HARC

HARC HARC forges sustainability solutions that improve people’s quality of life for generations to come.

HARC is a research hub providing independent analysis on
energy, air, climate, and water issues to people seeking scientific answers.

A large data center is proposed near your property. What should you know? As industrial and hyperscale data center devel...
08/20/2026

A large data center is proposed near your property. What should you know?

As industrial and hyperscale data center developments expand across Texas, small acreage landowners may have questions about what these projects could mean for their property and community.

Here are 4 things to understand:

💧 How much water could the facility use, and where will it come from?

🚗 What changes could occur to local roads, traffic patterns and construction activity?

⚡ What new utility infrastructure may be needed to support the development?

🌧️ How could construction affect drainage, runoff and surrounding land?

HARC's Small Acreage Landowner Guide provides resources to help landowners stay informed and understand their options when large industrial and hyperscale data center developments are proposed nearby.

08/19/2026

Looking for inspiration on how buildings can become more sustainable and regenerative? It’s a great time to revisit one of our favorite episodes of the Energy Crossroads podcast. 🎙️

In this episode, Amanda Tullos, founder of GreeNexus Consulting, shares her experience advancing sustainable building practices and discusses how the Living Building Challenge is helping push the industry forward. With more than 150 LEED-certified projects under her belt, Amanda brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation, along with practical insights into overcoming challenges in sustainable design.

🌎 Tune in to explore how innovative building practices can help shape a more sustainable future by visiting https://bit.ly/EnergyCrossroads

🐝 Happy National Honey Bee Day! 🌼 At HARC, we're proud to host honey bee hives through our partnership with Aveole. Thes...
08/15/2026

🐝 Happy National Honey Bee Day! 🌼

At HARC, we're proud to host honey bee hives through our partnership with Aveole. These busy pollinators play a vital role in supporting healthy ecosystems by helping plants, flowers, and crops thrive.

Providing habitat for pollinators is one small way we can support biodiversity and create more resilient landscapes. From our campus to the communities we serve, protecting nature starts with the little things, including bees.

Today, we're celebrating these incredible pollinators and the important work they do every day. Happy National Honey Bee Day! 🍯💛

August in Houston means hot days, warm nights, and a reminder of why understanding urban heat matters. Not all neighborh...
08/14/2026

August in Houston means hot days, warm nights, and a reminder of why understanding urban heat matters.

Not all neighborhoods experience heat the same way. Through HARC's H3AT Mapping Campaign, community volunteers collected hundreds of thousands of temperature measurements across Houston and Harris County, revealing where the hottest areas are and helping inform solutions to reduce the urban heat island effect. The data also supports ForUsTree, a regional effort to expand tree canopy where it's needed most.

Trees provide shade, help cool surrounding areas, and make our neighborhoods more resilient during the hottest months of the year.

🌳 Learn more about ForUsTree: forustreehtx.org
🗺️ Explore H3AT: h3at.org

📚✏️ Back-to-school season is here! As students head back to the classroom, reliable, resilient schools are more importan...
08/12/2026

📚✏️ Back-to-school season is here!

As students head back to the classroom, reliable, resilient schools are more important than ever. Beyond being places of learning, schools also serve as community hubs and can provide critical support during emergencies.

Through HARC's Powering Cost-Efficient, Resilient, and Sustainable Schools in Texas project, we're partnering with the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to provide no-cost technical assistance to school districts across Texas. By evaluating onsite energy generation and battery storage opportunities, we're helping schools identify solutions that can lower energy costs, strengthen resilience during power outages, and support informed long-term planning.

Because when schools are prepared, students, educators, and communities are better prepared too.

📖 Learn more: https://bit.ly/HVACSECO

💧 August is National Water Quality Month! Established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2005, National Wate...
08/10/2026

💧 August is National Water Quality Month!

Established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2005, National Water Quality Month is an opportunity to recognize the importance of protecting our rivers, lakes, bays, and other waterways that support healthy communities and ecosystems.

At HARC, we're helping make water quality data more accessible through the Galveston Bay Regional Monitoring Database (RMD). This interactive portal provides quality-assured data that supports the conservation and management of the Galveston Bay system, giving researchers, resource managers, and community partners access to the information they need to better understand and protect one of Texas' most valuable estuaries.

Whether you're conducting research, informing restoration efforts, or simply interested in learning more about Galveston Bay, the RMD helps turn data into informed decisions.

🌊 Explore the database at galvbaydata.org.

We're excited to share that Dr. Margaret Cook, HARC's Vice President of Water & Community Resilience, will be speaking a...
08/07/2026

We're excited to share that Dr. Margaret Cook, HARC's Vice President of Water & Community Resilience, will be speaking at SPEER's Powering Texas Energy Strategies: Summer Workshop Series!

Join Dr. Cook on August 11 for Conservation in Practice: Energy & Water Strategies for Texas. Dr. Cook will join experts from across Texas to discuss practical strategies for advancing energy and water conservation, state planning efforts, and resources that can help communities improve efficiency and resilience.

📅 Tuesday, August 11
🕘 9:00–11:30 AM CT
📍 Hybrid Event

Register today: https://bit.ly/4xnzCDh

08/07/2026

As hurricane season continues, it's a great time to revisit one of our favorite episodes of the Energy Crossroads podcast. 🎙️

In Episode 14, we're joined by Rives Taylor, Principal and Global Design Resilience Co-Leader at Gensler to discuss what it takes to create resilient built environments. From energy-efficient building design to strategies that help communities and businesses recover more quickly after extreme weather, this conversation explores how thoughtful planning today can strengthen resilience for the future.

🌎 Tune in to learn how resilient design can support stronger, more sustainable communities.

🎧 Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you listen to podcasts.

https://bit.ly/EnergyCrossroads

Did you know that Harris County and local communities partnered to develop a climate justice plan that includes nature-b...
08/06/2026

Did you know that Harris County and local communities partnered to develop a climate justice plan that includes nature-based solutions to help protect communities most at risk?

HARC is proud to support this effort. For more than a year, Dr. Erin Kinney, HARC's Manager of Coastal Resilience and Communities, has been an active participant in the Houston cohort, collaborating with partners to help advance a more resilient future for the region.

By shifting from reactive disaster response to proactive prevention, we can build a stronger, more prepared Houston.

💧 Learn more and get involved at the new website: onewaterhou.org

Bayou City Waterkeeper

Recent wildfires have reduced air quality across parts of Canada and the U.S., highlighting the importance of preparedne...
07/31/2026

Recent wildfires have reduced air quality across parts of Canada and the U.S., highlighting the importance of preparedness and clear public health communication during air quality emergencies.

At HARC, preparedness is at the core of Project BREATH (Building our Response to Emergency Releases of Air Toxics). Developed in collaboration with local emergency responders, community stakeholders, and academic experts, the Project BREATH Resource Guide helps improve emergency response to incidents involving hazardous airborne releases, including fires, explosions, and chemical leaks.

While every air quality emergency is different, having science-based tools and coordinated response plans helps communities make informed decisions when air quality is compromised.

Learn more about Project BREATH: https://bit.ly/ProjectBREATH

Address

8801 Gosling Road
The Woodlands, TX
77381

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Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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+12813646000

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