Sustainability

Transportation Services has a number of initiatives as part of our day-to-day and long-term operations that support the sustainability goals of Campus Services and Harvard University, which help to reduce emissions and contribute to the achievement of the greenhouse gas reduction goals. 

Transit & Fleet Management

  • Four fully-electric buses on the road
  • One fully-electric passenger ADA van
  • Four fully-electric monitoring vehicles for Parking Services
  • A rainwater capture and recycling system is used to clean all Harvard vehicles 
  • Two electric vehicle chargers, dispensing 120kw each 
  • Assisting departments with the transition to electric, including:
    • Three Ford Transit EVs with Energy and Utilities
    • One Ford Transit EV with Facilities Maintenance
    • Two Ford Transit EV with HUMS
EV van in front of SEC

Parking Services

  • Transitioned about half of its field monitoring equipment to EV cars 
  • Offers bike options to monitors for roving routes 
  • Switched to a 100% recycled and recyclable phthalate-free receipt paper for booths and parking ticket paper for enforcement
  • Converted to air-source heat pump system for heating and cooling at SFPG Parking Office.
  • Electric vehicle charging stations:
    • 50+ level 2 chargers 
    • 12+ level 1 chargers 
Parking monitors posing in front of bikes in Harvard Yard

Mail and Distribution Services

  • Has two fully electric-powered vans and one fully electric-powered box truck
  • Continuously evaluates delivery routes reducing redundancies and overlapping deliveries, thus reducing vehicle traffic and emissions
  • NCOA-Link (address cleansing service) is used to update address lists that remove incorrect or outdated addresses from databases, therefore eliminating undelivered mail pieces
  • Provides information and support in the change-of-address process, also reducing the amount of undelivered mail
  • Recycles interoffice envelopes and stores a supply at our main facility, so departments do not have to order new envelopes
  • Offers on-demand print services, reducing the amount of unused and wasted paper supplies. Recycled paper is offered to customers and provided upon request
HUMS EV Truck parked in front of Widener Library

CommuterChoice

  • Industry-leading 15% single-occupant vehicle commuting rate
  • 60% subsidy on MBTA monthly passes
  • Up to $360 reimbursed per year for bike commuter expenses
  • 50% subsidy on carpool permits
  • 14 supported Bluebikes stations across campuses
  • 30+ Zipcars across campus
Bicyclist riding alongside a car

Harvard’s Sustainable Transportation Goals

  • Complete the transition of Harvard’s shuttle-bus fleet to electric by 2035 
  • Set new target dates for its remaining fleet vehicle types by the end of 2026, as part of the University’s commitment to be fossil fuel-free by 2050. This roadmap will include an outline for installing more charging infrastructure for University vehicles and equipment.  
  • Maintain at least gold-level status in the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly University Program, which evaluates whether universities are effectively encouraging bicycling and protecting cyclists’ rights.  
  • Support and enhance the pedestrian experience and sufficiently accommodate other personal transportation, such as Bluebikes, e-bikes, and scooters.   
  • Continuously improve sustainable transportation opportunities, programs, and incentives for Harvard affiliates. 

For more information, please visit Harvard's Office for Sustainability.