Questions?

Contact:

• Emily Martin
  Special Projects Manager
  
  
• Dara Olmsted
  Renewable Energy Coordinator

Importance for Harvard

Why Is Renewable Energy Important for Harvard?

The Harvard Green Campus Initiative has completed an inventory of Harvard’s direct GHG emissions. Results show an overall GHG emissions increase of 66% from 1992-2006.

There are a few ways for an institution such as Harvard to reduce the amount of GHGs that it releases, including:

1. Reducing overall energy consumption: HGCI is responding to this need with the following programs and services:
   • Green Campus Building Service
   • Green Campus Loan Fund
   • FAS Campus Energy Reduction Program
   • FAS Undergraduate Resource Efficiency Program
   • Longwood Green Campus Initiative
   • Graduate Green Living Program
     
     
2. Switching to renewable energy sources: Below is a list of renewable energy projects have been completed at Harvard. Check out our map of renewable energy at Harvard.
   • Shad Hall Photovoltaics: In 2003, Harvard installed its first pv system, a 36kW array on the roof of the Business School’s Shad Hall. The 192 photovoltaic panels provide about 1% of the building’s electricity needs. The array results in a reduction of 92.32 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
   • Science Center Photovoltaic Lamp: In 2006, the Sepco single shoe box lighting system was installed in front of the Science Center. The photovoltaic panel produces 2kWh of electricity per day in summer, and approximately 0.6 kWh in winter to power an exterior light. It prevents 1,170 lbs of CO2 from being released each year.
     
   • Science Center Photovoltaics: In August 2007, a building integrated photovoltaic system was installed on the roof of the Science Center.
     
   • Harvard Forest Photovoltaics: In 2007, a 10.2 kW, 60 panel photovoltaic array was installed at a garage at the Harvard Forest.
     
   • Straight Vegetable Oil: In September 2006, the Harvard recycling truck (a 2000 Isuzu NPR Box truck) was converted to run on vegetable oil from Annenberg Dining Hall. The truck uses half of Annenberg’s oil, and should consume about 900 less gallons of petroleum diesel annually.
     
   • B20 Biodiesel: Over 60 diesel vehicles across Harvard, including UOS shuttles, plows, mail trucks, landscape trucks, dining service delivery trucks, John Deere trucks, and maintenance trucks run on biodiesel B20- a mix of 20% soybean oil and 80% diesel. The program began in 2004 when University Operations Services installed a B20 fuel pump on-campus.
     
   • Ground Source Heat Pumps: Harvard has installed ground source heat pumps at six buildings (with two more under construction as of August 2007)

3. Investing in RECs. Harvard also invests in the wind industry by buying Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). RECs represent the environmental attributes (reduced emissions and pollution) associated with the generation of renewable energy.

4. Complying with regulations that seek to increase renewable energy production. As part of Massachusetts Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, Harvard invests in renewable energy sources such as the Hull wind turbines and Schiller Station (which burns biomass).