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

932 resources

Change Makers: Innovative waste reduction campaigns and beyond

  • Johnson County Community College (KS)
  • Lane Community College (OR)
  • Portland Community College (OR)

This interactive and action-oriented panel will look at 3 different waste reduction behavior change programs in community colleges. The panelists will address some of the specific challenges they face with ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Meet Universities who are Reinventing Relevance via Innovation Districts that include Corporations and Cities.

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
  • Oklahoma State University (OK)
  • University of Texas at Austin (TX)
  • McGill University (QC)
  • Morphosis Architecture (NY)

Join Jane Talkington for a national overview on Innovation Districts, a burgeoning new form in which the university can GO BEYOND campus boundaries to create relevance by building interdisciplinary capacity ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Inspiring Change: Campus Mission and the Living Building Challenge

  • Hampshire College (MA)
  • Bruner/Cott Architects (MA)
  • Integrated Eco Strategy
  • International Living Future Institute (WA)

The RW Kern Center is designed to embody Hampshire College's mission of fostering positive change in the world, as well as to meet the Living Building Challenge. This session ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Green Demonstration Buildings - A Facilities Management Perspective on the Benefits (and Challenges) of Being Innovative

  • Nova Scotia Community College (NS)

15 years ago the Nova Scotia Community College made a commitment to being an industry leader in sustainability. This commitment aligned with major infrastructure changes at all 13 campuses, including ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Integrating Solar PV in Building Overhauls

  • Chesapeake College (MD)
  • United States Department of Energy (DC)

The Health Professions and Athletics Center at Chesapeake College received a complete overhaul before its re-opening in August, 2015. Aiming for LEED Platinum certification, a 1.7 MW solar project ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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A Zero Net Energy Teaching Laboratory

  • Sasaki Associates, Inc. (MA)
  • BR+A (MA)

The ACUPCC and the 2030 Challenge set the trajectory for a carbon-neutral future in the building industry. This goal may seem out of reach for laboratory buildings with high plug-loads ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Urban Eco-Block: From Prototype to Adaptation - University, Community and Non-Profit collaborate to create a Net Zero Block

  • Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
  • Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects (MO)

Urban Eco-Block goal is to create a prototype Sustainable Form-Based Code and Net Positive Design for a typical urban city block found in many rust-belt cities where urban blight, economic ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Indoor Air Quality in the Context of Human Performance

  • Kirksey Architecture (TX)

Studies conducted by Harvard and LBNL National Lab have indicated that indoor CO2 levels that were until recently considered safe actually have substantial negative impacts on human cognition, including impaired ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Collaborative Research to Improve Dorm Heating Performance: Improved comfort and energy efficiency

  • Boston University (MA)

A common problem observed in small dorms in winter is open windows due to overheated rooms. We present results from a study by students, facilities staff, and faculty of the ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Immersive Learning in Sustainable Building Design and Construction Practices

  • University of Arkansas (AR)

Sustainability registers a high appeal among students as they face climate change. At Florida International University, a research program has been established to test if the Technology Mediated Learning Environments ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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WattTime: Energy Management to Reduce Emissions and Support Clean Energy Future

  • WattTime (CA)

Every time any device in a building on any campus turns on, a single power plant must produces slightly more electricity to power it. But what kind of power plant ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Role of Biophilic Design in Supporting the Student Athlete

  • Liberty University (VA)
  • VMDO Architects, PC (VA)

Biophilic design can enhance well-being, support physical performance, and expedite healing. These outcomes are particularly nourishing for student athletes - who experience intensive physical wear and tear as well as emotional ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Green Rehab Experiment: Charting a Path to NZE for Market Rate Off-Campus University-Owned Housing Renovations

  • Washington University in St. Louis (MO)

The Green Rehab Experiment is a multi-disciplinary applied research project that aims to chart a path towards net-zero energy performance for the renovation of 100-year old, off-campus, multi-family apartment buildings ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainable Buildings: Utilizing BOMA BEST (Green Globes EB in Canada) to Enhance the Sustainable Operations of Your Campus

  • University of Alberta (AB)

As part of The University of Alberta´s institutional Sustainability Plan we build all our new buildings to LEED or Green Globes standards. But as we operate and manage ± 200 ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Exploring LEED-EB: O+M for A Smarter, Healthier and More Efficient Campus: Lessons Learned at Portland State University

  • Portland State University (OR)
  • Green Building Services (OR)

Portland State University is working on multiple fronts to institutionalize sustainable operations and support the campus goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. In 2015, PSU became a founding signatory of ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Capitalizing on Local Renewable Resources for Campus Energy Needs: The Williams Lake Campus Bio-Mass System

  • Thompson Rivers University (BC)

Campuses across North America are increasingly looking to renewable energy sources to help reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and provide reliable and consistent energy costs. Each university has different ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainable and Comprehensive Utilities and Energy Management

  • Texas A&M University (TX)

Texas A&M University embarked on a comprehensive program, in 2002, to better understand and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness of campus facilities. The result has been a decrease in campus ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Green Roof Strategies for Success: Making It Work Beyond the First Year

  • New York University (NY)

Green roof failures are all too common, often leading to expensive replacement plantings, unmet aesthetic expectations, and invasive plant problems. In the fall of 2011, a 3,700 square foot ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Key Facilities Metrics; Gateway Survey for Collegiate Improvements

  • National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO) (DC)

For the third year, the joint APPA/NACUBO 'Key Facilities Benchmark' survey is being offered and results will be highlighted. The five simple measures instigated by the NACUBO Sustainability Advisory ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Healthy Materials: Agents of Change

  • Bruner/Cott Architects (MA)

Building materials can create adverse effects in built and natural environments. In addition to depleting natural resources and causing pollution, certain materials expose us to harmful chemicals. Advocating for transparency ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Greeks Go Green

  • University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)

Greeks Going Green is a collaborative project with the student government at the University of Nebraska, which aims to show people that through simple actions, they have the power to ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Beyond LEED - are sustainability codes ready for primetime?

  • University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
  • Hord Coplan Macht (MD)

Since the advent of LEED, there have been a plethora of green rating systems and now codes that have been written to quantify sustainable building practices. How are states and ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Together we are Building Sustainability' - An Outreach Framework for LEED EB Projects

  • University of Virginia (VA)

Though most college and university sustainability offices are charged with both improving operational efficiency AND increasing sustainability literacy and engagement, we often overlook opportunities to serve these missions concurrently in ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Wildcat Waste Challenge: A Collaboration Between Student Programs, University Libraries, and Facilities Management

  • University of Arizona (AZ)

Two significant barriers to increased recycling rates are confusion surrounding what is and is not recyclable and the convenience factor of waste disposal. Many students view recycling as a confusing ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Data Driven Decision Making and Design: A Case Study

  • New York University (NY)

The new reality is academic institutions must do more with less, whether that be decreased funding or lack of physical space. The transformation of 370 Jay Street located in Downtown ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Prioritizing Infrastructure Upgrades: Highlighting Shippensburg University's Success

  • Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (PA)
  • Gordian (SC)

Nationwide trends indicate that capital funding at public institutions has stagnated for the past 7 years, at rates significantly below private institutions' funding levels. In response to shortfalls, public institutions ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Using Real-Time Campus Data to Explore Management and Behavior: Introduction to Teaching with Building Dashboard Technologies

  • Oberlin College (OH)

Many schools have adopted resource-use visualization 'dashboards' that provide real-time feedback on energy and water use in campus buildings. Parallel use of this technology for student engagement and facilities management ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Leveraging Portfolio Manager and ENERGY STAR on Campus

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)

Portfolio Manager and ENERGY STAR remain largely untapped resources in the higher education sector. Come to this session to learn about how some leading edge schools are capitalizing on our ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Living Building at Georgia Tech - A Campus-Wide Engagement Approach

  • Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)

In partnership with The Kendeda Fund, Georgia Tech will build a fully certified Living Building Challenge 3.0 building to support instruction, research, campus engagement, and community outreach on its ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Implementing a LED Lighting Program Across a Major University Campus

  • Princeton University (NJ)
  • Pearl Street LED Lighting Systems (NJ)

Princeton University has begun the execution of a program to convert their entire campus to LED lighting. This lighting efficiency program is in support of the Universities sustainability initiatives and ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Outlooks for a More Sustainable Building Stock

  • University of Arkansas (AR)

Despite all progress made in this domain, the building stock is still at its infancy when it comes to achieving zero environmental impact and zero fossil fuels utilization. The harnessing ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Seven Secrets of How Nature Designs: how to apply the lessons of biomimicry to your business

  • EcoDistricts (OR)

Twenty years ago, no one would have believed that any company without a website would not be in business in the future. Today, you may not believe that any company ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The importance of campus building sub-metering for determining energy consumption and the effects of efficiency improvements

  • Stony Brook University (NY)
  • FLEXIM Americas Corporation (NY)

Sub-metering campus buildings for energy consumption of cooling and heating is necessary to determine how much energy a building is consuming. It is the starting point for any building conservation ...

  • Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainable Campus Development: Campuses Go Green: Colleges and universities take environmentally responsible design to new levels

  • Society for College and University Planning (MI)
  • AASHE (PA)

Three projects profiled here exemplify that next level: a new campus designed for sustainability from first principles, an academic building now proving itself under the Living Building Challenge, and a ...

  • Posted Nov. 10, 2016
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Communities of Opportunity: Smart Growth Strategies For Colleges and Universities

  • National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO) (DC)
  • Ayers Saint Gross (MD)

This publication provides an overview of smart growth strategies and the better outcomes that these strategies have yielded when adopted by colleges and universities and communities across the country. It ...


UCSB and Campus Sustainability Group Come to Agreement

  • University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)

This article describes an agreement regarding University of California, Santa Barbara's Long Range Development Plan between the University and Sustainable University Now (SUN), a coalition of community organizations). The ...


Harvard to limit greenhouse gas emissions in new Allston construction

  • Harvard University (MA)

This article describes Harvard University's agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings constructed on its Allston campus. The agreement between the University and the Executive Office of ...


Can Urban University Expansion and Sustainable Development Co-Exist?: A Case Study in Progress on Columbia University

  • Albany Law School (NY)
  • Columbia University (NY)

This article uses the expansion of Columbia University as a case study to demonstrate the difficulty in labeling projects as "sustainable" or "unsustainable" when key stakeholders view the process and ...

  • Posted Oct. 31, 2016
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Columbia Announces Deal on Its 17-Acre Expansion Plan

  • Columbia University (NY)

This article describes an agreement relating to the Columbia University's plans to expand its campus in Harlem. Among other things, the university committed to contribute $20 million to start ...

  • Posted Oct. 31, 2016
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Safety Advancement Program

  • Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (IN)

CSHEMA’s Safety Advancement Program is designed to help colleges, universities, and other campus environments assess and address health and safety performance. At the core of the Safety Advancement Program ...


Sustainability and Built Environment: The role of Higher Education in Architecture and Building Engineering

The sustainability paradigm implies a cultural shift in order to really change the world and society. Education, and specifically higher education, plays the crucial role of preparing students to be ...

  • Posted Oct. 13, 2016
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Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer Performance and Energy Use Tests

  • University of California, Riverside (CA)

During fall 2015 and winter 2016, staff and students from the University of California , Riverside Office of Sustainability evaluated three energy efficient Ultra Low Temperature Freezers. This study tested the ...


SUNY Cortland Grounds Initiatives

  • State University of New York at Cortland (NY)

Located on the edge of a sensitive aquifer, SUNY Cortland’s Student Life Center uses bio-swales, strategically planted native vegetation and permeable pavement to control storm runoff. The campus maintains ...


Hands-On LEED: Guiding College Student Engagement

  • U.S. Green Building Council (DC)

As college and university leaders from across the United States work to green their campuses, students can and should play a critical role. Hands-On LEED: Guiding College Student Engagement explains ...

  • Posted Sept. 26, 2016
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Energy Efficient Residence Hall

  • Unity Environmental University (ME)

Unity College completed a new two-story, 18,200-square-foot, 76-bed residence hall in August 2016. The ADA-compliant building houses incoming freshmen and features multiple common spaces for group studying, private bathrooms ...

  • Posted Sept. 23, 2016
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Stanford Photos for Top Performer Categories

  • Stanford University (CA)

Below are some photos that capture sustainability on Stanford's campus in the four categories in Research, Buildings, Water, and Diversity & Affordability.

  • Posted Sept. 20, 2016
  • Photographs
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Green Garage at Cornell University

  • Cornell University (NY)

In July 2015, Cornell University’s Forest Home Parking Garage became one of seven parking garages to receive the first Green Garage Certification from the Green Parking Council. Cornell was ...

  • Posted Sept. 16, 2016
  • Photographs
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UVic Administrative Services Building LEED Gold

  • University of Victoria (BC)

University of Victoria's Administrative Services Building LEED Gold

  • Posted Sept. 14, 2016
  • Photographs
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American University SCI Photos

  • American University (DC)
  • Posted Sept. 14, 2016
  • Photographs
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Summer 2016 - St. John's University upgraded 41,000 lamps and 6,000 fixtures to LED

  • St. John's University, New York (NY)

In Summer 2016, St. John's University invested $1.4 million to upgrade 41,000 lamps and 6,000 light fixtures to LED technology. Highlights of the project include:

  1. Utility ...
  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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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

OP 4: Building Design & Construction

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Buildings Partners