Doris Duke FoundationDuke FarmsDDF Center | Nature

Duke Farms × The Climate Toolkit

Buildings and Energy

Our Natural Systems Energy Plan connects energy conservation, on-site solar, battery storage, and electrification across a historic working campus. Measured electricity results and phased building projects show our progress toward the Toolkit’s energy goals.

Alignment reviewed

Toolkit goals
6
Documented achieved
0 of 6
In progress or planned
4

Goal by goal

Our alignment & progress

“Achieved” is supported by Duke Farms program records or explicit completion reported by the Climate Toolkit’s Duke Farms profile, as explained for each goal. Source dates identify the period covered; they do not imply a new audit. “Not yet verified” means the reviewed evidence does not establish achievement; it does not mean no work is happening.

01 / Toolkit goal

In progress

Meet national Paris Agreement targets for CO₂ reduction

How Duke Farms aligns
NSEP targets an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas and other operational emissions by 2030 against a 2023 baseline.
Progress & evidence
The reduction target is documented; achievement against the Toolkit’s national target has not been established in the reviewed evidence.
Sources

02 / Toolkit goal

In progress

Power operations entirely with clean renewable energy

How Duke Farms aligns
Pair on-site solar generation with storage, conservation, and electrification.
Progress & evidence
99.5% annual solar production relative to electricity use. 2025 result: 1,909,768 kWh of on-site solar produced against 1,919,752 kWh of campus electricity used. This annual production comparison is not verification of the Toolkit’s 100% clean-energy requirement. Renewable-credit reporting is still being developed.
Sources

03 / Toolkit goal

In progress

Eliminate on-site fossil-fuel building heat, except backup generators

How Duke Farms aligns
Sequence heating conversions across the campus while protecting building reliability.
Progress & evidence
The current project roadmap lists greenhouse and guest house electric heat conversions as planned for 2027 and 2027, respectively. Campus-wide elimination is not yet verified.
Documented next step
Complete the documented 2027 greenhouse and guest house heating conversions.
Sources

04 / Toolkit goal

Not yet verified

Design every new building to current international energy-efficiency standards

How Duke Farms aligns
Apply sustainable building practices through master planning and capital-project decisions.
Progress & evidence
The Orientation Center’s LEED Platinum milestone is documented, but it does not establish compliance for every new building. The Toolkit profile lists this as a planned goal with an older 2025 target.
Sources

05 / Toolkit goal

Not yet verified

Achieve existing-building EUI at least 35% below the median

How Duke Farms aligns
Use energy monitoring, conservation, and building improvements to guide campus performance.
Progress & evidence
A building-by-building Energy Use Intensity benchmark demonstrating the 35% threshold was not found in the reviewed evidence.
Sources

06 / Toolkit goal

Planned

Decarbonize the glasshouse facility

How Duke Farms aligns
The Orchid Range greenhouse is part of the campus heating transition.
Progress & evidence
The current NSEP milestone schedule records greenhouse electric heat conversion as planned for 2027.
Documented next step
Deliver the documented 2027 electric heat conversion and measure its effect on fuel use.
Sources

Keep exploring

Climate action across Duke Farms

All focus areas