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The buildings where we work tell a story about who we are. At EF, that story is about opening the world through education and doing so responsibly. From the architecture and design of our offices to the way we operate them daily, sustainability isn't an afterthought. It's woven into the foundation.
“We’re in the unique position of being both the developer and the occupant,” says Dana Santucci, who has spent 30 years with EF. "When I collaborate with our real estate, architecture, and design teams, we can do things right from the start. We're building for ourselves, which means we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to make sustainable choices that actually work."
Exceeding the minimum
Sustainability at EF buildings starts with a simple principle: building codes set the minimum, our standards are higher.
"We try to exceed minimum requirements wherever we can," Dana explains. That means incorporating light harvesting systems that maximize natural daylight, high-efficiency fixtures that reduce energy consumption, and in some locations, greywater systems that recycle water for non-potable uses.
The design phase has become increasingly focused on materials and furniture choices. For Dana, one turning point came during the Austin office project. EF had signed the lease for new office space in Austin just before the pandemic hit, turning what should have been a standard build-out into a logistical puzzle.
"Launching a major project just as the world shut down created so many challenges with sourcing and getting materials," she recalls. "But I'm incredibly proud of the Austin office because those constraints pushed us to think differently."
The Austin office became a showcase for local procurement. The reception desk features clay bricks from Saltillo in Mexico. Pecan wood salvaged from local flood plains adds warmth throughout the space. Artwork created in partnership with several local artists with disabilities brings the community directly into the office.
Top: The reception desk in the Austin office. Bottom left: Dana at Hult House during its construction on the Boston campus. Bottom right: Native plants decorate the Austin office.
The power of smart systems
Walk into EF's Boston campus, and you won't immediately notice what's happening behind the scenes. But beneath the surface, sophisticated building management systems are quietly revolutionizing how the buildings use energy.
"How can we do things smarter and use less energy wherever we can?" asks Rico Autori, who oversees the operations of our buildings in Boston. "The more you can control your energy usage, the more you can bring down your emissions."
The Boston office runs on 100% renewable electricity, primarily from wind and solar. But Rico and his team didn't stop there. They delved deep into the building management system, and what they found changed everything.
"We identified inefficiencies that help reduce both costs and energy consumption," Rico explains. The result? A 25% reduction in energy use year over year.
The Hult International Business School building next door to the EF Boston office presented another opportunity. Since 1997, a natural gas boiler has been running 365 days a year, heating the building and the water. In May, the team installed an air source heat pump to take over domestic water heating, reducing the reliance on natural gas significantly.
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Left: Energy-saving air source heat pumps at the Hult International Business School campus in Boston. Right: Rico in EF's Boston office.
Zurich: where sustainability meets daily life
Nearly 6,000 kilometres away in Zurich, Switzerland, Evangeline Frey Kraus is thinking about coffee. As Director of Office Life & Services at EF's headquarters, she knows that small decisions can have big impacts when you're supporting 800+ employees.
"One and a half years ago, we kicked off a project to investigate the coffee beans we were buying," Evangeline says. "We'd used the same supplier for many years, but we wanted to find a supplier with sustainability certifications."
The numbers told the story: 1,900 kilograms of coffee beans purchased in 2024 alone. The team found a local roaster with Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certifications. They also switched to a local dairy farmer who provides milk in returnable plastic bottles that get reused, reducing packaging waste.
Even the tea got an upgrade. The Zurich Green Team, a staff-led sustainability initiative, pitched an idea that the office was almost entirely plastic-free except for one thing: teabags. They helped switch to a supplier using paper instead of plastic.
"For me, to see it all in use is so rewarding," Evangeline says.
Top: The Exchange, a shared space in the Zurich office. Bottom left: Evangeline at one of the coffee machines. Bottom right: The kitchen offers views over the Sihl River and Zurich’s house mountain, Uetliberg.
The Zurich office, which operates on 100% renewable electricity and a significant portion of biogas for heating, also employs a building management system similar to Boston's. Automatic blinds adjust to optimize natural light. Heating systems cool the building at night and warm it during the day, maximizing efficiency.
Designing for behavioural change
Technology and materials matter, but Evangeline knows that human behaviour matters more. She was part of the team designing the flow of the Zurich office, “intentionally encouraging sustainable behaviours”. The placement of the water bars is strategic, encouraging people to move and interact. Water-saving dishwashers service all the glasses and mugs.
Then there's the roof terrace. When EF bought the building, there was no terrace. The team added railings and exits, transforming an unused space into what Evangeline calls "this beautiful place for people to enjoy, and gives pollinators and birds a habitat."
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The rooftop terrace at the Zurich office.
The ripple effect
"Knowing that sustainability is a key part of our work motivates us to keep innovating," Dana says. "And with partners like myclimate helping us measure and reduce our global carbon emissions, we can track real progress." And as we continue on this journey, all of us work together to drive change and make our buildings more sustainable.