A snapshot of Harvard’s emission reductions

In 2007, Harvard University pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, inclusive of growth, 30 percent by 2016, with 2006 as the baseline year. University-wide, GHG reductions are around 5 percent so far, including growth. The reductions are due to changes in Harvard’s energy supply and to activities and projects at Schools and units.

A few highlights:

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

• Reduction in GHG emissions (FY 2006-09): 16 percent.*
• Implemented new temperature policy (FY 2009). Estimated annual results: reductions of 1,312 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCDE), savings of $618,247.
• Completed energy projects in the Science Center. Estimated annual results: reductions of 295 MTCDE, savings of $123,000 (a 4.9-year simple payback). Projects include demand-control ventilation, lighting upgrades, and occupancy sensors.

Harvard Kennedy School

• Reduction in GHG emissions (FY 2006-09): 16 percent.
• Upgraded chiller system in the Littauer Building (2006). Estimated annual results: reduction of 135 MTCDE, savings of $35,734.
• Held several large zero-waste events over the past year (2009), including the staff picnic, staff holiday party, and class picnic.

Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study

• Renovated Byerly Hall, reducing MTCDE by 40 percent since FY 2006. Included: ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling, room occupancy sensors, and other energy conservation measures.
• Started trash-free events at the Radcliffe Fellowship Program, including three lunches a week. Some events use real china, tablecloths, and tableware; others use compostable ware. All food waste and napkins are composted.
• Established a program to recycle or reuse clothing, furniture, books, study supplies, and more from the Cronkhite Center. Result: reduced trash generation during the May move-out period from 25 cubic yards to under 10 cubic yards, a 60 percent reduction.

Harvard Medical School / Harvard School of Dental Medicine

• Renovated the Systems Biology Department’s DePace Laboratory, the first wet lab at Harvard to achieve LEED Gold Certification. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a set of U.S. standards for sustainable building and interior design.)
• Installed computer power management technology on 188 computers in the student computing lab, which has saved $6,193 and 38,703 kWh of power since the pilot began in January 2009. Harvard Medical School is looking to expand the pilot to other departments.
• Replaced all disposable sharps containers in two lab buildings with reusable containers. Results to date: more than 2,000 pounds of plastic diverted from the waste stream.

Harvard School of Public Health

• Reduction in GHG emissions (FY 2006-09): 13 percent.
• Began continuous commissioning program in FY 2003, resulting in improved building efficiency. Continuous commissioning is a monitoring process used to track and retune a building’s energy efficiency.
• Installed LED overhead and task lighting, which uses 60 percent less energy per square foot than required by Massachusetts state code.
• Applied for a $5 million Massachusetts retrofit grant to reduce energy consumption at Building 1 by 50 percent.

Harvard Law School

• Reduction in GHG emissions (FY 2006-09): 14 percent.
• Installed new occupancy-sensor thermostats in North Hall, the highest energy-use building (2009) at the Law School. Estimated reductions: 44 MTCDE a year.
• Began program to shut off the School’s library computers, printers, and copiers at night. Each device automatically goes into standby mode after 20 minutes of inactivity (2009).

Harvard Business School

• Reduction in GHG emissions (FY 2006-09): 27 percent.
• Started continuous commissioning for Morgan and McArthur halls. Estimated annual results: a reduction of 429 MTCDE and savings of $104,995.
• Tightened schedules for heating and cooling based on estimates of actual occupied hours for each building (FY 2009). Estimated annual results: reductions of 10 MTCDE and savings of $100,000.
• Sought and received LEED certification for five buildings.
• For information on sustainability projects at HBS, see this interactive HBS campus project map.

Harvard Graduate School of Education

• Converted the Longfellow Hall boiler plant from a mix of fuel oil and natural gas to natural gas only (winter 2009-10). Estimated results: reduction of around 150 MTCDE, or 7.5 percent of the total 2006 GHG emissions.
• Got lead position University-wide in occupant engagement pledges (45 percent participation) and recycling (68 percent).
• Completed the Larsen Classroom Renovation Project in October 2009, gutting and renovating two floors. Three state-of-the-art classrooms now have both demand-controlled ventilation and lighting — the last using 27 percent less electricity than code.

Harvard Divinity School

• Reduction in GHG emissions (FY 2006-09): 12 percent.
• Renovated Rockefeller Hall to LEED Gold standard, which reduced MTCDE by 25 percent.
• Completed energy audits of all buildings and identified energy conservation measures. One measure now in place: Energy-saving, variable-frequency drives on ventilation fans in the Andover-Harvard Theological Library (2009). Result: a reduction of 2.2 MTCDE in the past two months.
• Started a community garden (2009) using local compost. Read full story.

Graduate School of Design

• Reduction in GHG emissions (FY 2006-09): 4.6 percent.
• Started working with faculty to integrate facilities projects with the curriculum. One example: a dynamic thermal modeling project for a mechanical system replacement.
• Recruited more than 10 percent of the School staff for its Green Team.

University Operations Services

• Installed efficient lighting fixtures and motion sensors in 10 University parking garages. Estimated annual results: reduction of 852 MTCDE, and savings of $380,000.
• Started using more natural gas and less oil to fuel the Blackstone Steam Plant, reducing GHG emissions there by 15 percent since 2006.
• Implemented efficiency improvements in the chilled-water system. Demand has increased by 14 percent, but related GHG emissions have been reduced by about 10 percent.

Harvard Real Estate Services

• Reduction in GHG emissions (FY 2006-09):  20 percent (residential buildings).
• Reduced water use by installing 2,700 low-flow showerheads and 5,300 faucet aerators in graduate housing. Estimated annual savings: 8.5 million gallons of water, and $118,000.
• Installed the largest solar photovoltaic system in the Ivy League (December 2009) on a commercial property. Estimated power generation per year: 635,272 kWh.

* This figure excludes all new buildings less than 50 percent occupied in FY 2006.