Path to a Zero-Carbon Campus
In 2025, UC Berkeley achieved net zero for scope 2 emissions.
100% of the energy purchased by Berkeley (~50 million kWt annually) is clean electricity, procured through the UC Clean Power Program and the East Bay Community Energy Renewable (AVA) program.
In 2022, the Haas School of Business achieved net zero emissions for scope 3 business air travel.
As part of the UC Berkeley Air Travel Carbon Mitigation Program, Haas has voluntarily invested in the program which charges an offset fee on domestic and international air travel . The fund supports innovative and necessary campus projects that reduce carbon. The Office of Sustainability and Carbon Solutions at UC Berkeley manages the fund, selects projects, and tracks projects’ progress.
In 2030, Haas will be net zero for scope 1 and 2.
Berkeley Clean Energy Campus initiative (BCEC) represents UC Berkeley walking the talk by building a clean, green, electrified campus energy system that will demonstrate a decarbonized campus microgrid. The Clean Energy Campus project will replace the outdated steam plant with a 100% clean energy microgrid, a model for the 21st century.
As part of the BCEC project, Haas will decarbonize over 60 percent of our scope 1 emissions. The remaining percent will be offset and verified by The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program.
Connie & Kevin Chou Hall
The greenest academic building in the nation
As the greenest academic building in the nation, Chou Hall is leading the movement to redesign systems within the academic context and create an influential zero waste culture. By creating a space in which landfill is neither created nor disposed of, the Berkeley Haas community is reducing its carbon footprint and encouraging building users to think more deeply about the lifecycle of their waste.
Official Chou Hall Zero Waste Initiative Report
The Chou Hall Zero Waste Initiative Report is a summary of the reflections, learnings, and recommendations that have resulted from our experience working towards achieving TRUE Zero Waste certification at the Platinum Level. We provide links to imperative documents that guided our project or that will help others who are working towards their own Zero Waste goals.
Cheit Hall is now a Zero Waste Building!
Chou Hall is a blueprint for other buildings that want to also strive for zero waste. As of November 1, 2020, the second Haas building, Cheit Hall is now a zero waste building. There are no landfill bins in Cheit Hall.
Food Recovery Program
Haas has recovered over 10,000 pounds of food from our events and we have donated it to the Dorothy Day House, a nonprofit in Berkeley, or to our own students.