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Harvard Office for Sustainability

Accelerating Action for a sustainable future

Holistic Sustainable Building Standards

Harvard’s updated Sustainable Building Standards mark the most significant update since the standards were first developed in 2009. The holistic standards target Living Building Challenge (LBC) Core certification plus the Harvard Healthier Building Academy’s (HHBA) requirements for healthier materials, enhanced indoor air quality, future-proofing for a fossil fuel-free future, and climate resilience.

Harvard’s Sustainable Building StandardsOpens new window

Exterior photo of the David Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center.

Facts and Figures

How we’re modeling sustainability

Yellow graphic of a cloud with arrows pointing downward out of the cloud to represent emissions reductions.

~40% emissions reduction/sq. ft.

From 2006 to 2024, total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions declined 32% despite a 14% increase in building square footage.
LBC Petal logo

1 LBC Core, 2 PHIUS, 155 LEED

Harvard's Science and Engineering Complex was the first wet lab building to achieve the Living Future's Living Building Challenge (LBC) Petal certification. Ten additional projects are targeting LBC Core certifications.
Icon of solar panels on a roof.

3.22 MW of Solar PV Capacity

Harvard has installed more than 3 MW of solar panel capacity on campus, the equivalent of nearly 600 home installations, plus 0.5 MW of installed storage.

Annual Sustainability Report

We are using data to uncover new insights and drive continual improvements in how we operate our campus.

View the 2024-2025 ReportOpens new window

Harvard Annual Sustainability Report graphic with icons showing wind turbines, blueprints, a gear, and arrows pointing right.

Sustainability at Harvard

Connect with OFS

Whether you are a student, staff member, alum, or simply interested in learning more about sustainability at Harvard, there are many opportunities to get involved and take action. Explore student opportunities and resources available.

Connect with the Office for Sustainability

Students pose for a photo near the river holding trash removal tools during the 2022 Charles River Clean-Up event.