increase in boreal forests and arctic tundra of the Far North. Fires are burning more deeply into thick organic soils and destabilizing permafrost, releasing carbon to the atmosphere that has been stored for centuries to millennia. At a global scale, these wildfires are impacting people through production of smoke and the release of greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate warming. At a local scale, increasing wildfire activity is creating new risks and vulnerabilities for local people that depend upon these ecosystems for their wellbeing. In this talk, Dr. Mack will discuss the ecological mechanisms that drive this positive feedback between wildfire and climate warming. She will explore how ecosystems and local human communities in Alaska are responding to increasing wildfire, and how we can employ emerging ideas in forest and fire management to reduce fire activity and promote human wellbeing.

Dr. Mack will present two public lectures as part of Harvard’s annual Charles Bullard Lecture Series— in Cambridge on the evening of October 8, and in Petersham (and on Zoom) on the morning of October 9.

September

22

Tuesday
1:00 pm-5:30 pm GMT+0000

Harvard @ Climate Week NY

As temperatures soar and geopolitics roil, leaders and experts will head to Climate Week NYC with pressing questions about pathways to climate action and resilience. Join Harvard’s Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability on Tuesday, September 22, for an afternoon of sessions focused on two core climate challenges: decarbonizing economies and confronting extreme heat. Stay and connect with Harvard alumni, researchers, practitioners, and leaders at an evening reception co-sponsored by Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment.

Registration is required.

September

29

Tuesday
11:00 am-2:00 pm GMT+0000

Graduate School of Education Fall Freecycle

Bring your office and school supplies, books, small household items, & clothes, if you have extra to share. Pick up something new-to-you for FREE, plus make friends, and help build a sustainability-minded community!

Note: We do not accept large items such as furniture. All items must be clean and in good, reusable/working condition. Bring a box or bags to take home your goodies. Leftover items will be donated. HUID required for building entry.

Questions? Contact susan_bottino@harvard.edu

December

09

Wednesday
10:00 am-2:00 pm GMT+0000

Community Freecycle

Join us at our community Freecycle in the Smith Campus Center! We will have plenty of goods and decorations to help you get into the holiday spirit!

Drop off reusable goods you no longer need, and browse an excellent selection of items brought by others. Popular items include books, clothes, and household goods. Only donate items in clean and working condition.

Everyone is welcome, and no donation is necessary to shop!

November

10

Tuesday
11:00 am-2:00 pm GMT+0000

Community Freecycle

Join us at our community Freecycle at the Science and Engineering Complex!

Drop off reusable goods you no longer need, and browse an excellent selection of items brought by others. Popular items include books, clothes, and household goods. Only donate items in clean and working condition.

Everyone is welcome, and no donation is necessary to shop!

October

14

Wednesday
11:00 am-2:00 pm GMT+0000

Community Freecycle

Join us at our community Freecycle in the Smith Campus Center!

Drop off reusable goods you no longer need, and browse an excellent selection of items brought by others. Popular items include books, clothes, and household goods. Only donate items in clean and working condition.

Everyone is welcome, and no donation is necessary to shop!

November

20

Friday
1:00 pm-4:30 pm GMT+0000

Salata Institute Climate and Sustainability Career Expo

Are you a Harvard or MIT student or alumni interested in a career in climate and sustainability? Or an employer interested in reaching Harvard University and MIT students with career opportunities? The Salata Institute Climate and Sustainability Career Expo is a collaborative effort across Harvard schools and MIT to connect organizations focused on climate, sustainability, and the environment with Harvard undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni. Join us for the next expo on Friday, November 20, 2026 from 1:00 – 4:30pm.

November

17

Tuesday
2:00 pm-3:00 pm GMT+0000

Sustainability Spotlight: Geothermal Heating at Weld Hill

Did you know that the Weld Hill Research Building at the Arboretum has the largest geothermal heating system at Harvard? There are 88 wells hidden under the namesake hill which help heat and cool the state-of-the-art research building. Join Head of Operations and Project Management Danny Schissler for a behind-the-scenes look at this fascinating system.

This tour will be a mix of indoors and outdoors.