Harvard establishes the foundation for campus-wide electrification

Last month, Harvard’s administration released its annual sustainability report, updating the public on the University’s progress toward two ambitious environmental goals: becoming fossil-fuel neutral by 2026 and fossil-fuel free by 2050. To achieve these objectives, Harvard is taking significant steps, including reducing beef consumption in dining halls, cutting water usage, and transitioning one-third of its bus fleet to electric vehicles, with a target of full electrification by 2035.

A major focus is addressing emissions from Harvard’s 650 buildings, which span 27 million square feet and contribute 98% of the University’s carbon footprint. According to Heather Henriksen, Managing Director of Harvard’s Office of Sustainability, the University is prioritizing the elimination of fossil fuels in all major building renovations, upgrades, and new construction. Additionally, Harvard aims to reduce the embodied carbon of materials and construction, which can equal 20 years’ worth of operational emissions for a new building.

Harvard measures its carbon emissions annually and observed its lowest levels during the 2020 pandemic shutdown. Upon returning to pre-pandemic activity, emissions rose to approximately 198,000 metric tons of CO2, slightly higher than 2019’s 196,000 metric tons. Despite a 16% increase in campus size since 2006, emissions are 40% lower on a space-adjusted basis. To meet its 2026 fossil-fuel neutrality target, Harvard may rely on renewable energy certificates (RECs) and carbon offsets to balance emissions from fossil-fuel-based electricity. Future strategies may involve direct investments in renewable energy generation to meet Harvard’s comprehensive sustainability goals.

Recognizing the significant role buildings play in emissions, Harvard recently updated its sustainable building standards for projects over 20,000 square feet. These standards emphasize health, climate, and equity, including eliminating harmful chemicals from construction, improving indoor air quality, prohibiting combustion-based systems, and ensuring climate resilience. Equity is also prioritized, requiring the involvement of women-owned and minority-owned businesses to address historical inequities while advancing sustainability goals.

President Alan Garber has increased funding for green initiatives, including projects critical to campus electrification. Funding has grown from $12 million to $37 million, underscoring the University’s commitment to achieving its 2050 fossil-fuel-free target. However, success will depend not only on campus electrification but also on decarbonizing the broader regional utility grid.

Harvard is also moving beyond LEED certification, embracing the “Living Building Challenge,” which includes goals such as responsible material use and water conservation. For instance, the renovation of the Goel Quantum Science and Engineering Building achieved a 60% reduction in operational emissions and a 23% reduction in embodied carbon. New construction projects, such as the David Rubinstein Treehouse Conference Center, are designed to cut embodied carbon by at least 50% using innovative materials like mass timber and cement containing recycled glass.

While new buildings in Allston are being prepared for future renewable energy integration, older facilities present significant challenges. Harvard’s steam-based heating system is particularly difficult to transition to renewable energy. To address this, the University is focused on reducing energy loads in renovations, recovering energy efficiently, and preparing buildings for low-temperature hot water systems powered by modern heat pumps.

By combining these efforts, Harvard is laying the groundwork for comprehensive campus-wide electrification and setting a strong example for sustainability in higher education.