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

911 resources

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 ...


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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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


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 ...


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 ...


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 ...


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 ...


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
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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
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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 ...


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 ...


UCI Images for SCI

  • University of California, Irvine (CA)

Image options for UCI's feature in the SCI.


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 ...


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 ...


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 ...


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 ...


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 ...


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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Specialisation: High Performance Buildings

  • University of Sydney (NSW)

The High Performance Buildings program at the University of Sydney is unique in Australia. It offers the opportunity to pursue or develop an exciting career in the built environment field ...

  • Posted June 10, 2022
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UBC Sustainability Scholars Program

  • University of British Columbia (BC)

Since 2010, the creativity, skills and passion of close to 600 UBC graduate students in the Sustainability Scholars Program have made a positive impact on sustainability issues in the Vancouver ...


Are LEED campus buildings universally designed? Assessments at Virginia Tech

  • Virginia Tech (VA)

Purpose

As many of the next generation leaders are currently on college campuses, endorsing green buildings can foster environmental stewardship among the student body. However, marshalling in the social sphere ...


Sustainability challenges in architectural education: assessment of an architectural technology course on the bioclimatic redesign of existing buildings in Greece

  • National Technical University of Athens

During the last decades, the sustainable redesign of existing buildings has been gaining importance in both architectural practice and education. While based on the knowledge of the basic principles of ...


Scalable pathways to net zero carbon in the UK higher education sector: A systematic review of smart energy systems in university campuses

  • Buro Happold (NY)
  • University College London (London)

The following literature review sets out the state-of-the-art research relating to smart building principles and smart energy systems in UK higher education university campuses. The paper begins by discussing the ...


An Integrated Methodology of Subjective Investigation for a Sustainable Indoor Built Environment. The Case Study of a University Campus in Italy

  • University of Salerno
  • Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

Indoor built environments’ design and management require a holistic approach inspired by ergonomic principles and sustainability criteria. This is especially in case of renovation of existing buildings where any kind ...


Incorporating green building into architectural education: what can we learn from the value-belief-norm theory?

  • Griffith University (Queensland)
  • Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research
  • Shenzhen University

Aiming to find out how to incorporate green building into the architectural curriculum, this study aims to explore the psychological path for cultivating architectural students’ awareness and motivation to learn ...


Green building strategies for LEED-certified laboratory buildings: comparison between gold and platinum levels

  • Incheon National University

Laboratory facilities at higher education institutions are increasingly utilizing green building strategies to decrease their environmental footprint. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ...


Greening on-campus housing: blending commercial and higher education contexts

  • Virginia Tech (VA)

With the United States higher education sector representing over five billion square feet and expending over six billion dollars annually on energy costs, the higher education institution has an opportunity ...


Creating a Winning Collegiate Sports Sustainability Program

  • Green Sports Alliance (OR)

Over the past decade, a growing number of collegiate athletic programs have initiated or expanded their sustainability systems. With athletics traditionally recognized as "The front porch of the campus," campus ...

  • Posted May 9, 2022
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Mapping sustainability initiatives in higher education institutions in Latin America

  • Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Many higher education institutions (HEIs) around the world are involved in a variety of sustainability initiatives. These are acknowledged to be important elements in fostering the cause of sustainability in ...


Post-COVID; How Living Buildings Are the Next Recruiting Tool, Hosted by ILFI

  • International Living Future Institute (WA)

Please join the International Living Future Institute for an open discussion about how colleges and universities around the world are implementing the Living Building Challenge in their capital projects to ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Advancing Carbon Neutrality Through Renovation and Renewal

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • Ayers Saint Gross (MD)

Arizona State University achieved climate neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2019, six years ahead of schedule, but the planet needs more. Join us to learn how ASU ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Designing Buildings for Future Climate Realities

  • University of California, Office of the President (CA)
  • Arup (NY)

The University of California launched the Designing Buildings for Future Climate Realities project to optimize buildings and infrastructure to the changing climate in which they will be operating. Standard industry ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Taking Action on Sustainability Commitments Using IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

  • Clemson University (SC)
  • Duke Energy (NC)

The future will require ingenuity and innovation as well as capital to move the needle on sustainability commitments. The past decade has clearly demonstrated that our previous capitalization and decision-making ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Keeping Campus' Buildings Healthy: Managing 3D Printer Emissions for Occupant Safety and Health

  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (TX)
  • UL (Underwriters Laboratories) (IL)

Years of research prove that designing, operating and managing our buildings with a focus on good indoor air quality (IAQ) is essential to protect the health and productivity of building ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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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).

Scores

The following link connects to the Score Display on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).

Buildings Partners