Buildings
Introduction
Buildings are generally the largest user of energy and the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions on campuses. Buildings also use significant amounts of potable water. Institutions can design, build, and maintain buildings in ways that provide a safe and healthy indoor environment for inhabitants while simultaneously mitigating the building’s impact on the outdoor environment.
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Launch of Brock University's $100M decarbonization initiative
- Brock University (ON)
In 2025, Brock University launched SPARK (sustainability, performance, adaptation, renewal and knowledge), a more than $100-million journey that is reimagining campus sustainability and positioning the University as a leader in …
- Posted Aug. 20, 2026
- Photographs
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Towson University Solar
- Towson University (MD)
A portion of the Towson University solar array on Barton and Douglas residence halls.
- Posted Aug. 20, 2026
- Photographs
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Sustainable Design at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae
- Red River College Polytechnic (MB)
Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, RRC Polytech’s LEED-certified building at the Exchange District Campus, brings together sustainable design, Indigenous culture and Truth and Reconciliation. It is the first RRC Polytech …
- Posted Aug. 20, 2026
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Ngā Mokopuna - a living building based on indigenous wisdom
- Victoria University of Wellington
In late 2024, Victoria University of Wellington opened Ngā Mokopuna as the University's newest green building and hub for Māori knowledge. Aspiring to gain Living Building Challenge certification, it exemplifies …
- Posted Aug. 12, 2026
- Photographs
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Green Roof Cleanup
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
Students, faculty, and staff join in efforts across campus during Earth Week. Pictured here, volunteers are cleaning up the Gateway Green Roof for the spring/summer season.
The green roof is …
- Posted Aug. 10, 2026
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Bin Infrastructure
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
Trash, recycling, and compost bins are available across campus, from hallways to event spaces.
- Posted Aug. 10, 2026
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University of Toronto Mississauga Photos for Sustainable Campus Index
- University of Toronto Mississauga (ON)
The pictures attached are from UTM's New Science Building.
UTM’s newest building sets a new standard for green wet lab design in North America, right here in Mississauga. The new …
- Posted Aug. 6, 2026
- Photographs
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Eco-Friendly Dining Hall & Natural Daylighting Design
- University of Sharjah
A modern dining hall interior designed according to sustainable building standards. Large arched windows maximize natural daylighting to minimize artificial energy consumption, while transparent glass partitions and durable, eco-conscious materials …
- Posted Aug. 3, 2026
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California Green Building Conference, hosted annually by USGBC California
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Photo Credit: Sam Bunke
- Posted Aug. 3, 2026
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Students complete a waste audit for Chou Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Photo credit: Sam Bunke
- Posted Aug. 3, 2026
- Photographs
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Passive House Retrofit at NYU
- New York University (NY)
New York University’s Rubin Hall is the largest residential retrofit Passive House (EnerPHit) certified project in the world. Rubin Hall also achieved LEED Platinum Certification. The retrofit made the building …
- Posted Aug. 3, 2026
- Photographs
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MCBS Sustainability Center-Estidama
- Modern College of Business and Science
Students collaborate at the MCBS Sustainability Center- Estidama, identifying innovative sustainability solutions and promoting environmental awareness, responsible waste management, and community engagement.
- Posted July 29, 2026
- Photographs
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Pathways to Portfolio-Level Decarbonization
- Verdani Institute for the Built Environment (VIBE) (CA)
Decarbonizing a commercial real estate portfolio is one of the most complex sustainability challenges facing the industry today — involving capital allocation, tenant coordination, regulatory compliance, technology adoption, and long-term …
- Posted July 28, 2026
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Queen's University Belfast Net Zero Launch
- Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast launched their Net Zero Plan in 2023 with an event that brought together key note speakers, local authorities, staff and students.
- Posted July 21, 2026
- Photographs
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Nova Scotia Community College SCI 2026
- Nova Scotia Community College (NS)
Photo submission from Nova Scotia Community College for the 2026 SCI
- Posted July 14, 2026
- Photographs
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Planting at Newnham Campus
- Seneca Polytechnic (ON)
The Newnham Campus grounds team gets ready to plant trees as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the campus landscape and biodiversity.
- Posted July 13, 2026
- Photographs
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Student Union Expansion Takes Shape With Final Touches
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
A little over two years ago, the proposed 27,000-square-foot expansion of the Titan Student Union was little more than architectural renderings and a massive amount of earth moving.
Today, those …
- Posted March 3, 2026
- Photographs
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A Systemic, District‑Wide Approach to Scope 1 and Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas Reduction (FY22–FY25)
- San Jacinto College (TX)
Over a four‑year period, San Jacinto College District implemented a systemic, data‑driven strategy to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its multi‑campus portfolio. Rather than …
- Posted Feb. 12, 2026
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Software-Only HVAC Optimization at Lilac Hall: A Scalable Model for High-Impact Campus Energy Efficiency
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
In an era of rising energy costs and increasingly ambitious climate commitments, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) partnered with KenergyAI to transform the energy performance of Lilac Hall through a …
- Posted Feb. 2, 2026
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Transforming Campus Energy Infrastructure from Steam to Low-Carbon Energy at Humber Polytechnic
- Humber Polytechnic (ON)
Project SWITCH is a campus-wide energy infrastructure transformation at Humber Polytechnic’s North Campus that replaced a legacy steam-based heating system with a low-temperature hot water energy network designed to enable …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2026
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Georgetown University – Building Energy System Optimization I
- Ecosystem Energy Services
- ENGIE (TX)
- Georgetown University (DC)
Georgetown University’s Building Energy System Optimization I (BESO I) project was a comprehensive initiative that transformed campus energy infrastructure, improved efficiency, and advanced sustainability goals. Launched in 2021, the project …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2026
- Case Studies
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A Ground Source Heat Pump Solution for Colorado State University
- Colorado State University (CO)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
Colorado State University (CSU) installed a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system to provide heating and cooling to its 420,000-square-feet Moby Athletic Complex. The Moby Complex contains an 8,000-seat basketball …
- Posted Sept. 15, 2025
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Building sustainable smart cities on the hopes of tech-savvy students
- University of Central Florida (FL)
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
Abstract This paper outlines a comprehensive idea to transform urban areas into smart learning cities, leveraging innovative technologies to enhance education, innovation, and lifelong learning for all. Our research, based …
- Posted Sept. 9, 2025
- Publications
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Inflation Reduction Act geothermal/Ground Source Heat Pump 1 page case study
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI)
This document provides information about The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Sonnentag Center Ground Source Heat Pump/geothermal system submission for the tax incentives set up by the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Posted Aug. 25, 2025
- Case Studies
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Sustainable energy
- Mohawk College (ON)
Mohawk College Energy Systems Engineering Technology student, Madi, measures the energy captured by a solar panel on the roof of Mohawk College’s Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation. The Joyce …
- Posted Aug. 19, 2025
- Photographs
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Encouraging green infrastructure at Ontario universities: What's policy got to do with it?
- Dalhousie University (NS)
- University of Waterloo (ON)
This paper explores the role of policy in encouraging the adoption of green infrastructure (GI) at Ontario universities through a case study in Waterloo. The relationship between policy and GI …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
- Publications
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A review of operating performance in green buildings: Energy use, indoor environmental quality and occupant satisfactio
- Tsinghua University
This paper aims to review the published researches on post-occupancy performance of green buildings in terms of energy use, indoor environment quality (IEQ) and occupant satisfaction. A total of 925 …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
- Publications
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Green Building Occupant Satisfaction: Evidence from the Australian Higher Education Sector
- Griffith University
- Shenzhen University
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- UNSW Sydney
Universities spend billions of dollars on green buildings as a sustainability commitment. This research investigates occupant satisfaction with indoor environmental quality (IEQ), building design (BD), and facilities management (FM) in …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
- Publications
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Do ‘green’ buildings have better indoor environments? New evidence
- National Research Council Canada
A post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of 12 green and 12 conventional office buildings across Canada and the northern United States was conducted. Occupants (N = 2545) completed an online questionnaire related …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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The Business Case for Green Building: A Review of the Costs and Benefits for Developers, Investors and Occupants
- World Green Building Council
The Business Case for Green Building: A Review of the Costs and Benefits for Developers, Investors and Occupants, examines whether or not it’s possible to attach a financial value to …
- Posted Aug. 13, 2025
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Top-reporting Institutions- Photos of University
- Cornell University (NY)
Photos of the university
- Posted Aug. 12, 2025
- Photographs
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Green Campus Platinum certification
- Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering
SSN College of Engineering, India's first STARS-rated institution under the AASHE framework, has proudly received the prestigious Platinum Certification from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for its Green Campus. …
- Posted Aug. 11, 2025
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Student Worker at the PCC Southeast Campus Learning Garden Geodesic Dome Greenhouse
- Portland Community College (OR)
A student worker in the Student Worker at the Southeast Campus Learning Garden Geodesic Dome Greenhouse at Portland Community College.
- Posted Aug. 4, 2025
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PCC Health Technology LEED Gold certified building renovated with repurposed timber
- PAE Consulting Engineers
- Portland Community College (OR)
- Thomas Hacker Architects, Inc. (OR)
Portland Community College's Health Technology Building Received LEED Gold certification status for the renovation of the east side(the west side is still being remodeled). The building was opened up to …
- Posted Aug. 4, 2025
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American University of Central Asia
- American University of Central Asia
The image shows the main building of the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- Posted July 31, 2025
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Sustainable Landscaping Enhancing Biodiversity at SSN College
- Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering
This photograph captures a thriving biodiversity patch within the sustainably managed campus landscape of SSN College of Engineering, Chennai. The campus is home to over 300 trees across 66 different …
- Posted July 28, 2025
- Photographs
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Amherst College Climate Action
- Amherst College (MA)
Amherst College aims to decarbonize its campus by 2030 through a transformative modernization of its energy system from its current fossil fuel based steam heating system to an electric, low …
- Posted July 22, 2025
- Photographs
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Energy Efficiency
- Université de Sherbrooke (QC)
Between 2002–2003, when the first energy efficiency measures were implemented, and 2023–2024, the energy intensity of the Université de Sherbrooke’s buildings was reduced by 46%. This substantial decrease played a …
- Posted July 22, 2025
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York University - Aerial views of campus
- York University (ON)
York University - aerial views of campus
- Posted July 14, 2025
- Photographs
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GRITS Sustainability Project Management & Tracking Platform
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
GRITS is a platform to help institutions plan, analyze, track, and share the energy, financial, and carbon impacts of their sustainability projects. It also enables institutions to access and learn …
- Posted June 25, 2025
- Tools
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SDG Steps at the University of Tasmania
- University of Tasmania (TAS)
Students at the newest (2025) University of Tasmania building using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Steps. This building achieved over 35% reduction in embodied carbon compared to an industry …
- Posted June 6, 2025
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University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- Posted June 6, 2025
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Climate Risks and Resilience at Dickinson College: Strategies for Continuity of Operations
- Dickinson College (PA)
Prepared for Building Climate Resilience at Dickinson and in Central Pennsylvania, an initiative of Dickinson College, the Borough of Carlisle, and Cumberland County, PA, as part of Dickinson’s Baird Sustainability …
- Posted April 3, 2025
- Publications
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How-to Certify a Zero Waste Building
- Boston University (MA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
In this session, Boston University & University of California Berkeley will provide an in-depth technical lab on how to certify a building zero waste: from building design to TRUE certification. …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Unlocking the Puzzle: Building Performance Standards & Higher Ed
- Boston University (MA)
- Colorado State University (CO)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
This Learning Lab, co-hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Boston University, Colorado State University, University of Washington, and the U.S. Department of Energy builds on a virtual workshop series …
- Posted Feb. 27, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Fault Detection and Diagnostics at California State University, Northridge
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
- Siemens Industry, Inc. (IL)
This project has enhanced CSUN's understanding and management of its building mechanical systems, fostering collaboration among building controls specialists, HVAC mechanics, and sustainability staff. The Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
- Case Studies
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Wi-Fi Inferred Occupancy Count for Air Conditioning Optimisation
- Nanyang Technological University
An effective strategy to reduce building energy consumption is to optimise building controls using occupancy information. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) is trialling an innovative method for determining occupant counts …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
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Green Lab Innovations to Advance Institutional Strategic Goals
- AASHE (MA)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
You have a Green Lab designation program, now what?
Learn how to develop complementary innovative green lab initiatives that foster sustainable research practices while fulfilling institutional sustainability objectives. Via examples …
- Posted Nov. 25, 2024
- Videos & Webinars
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Fullerton Arboretum Visitor Center Design Wins Award for Being 'Green'
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
The energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable project received a Best Practices Award for Overall Sustainable Design.
It’s not yet completed, but the new Fullerton Arboretum Visitor Center has already won an award …
- Posted Oct. 22, 2024
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A Beacon to Savings - Campus to Replace Lights for More Energy Efficiency
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
By Pamela McLaren
How many people does it take to switch out a light bulb? On a college campus dealing with more than 75,000 lamps — it will take a …
- Posted Oct. 10, 2024
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
OP 3: Building Design & Construction
- Percent of building space certified for green building construction and renovation
- A list of green building new construction and major renovation projects
- An inventory of green building new construction and major renovation projects
- Website URL - Green building design and construction program
OP 4: Building Design & Construction
- Percent of building space certified for operations and maintenance
- Description of sustainable operations and maintenance policies and/or programs
- Website URL - Existing building operations and maintenance
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.