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Harvard Office for Sustainability

Accelerating Action for a sustainable future

Our Goals

Fossil Fuel-Free by 2050, Fossil Fuel-Neutral by 2026

Learn more about Harvard’s Fossil Fuel-Free by 2050 Goal (Goal Zero).

Harvard’s Fossil Fuel Goals

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The Harvard Healthier Building Academy

The University is taking steps to eliminate harmful chemicals on campus

We are enhancing the health, productivity, and quality of life of our students, faculty, and staff by making smart, informed decisions about the design and maintenance of our built environment.

Explore the HHBA

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Facts and Figures

How we’re modeling sustainability

Purple solar icon

3MW

Harvard has installed 3 megawatts of solar panel capacity on campus, the equivalent of 600 home installations, as well as 0.5 MW of installed storage.
Yellow illustration that looks like an outline of a power plant with a leaf coming out the top.

30%

Between 2006 and 2016, Harvard reduced greenhouse gas emissions 30% from 2006 levels, despite a 14% increase in the size of its campus during that time.
Icon of blue and white water droplets.

218M gallons

As of 2021, Harvard's water use was down 35%—or 218 million gallons, equivalent to filling Harvard's Blodgett Pool 291 times.
Graphic illustration of a green building and leaf

148

As of 2023, Harvard has 148 LEED-certified buildings on campus.
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16%

The shift toward plant-based foods as part of the Cool Food Pledge reduced greenhouse gas emissions per plate at Harvard by 16% between 2019 and 2021.
Icon of a person on a bike

436,279 miles

In 2022, more than 1,500 students and staff utilized the Harvard discounted membership of Bluebikes bikeshare, taking over 100,000 trips totaling 436,279 miles.

Annual Sustainability Report

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

View the 2022-2023 ReportOpens new window

Screenshot of the Tableau dashboard with different colorful graphics representing data for the Office for Sustainability.

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.

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.

Community Engagement

Upcoming Events

July

26

Multi-day Event

Open to the Public

International Workshop on Climate-Resilient Development in Southeast Asia

Climate
climate resilience

Register by Wednesday, July 3 deadline! Through a series of talks and poster presentations, the workshop aims to promote research exchange of scholars from multiple disciplines and of diverse regional expertise on the status and dynamics of climate resilience studies, as well as to generate policy-relevant knowledge regarding climate resilient development pathways in Southeast Asian countries.

August

05

Monday
11:30 am-1:00 pm GMT+0000

Open to Harvard Community

Help Reduce Waste at Harvard!

Harvard Waste and Recycling
Waste

Harvard’s Waste Stewardship Committee is developing a university-wide Zero Waste plan and needs YOUR input! How can we better support recycling, composting, and reuse on campus? How can we buy less and buy smarter? We want to hear your ideas, priorities, and struggles! Explore our tabling dates and other ways to get involved.

August

13

Tuesday
12:00 pm-1:00 pm GMT+0000

Open to Harvard Community

HRE Compost Lunch ‘n’ Learn

Compost
Harvard Real Estate
Recycling

Join us for a fun and informative session on composting at 8 Story Street! Starting this summer, our composting at 8 Story Street will be managed by Harvard Recycling. This event in Conference Room 175 at 8 Story Street will teach you all about how we spare the food scraps from the landfill and capture all that embodied energy. Come hungry and leave with a belly full of plant-based foods and a head full of Harvard composting knowledge. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gather together and make a positive impact on the environment! This event is hosted by Harvard Real Estate and open to Harvard staff members who work at 8 Story Street. Please register in advance at sustainable.harvard.edu/events by Friday, July 26th. Registration is limited to the first 30 attendees. Thanks!