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Sustainable Community Program
The residential real estate portfolio and its community play a critical role in the University’s effort to confront the challenges of climate change and promote environmental stewardship. Harvard University Housing is leading the way in sustainable development, operational practices, employee training, and its occupant engagement initiative the Sustainable Community Program.
About the program
Our mission is to educate and empower residents on the importance of a sustainable lifestyle. We believe our housing offers the ideal environment to develop positive habits that will last a lifetime. The program provides residents with educational resources, leadership training, inspiration through various media, art, hands-on activities, and challenges, as well as customized events and programming.
See what we've been up to:
- Earth Month Community Blackboards
- Great Bulb Swap
- (RE)designing Recycling at Harvard
- Water taste tests
- Reduce Your Juice bar
The Sustainable Community Program is strengthened by its partnership with Harvard University Housing’s Graduate Commons Program.
Building off the Graduate Commons' mission to provide cross-discipline collaboration and social interaction outside of the classroom, the two programs work together to incorporate sustainability into events, student initiatives, and learning opportunities throughout the academic year.
Past collaborations have included New Resident Orientations, Labor Day Food Truck Mania, Harvest Dinners, Earth Day Festival, Cinco de Mayo Celebration, and Sustainable Wine and Cheeses.
Sustainable Living guide
A more sustainable future starts with individual action. Learn what you can do to make an impact!
Moving in?
Moving out?
Want to save energy at home?
Leaving for break?
- FULLY SHUT DOWN all computer equipment and electronic devices. Don’t forget your monitor! Rule of thumb: Anything with an instant-on or digital display should be unplugged to prevent unnecessary energy drawn from outlets.
- UNPLUG all chargers and small appliances such as microwaves and coffeemakers.
- SET BACK the thermostat and/or air output in your unit. If you control the temperature, set it between 55 and 60 degrees. Nothing below 55—this can cause pipes to freeze.
- CLOSE windows completely and lock them.
- CLOSE all blinds and shades.
- TOSS OUT recycling and trash before heading out. You will be much happier upon your return!
- FLIP OFF... all your power strips that is...
- And finally... TURN OFF ALL LIGHTS!
Reducing, Reusing, Recycling
- Single stream recycling is implemented across Harvard Housing—all recyclable materials, including paper, boxes, bottles, cans, and containers, can be mixed together in the same receptacle.
- Check the calendar for upcoming freecycles—a great way to reuse, donate unwanted good, and find needed items.
Download translated recycling guides:
Getting Around
Harvard Housing properties
The Harvard University Housing portfolio includes five LEED certified properties and two renewable energy projects. Sustainable operation and maintenance practices are applied portfolio-wide, innovative solutions are piloted through the Sustainable Community Program, and staff are highly knowledgeable and committed to ongoing resource conservation and high performance building management.
LEED Properties:
- Cowperthwaite
- Akron
- Peabody Terrace
- One Western Ave
- Cronkhite Graduate Center
Sustainable Community Leaders
The Sustainable Community Leaders Program provides a unique opportunity for residents living in Harvard University Housing to have a direct and meaningful impact on the University’s greenhouse gas reduction goal and sustainability efforts. Our Leaders take a hands-on, creative approach toward engaging and educating Harvard’s residential community on conservation methods and personal environmental responsibility. These dedicated change agents are not only influencing their neighbors today, they are shaping the habits and attitudes of tomorrow’s leaders.
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Explore
Harvard University Housing's 2014-2015 Sustainable Community Leaders share their tips for reducing energy at home.
Even small adjustments of just 1 or 2 degrees in temperature settings can result in large energy savings!
Adjusting your computer's power settings and sending your computer into energy saving modes will help cut office energy use enormously!
On days when you can’t escape to the beach to cool off, try these top seven energy saving tips to keep your home cool and save money for fun summer activities.
1. What are a few degrees?
Running your air conditioning at 78°F...
Adjusting your computer's power settings and sending your computer into energy saving modes will help cut office energy use enormously!
Events
Harvard University Housing News
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May 26, 2015
Memories, thoughts, and words of wisdom from some of our sustainable graduates.
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September 5, 2014
Sustainability orientation activities reach thousands of undergraduate and graduate students across all of Harvard's 12 Schools and departments each year. More than 3,000 reusable mugs and water...
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April 21, 2014
Imagine all the problems that could be solved if we really took the time to brainstorm and innovate. That was Abhinav Bhushan’s plan when he secured a grant from the Office for Sustainability...
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December 4, 2013
Starting in late October, the Food Literacy Project and Harvard University Dining Services rolled out a new reusable container program in the Cronkhite Dining Hall. A graduate dorm located on Brattle...
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September 5, 2013
The weather held out just long enough on Labor Day for the Graduate Commons Welcome Event to go off without a hitch. In its second year, the "Reduce Your Juice" Juice Bar hosted by Harvard University...
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June 26, 2013
Harvard University Housing recently achieved LEED-CI v3 Platinum certification for their Peabody Terrace Graduate Commons renovation. Located in Peabody Terrace complex, which was designed by Sert,...
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April 30, 2013
World Water Day was observed March 22. Each year, it's celebrated as a day for global water awareness. But with 780 million people lacking access to clean water shouldn’t we be “water...
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May 26, 2015Memories, thoughts, and words of wisdom from some of our sustainable graduates.
-
September 5, 2014Sustainability orientation activities reach thousands of undergraduate and graduate students across all of Harvard's 12 Schools and departments each year. More than 3,000 reusable mugs and water...
-
April 21, 2014Imagine all the problems that could be solved if we really took the time to brainstorm and innovate. That was Abhinav Bhushan’s plan when he secured a grant from the Office for Sustainability...
-
December 4, 2013Starting in late October, the Food Literacy Project and Harvard University Dining Services rolled out a new reusable container program in the Cronkhite Dining Hall. A graduate dorm located on Brattle...
-
September 5, 2013The weather held out just long enough on Labor Day for the Graduate Commons Welcome Event to go off without a hitch. In its second year, the "Reduce Your Juice" Juice Bar hosted by Harvard University...
-
June 26, 2013Harvard University Housing recently achieved LEED-CI v3 Platinum certification for their Peabody Terrace Graduate Commons renovation. Located in Peabody Terrace complex, which was designed by Sert,...
-
April 30, 2013World Water Day was observed March 22. Each year, it's celebrated as a day for global water awareness. But with 780 million people lacking access to clean water shouldn’t we be “water...
