How We Build

Accelerating sustainable building

Harvard is accelerating sustainable building to address the climate crisis, enhance health, productivity, equity, and quality of life on campus – as well as for those in our value chain and their communities. Through sustainable design, construction, sourcing, and operation of our buildings and landscapes, the University helps to foster a flourishing community on campus, locally in Cambridge and Boston and globally.

The built environment is ripe for innovation. Globally, buildings and the built environment accounted for more than one-third of all global energy-related carbon emissions in 2021. 

At Harvard, heating, cooling, and powering buildings account for 97% of the University’s emissions (scopes 1 and 2). In addition to addressing our emissions, Harvard sees climate as inextricably linked to health and equity which is a key reason for our climate goals defined as fossil fuel free. Since we spend 90% of our time indoors, indoor air quality is crucial for human health and cognition and can play a leading role in reducing the transmission of disease. 

Around 80,000 industrial chemicals are in use in the U.S., only a few of which are federally regulated. Building and construction materials often contain chemicals of concern that are linked with significant health risks – which is why Harvard launched the Harvard Healthier Building Academy in 2016.

Building Sustainably

150 LEED-Certified Projects

As of the start of 2024, Harvard has 150 LEED-certified buildings, more than any other higher education institution, including the first LEED Commercials Interiors (CI) V4 in Massachusetts, and the first building in New England to receive a second platinum certification.

2 Passive House Design Certified Projects

Harvard University Housing and Real Estate (HUHRE) recently completed two major renovation projects in Cambridge. The buildings recently received their Passive House Design Certifications from Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), and the renovations are HUHRE’s first all-electric, historic passive house retrofits, resulting in a net addition of 30 beds available to University affiliates, championing Harvard’s commitment to provide ultra-low energy buildings positioned to be net zero and meeting affiliate housing needs.

1 LBC-Certified Project

The Harvard Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) is Living Building Challenge (LBC) Materials, Equity, and Beauty Petal-certified and LEED Platinum-certified building. The SEC is operating below its predicted energy use intensity (pEUI) target. It is known as one of the healthiest, most sustainable, and energy-effiient laboratories in the world..

Sustainable Building Goals

1. Advance and strengthen Harvard’s Sustainable Building Standards
2. Continue removing harmful classes of chemicals, like PFAS, from Harvard’s value chain and incorporate new classes of chemicals of concern into our Sustainable Building Standards
3. Advance equity and diversity in Harvard’s value chain
4. Conduct a University-wide climate vulnerability study to mitigate risk and prepare for the future
5. Continue to preserve and enhance campus open spaces and landscape elements
6. Expand and sustainably manage the 7,700-tree inventory on campus
7. Update energy and emissions targets for new construction and renovation projects in Harvard’s Sustainable Building Standards
8. Invest in pilot projects to leverage the latest research and thinking
9. Explore new financial models to drive innovation

Building Sustainably

20% lower embodied carbon in new construction

Harvard plans to reduce embodied carbon in the primary materials used in new construction projects by a minimum of 20% from comparable conventional buildings.

50+ capital projects, 5M+ sq. ft. of real estate

Harvard Healthier Building Academy (HHBA) standards impacted healthier, more sustainable purchases in 50+ capital projects representing more than 5 million square feet of real estate. HHBA standards focus on removing forever chemicals and other petrochemicals from our supply chain for occupant health on campus and up and downstream communities.

2 mass timber projects under construction

Harvard’s first mass timber buildings are under construction in Allston, including the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) and the David Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center. Mass timber offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional building materials, contributing to a significant reduction in embodied carbon.

Reducing Embodied Carbon

Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions created by manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials, such as concrete and steel. The University is taking action to mitigate embodied carbon, while avoiding unintended consequences that negatively impact health and equity. 

HARVARD’S

Sustainability Action Plan

View the full plan