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.
Featured Resources
New Resources
Austin Community College, Rio Grande Campus LEED Platinum Renovation Project
- Austin Community College (TX)
Austin Community College LEED Platinum Renovation - The Rio Grande Campus project involved the renovation of a nearly 100-year-old campus building, and is the first LEED Platinum certification for Austin Community ...
- Posted Sept. 2, 2023
- Photographs
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SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Posted Aug. 31, 2023
- Photographs
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ETEC building at UAlbany
- University at Albany (NY)
Aerial photo of the ETEC (Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurship Complex) LEED Platinum certified building at the University at Albany. The building houses our Departments of Atmospheric and Environmental Science, Department ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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10,000-gallon rainwater cistern
- Muhlenberg College (PA)
Terrace showing outline of Fahy Commons 10,000-gallon rainwater cistern.
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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UVM_rooftop and interior
- University of Vermont (VT)
A class on stormwater management meets on the roof of UVM's George D. Aiken Center
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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Ball State University students and faculty incorporate passive house principles into a design-build of low-income housing which won the DOE Solar Decathlon
- Ball State University (IN)
Ball State University students and faculty incorporate passive house principles into a design-build of low-income housing which won the 2023 DOE Solar Decathlon
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
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Ball State University students incorporate passive house principles into a design-build of low-income housing which won the DOE Solar Decathlon
- Ball State University (IN)
Ball State University students incorporate passive house principles into a design-build of low-income housing which won the 2023 DOE Solar Decathlon
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
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Bennington College Commons Building
- Bennington College (VT)
This holistic remaking of the historic and beloved center of campus community life combines dining, social, and academic areas within a collection of dynamic spaces. The building is animated by ...
- Posted Aug. 25, 2023
- Photographs
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Bennington College Commons Building
- Bennington College (VT)
This holistic remaking of the historic and beloved center of campus community life combines dining, social, and academic areas within a collection of dynamic spaces. The building is animated by ...
- Posted Aug. 25, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Bennington College Commons
- Bennington College (VT)
This holistic remaking of the historic and beloved center of campus community life combines dining, social, and academic areas within a collection of dynamic spaces. The building is animated by ...
- Posted Aug. 25, 2023
- Photographs
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Solar Panels at The Catholic University of America
- The Catholic University of America (DC)
Solar Panels at The Catholic University of America.
- Posted Aug. 22, 2023
- Photographs
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Is IoT monitoring key to improve building energy efficiency? Case study of a smart campus in Spain
- University of Zaragoza
This work validates and demonstrates the potential of a methodology based on a continuous monitoring system with real time measurements, as a key support to make decisions on buildings energy ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Transdisciplinary learning exercise on post occupancy evaluation and retrofitting of built spaces
- College of Engineering Trivandrum
The need to develop sustainable strategies and solutions to design and retrofit buildings to be comfortable living environments that reduce energy and resource consumption is crucial in achieving the sustainable ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Exploring the Intersection of Science and Policy: The Case Study of Installing Solar Panels and Energy Storage System at the University of Ottawa
- University of Ottawa (ON)
Buildings account for up to a third of total world greenhouse gas GHG emissions, and this pattern is expected to persist. By 2050, cities will be home to 70 % of ...
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation Open House
- Muhlenberg College (PA)
On January 31st, the campus community filled the halls of the new Fahy Commons, visiting the academic and program spaces getting an up-close look at its remarkable sustainability features. Sustainability ...
- Posted June 7, 2023
- Photographs
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Boston University Center for Computing & Data Sciences
- Boston University (MA)
Boston University’s Center for Computing & Data Sciences is the University’s largest [academic building] addition to the Charles River Campus in 50 years and its most sustainable building ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Reducing Energy in the Campus Theatre Complex
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Rudder Theatre Complex (RTC) supports a large variety of campus events. Whether it is a Broadway show or new student and family orientation session, the RTC experiences high usage year-round ...
- Posted May 22, 2023
- Photographs
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Educating the Scientific Community to Adopt Sustainability
- My Green Lab (CA)
Engaging scientists in sustainability efforts has long been proven to be an effective way of reducing the environmental impact of laboratories. By implementing actions to improve sustainability, scientists experience a ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Dynamic Cooling Load Management via Room Set Point Adjustments
- Stanford University (CA)
Stanford University’s COOLER research program began in the summer of 2020 and ran through 2022. This unique collaboration between the Land, Buildings, and Real Estate’s (LBRE) “Operations” team ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Scaling the Living Building Challenge on Campus
- Harvard University (MA)
- International Living Future Institute (WA)
Harvard University and the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) are working together to scale the impact of regenerative design on campus through the Living Building Challenge. We will focus on ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Effective Decarbonization Strategies for Large Campus Buildings
- Boston University (MA)
To meet the imperative to decarbonize as quickly and as deeply as possible, the U.S. existing commercial building sector offers significant potential to pay early dividends on climate action ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Campus Sustainability Starts in the Lab
- My Green Lab (CA)
Recent years show a global movement in sustainability as more organizations see the benefit of reducing their operations’ environmental impact. Thousands of universities have pledged to be more sustainable through ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Academic Collaborations that Achieve Sustainable Operations
- The Ohio State University (OH)
- AASHE (PA)
- ENGIE (TX)
This webinar will explore how innovative universities are leveraging comprehensive energy management partnerships to collaborate with private industry, research and deploy new technologies, and meet sustainability goals.
In 2017, The ...
- Posted Feb. 16, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Citrus College Educational Development Center
- Citrus College (CA)
Citrus College was recognized with an excellence in Energy & Sustainability Award for the Educational Development Center modernization project:
"Best innovative project -Medium size District" Award
- Posted Feb. 2, 2023
- Photographs
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Specifying Residential Upholstered Furniture to Safeguard Human Health and Well-Being: A Toolkit for Reducing Fires and Chemical Risks
- Chemical Insights (GA)
This toolkit can be applied by sustainability professionals and procurement staff at higher education institutions looking to acquire environmentally sustainable and healthy furniture materials for residence halls and other campus ...
- Posted Jan. 31, 2023
- Tools
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McGill Sustainable Labs Guide
- McGill University (QC)
The McGill Sustainable Labs Guide contains a variety of actionable steps that lab users can take to make their lab operations more sustainable. Some of these practices can be applied ...
- Posted Jan. 17, 2023
- Tools
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LEED Gold: Student Recreation Center
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Going for the Gold has special meaning for Cal State Fullerton’s Student Recreation Center, which has the honor of being the first CSUF building awarded a Gold Leadership in ...
- Posted Nov. 29, 2022
- Photographs
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LEED Platinum: Student Housing Phase III
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Cal State Fullerton’s newest student housing complex is a step ahead of any statewide — it is the first in California awarded the Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ...
- Posted Nov. 29, 2022
- Photographs
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Webinar: An Accessible Roadmap to Healthy Indoor Air Quality
- University of Georgia (GA)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
- AASHE Test Campus
- Healthy Schools Campaign (IL)
Two years ago it was a struggle to generate interest in topics like ventilation and HVAC maintenance, but the COVID pandemic has highlighted just how much the air we breathe ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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Energy and Sustainability Investment Plan
- Weber State University (UT)
WSU's Energy and Sustainability Investment Plan's provides a road map for converting all of the University's buildings over to all electric buildings powered by renewable energy.
- Posted Oct. 28, 2022
- Publications
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UMass Lowell Rooftop Urban Agriculture
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
Rooftop Urban Agriculture - The Office of Sustainability at University of Massachusetts Lowell has developed an innovative urban agriculture program in partnership with Mill City Grows, a local food justice non-profit ...
- Posted Aug. 3, 2022
- Photographs
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Center for Development Economics at Williams College
- Williams College (MA)
The Center for Development Economics (CDE) at Williams College offers an intensive, 10 month (one academic year), master’s degree program designed for economists from low and middle-income countries who ...
- Posted Aug. 3, 2022
- Photographs
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UCI Images for SCI
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
Image options for UCI's feature in the SCI.
- Posted Aug. 2, 2022
- Photographs
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College of the Atlantic
- College of the Atlantic (ME)
At College of the Atlantic, education goes beyond understanding the world as it is to enabling students to actively shape the future. A leader in experiential learning and environmental stewardship ...
- Posted Aug. 2, 2022
- Photographs
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Stormwater Biofiltration System at UNC Greensboro
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)
Located outside the Kaplan Center for Wellness at UNC Greensboro, this is one of several biofiltration systems on campus which reduce flooding and filter stormwater to remove pollutants before they ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Agnes Scott College - Rebekah Scott Hall LEED Platinum Renovation / Restoration
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
Rebekah Scott Hall is the third LEED-certified building on Agnes Scott’s 100 acre campus. The 1905 new Italian Renaissance Revival structure underwent renovation between May 2017 to August 2018 ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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The David A. Tepper Quadrangle at Carnegie Mellon University
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
Carnegie Mellon University's David A. Tepper Quadrangle, home of the university's Coulter Welcome Center and the Tepper School of Business, earned LEED Gold certification in 2019.
CMU will ...
- Posted July 27, 2022
- Photographs
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Trimming Energy use in Buildings
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Because climate change is fueled in part by buildings’ energy use, Manish Dixit, Texas A&M assistant professor of construction science, is studying how to reduce structures’ energy needs with a ...
- Posted July 25, 2022
- Photographs
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BS in Sustainable Environmental Design
- University of California, Davis (CA)
Students in the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems major focus on the social, economic and environmental aspects of agriculture and develop a thorough understanding of our food cycle from farm ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Sustainability in the Built Environment Minor
- University of California, Davis (CA)
This minor provides a guiding framework for educating individuals who will design and maintain our future built environment in the challenges and potential solutions for improved sustainability. The minor is ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Urban Design Graduate Certificate
- University of Cincinnati (OH)
The graduate Urban Design Certificate will provide individuals with foundational knowledge about the art and science of cities through history to inform future visions for cities; introduce the skills and ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Building & Construction Technology Minor
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
Topics include sustainable (green) building systems and materials, energy and conservation, building technologies, and construction management.
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Design in Historic Preservation
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
The UMass Amherst Historic Preservation Program, part of the Department of Architecture, offers a unique opportunity for advanced study in historic preservation at this major public university, with the benefits ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Master of Resilient, Sustainable and Smart Buildings and Cities
- Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
The Master aims to offer in-depth training on the issue of Resilience, Sustainability and Smartness. This Master integrates the concept of resilience and sustainability in an applied approach in smart ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Architecture and Planning Minor
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Minor in Sustainable Architecture and Planning provides undergraduate students with a multidisciplinary approach to understanding sustainability of the built environment. The curriculum emphasizes an awareness of responsible practices at ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Building Science and Energy Management BS
- Western Technical College (WI)
Building Science and Energy Management examines the built environment and how it relates to energy using the latest research, tools, and technology available. Students gain hands-on experience working with community ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Construction Management MPS/MS
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
Graduate options in sustainable construction allow students with technical degrees to engage specific topics of current interest. There is an overall objective of having students look at the broad environmental ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Construction Management PhD
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
Graduate options in sustainable construction allow students with technical degrees to engage specific topics of current interest. There is an overall objective of having students look at the broad environmental ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Building Controls & Energy Management Certificate
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)
The aim of this program is to supply industry with graduates who can use controls and building automation systems to improve energy efficiency. This includes integration of this knowledge in ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Building Science ME
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)
The Building Science Graduate Program has a unique, interdisciplinary approach that combines the theory and practical skills needed to deliver durable, healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient buildings. For students interested in ...
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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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. Additional content and advanced benchmarking tools will be added to this tab over time.
Programs and Initiatives
The following links connect to specific Content Displays on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
- Operations and Maintenance
- New Construction and Major Renovation
Scores
The following link connects to the Score Display on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).