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

Pomona College: Sustainable by Design and Practice

  • Pomona College (CA)

The Millikan building at Pomona College achieved LEED Platinum certification and is the first U.S. higher education building to feature the LEED Dynamic Plaque™. Situated on the wall in ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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Green Buildings at CSU, Sacramento

  • California State University, Sacramento (CA)

Students walking in front of the campus Academic Information Resource building.

The American River Courtyard Student Housing building at Sacramento State is a LEED Gold certified building, featuring an automatic ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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UBC Sustainability - CIRS Building

  • University of British Columbia (BC)

CIRS was conceived as a building in which to push the envelope of sustainable design by integrating passive design strategies with innovative sustainable technologies.

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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Climate Ready BU - Assessing the Campus for the Impacts of Climate Change

  • Boston University (MA)

Much of the Boston University campuses are located less than five feet above today's high tide. With projections for sea level rise a cause for concern this century, the ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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Energy Initiatives at Mohawk College

  • Mohawk College (ON)

Applied wind and solar energy projects at the Fennell Campus of Mohawk College support teaching, learning and research on campus.

PV Solar panels on the roof of the David Braley ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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The Learning Exchange

  • Mohawk College (ON)

The Learning Exchange is LEED® Gold Certified, incorporating technologies that reduce the building’s overall energy consumption. Building systems are exposed to create a living lab for Engineering Technology students ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
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Mohawk Energy Research Centre

  • Mohawk College (ON)

An Engineering Technology student monitors a solar panel as part of the Mohawk Energy Research Centre (MERC).

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
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Peacock Hall photovoltaic array

  • Appalachian State University (NC)

Appalachian State University currently has 17 renewable energy projects on or near campus, with plans to double the amount of energy generated by renewables in the near future.

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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Sustainable facility development: perceived benefits and challenges

  • Western Kentucky University (KY)

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the perceived benefits and challenges of implementing sustainable initiatives in collegiate recreational sports facilities. Additionally, this paper intends to contribute to ...

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
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New System Can Help Save Water with a Couple of Clicks

  • University of California, Merced (CA)

Quick-response codes are posted in each restroom in SSM so people can submit repair requests just by scanning with their smart phones.

  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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SUNY Polytechnic Institute Building Energy Dashboard

  • State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (NY)
  • Posted Sept. 12, 2016
  • Photographs
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Tour of Residence Hall Rooftop Solar

  • Babson College (MA)

Sustainability Office staff and interns touring new rooftop solar thermal system.


Stanford's Building Sustainability Rating System

  • Stanford University (CA)

Stanford's building sustainability rating system recognizes buildings that are meeting their performance targets and motivates occupants to reduce their environmental footprint to improve their building's performance score.


Business Instructional Facility Solar Array at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)

Harnessing the Power of Solar

  • University of California, Merced (CA)

The Science and Engineering Building 2 features solar panels on the outside to help power the building and provide shade during the hottest months.


Spartan Treasure Hunt

  • Michigan State University (MI)

In these photos, Michigan State University facilities employees observe equipment while participating in a Spartan Treasure Hunt.


AAS in Sustainability Technologies

  • Cape Fear Community College (NC)

The Sustainability Technologies program is designed to prepare students to meet the challenges of the new energy economy. The program’s three focus areas – Sustainability, Renewable Energy, and Buildings – overlap ...

  • Posted Aug. 23, 2016
  • Academic Programs
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Professional Certificate in Sustainability for Existing Buildings

  • George Mason University (VA)

The non-credit Professional Certificate in Sustainability for Existing Buildings focuses on the importance of sustainability in the operation of existing buildings. This program is specifically focused on the principles of ...

  • Posted Aug. 22, 2016
  • Academic Programs
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Net Zero Water Planning Toolkit

  • Brendle Group (CO)

The Net Zero Water (NZW) Planning Toolkit is intended to standardize and simplify water analysis and planning, while also maximizing economic returns and environmental benefits. The toolkit includes four phases ...


Northern Arizona University Energy Mentor Program

  • Northern Arizona University (AZ)

This is a how-to guide for higher education institutions who wish to carry out behavior based energy conservation programs. The guide is based on a program that has been implemented ...


Achieving Carbon Neutrality at UCSB by 2025: A Critical Analysis of Technological and Financial Strategies

  • University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)

In 2013, University of California (UC) President Janet Napolitano established the Carbon Neutrality Initiative (CNI), a commitment to eliminate all Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2025. As one ...

  • Posted July 28, 2016
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A Qualitative Study of Motivation and Influences for Academic Green Building Developments in Australian Universities

  • Macquarie University (NSW)
  • La Trobe University (Victoria)

Green building projects have been adopted by many universities in Australia as part of their renovation and expansion. In order to investigate the motivations of academic decision makers to invest ...

  • Posted July 21, 2016
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Energy Performance of Campus LEED Buildings: Implications for Green Building and Energy Policy

  • The Ohio State University (OH)

Many university campuses in the United States are working toward their sustainable goals by adopting energy or green building policies, which require Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification ...

  • Posted July 21, 2016
  • Publications
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Critical Issues in Facilities Management: Energy Efficiencies

  • APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (VA)

Energy Efficiencies is an anthology of 15 chapters and an extensive resource list on topics related to campus energy management and conservation.

Contents:

  • Financing the Future: How Green Revolving Funds ...
  • Posted July 21, 2016
  • Publications
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Environmental Compliance Assistance Guide for Colleges and Universities

  • APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (VA)
  • Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (IN)

This second edition of Environmental Compliance Assistance Guide for Colleges and Universities updates the key environmental rules and regulations affecting physical surroundings of our campuses. Facilities and campus safety professional ...

  • Posted July 21, 2016
  • Publications
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Evaluating Institutional Green Building Policies: A Mixed-Methods Approach

  • McMaster University (ON)

Sustainable or green building practices have been adopted recently by many higher education institutions for their new campus buildings and major renovations. To date, no formal study has been conducted ...

  • Posted July 21, 2016
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ENERGY STAR Commercial Buildings College Course Materials Package

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)

The ENERGY STAR college-level course, Introduction to Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Through EPA's ENERGY STAR Program, gives students practical, hands-on experience with commercial building energy efficiency. This course was ...

  • Posted June 27, 2016
  • Course Materials
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Net Impact Energy Efficiency Project

  • Saint Joseph's University (PA)
  • Net Impact (CA)
  • The Saint Joseph's University Net Impact Undergraduate chapter has been collaborating with R World Energy Solutions—a sustainable energy consultant to business—over the past year in order to ...

  • Posted June 11, 2016
  • Case Studies
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UCSC Climate & Energy Strategy- A Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality by 2025

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)

Over the past 18 months, UCSC has been implementing a process to develop a comprehensive Climate and Energy Strategy (CES) to support its goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2025 ...

  • Posted June 11, 2016
  • Case Studies
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The Cinnamon Roll Challenge: Promoting Reductions in Energy Consumption Through Energy Dashboards and Behavioral Influence

  • Rice University (TX)

With an understanding of buildings as major sources of energy waste, our team set out to reduce student consumption in dorm rooms, the area that we have the most control ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
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Improving the High-Rise Life

  • Rice University (TX)

Our paper analyzed various "green" methods for a hypothetical future dorm on Rice University's campus in Houston, Texas. The cumulation of a semester's work, this project delved into ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Publications
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Eco-friendly Lighting at the Smith College Museum of Art

  • Smith College (MA)

Beginning in 2014, after several years of study and preparation, the Smith College Museum of Art replaced all of the incandescent lights in galleries, classrooms, and other displays with energy-efficient ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
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First Student Sustainability Symposium

  • Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ)
  • New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJ)

Innovation of Sustainable Communities was a unique symposium organized by students who are passionate about sustainability. Anyone who shares the same passion with them, was welcome to attend! The symposium ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
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Ohio University's Professional Development Program for the Advancement of Sustainability

  • Ohio University (OH)

Ohio University's Office of Sustainability designed a Professional Development Program to advance the university's sustainability profile, particularly with its built environment. On a monthly basis staff from Architecture ...

  • Posted June 10, 2016
  • Case Studies
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Doubling Energy Efficiency at the University of Michigan by 2030

  • University of Michigan (MI)
  • Johnson Controls, Inc (WI)

Approximately 84 million Americans spend their days in colleges, universities, and public or private primary and secondary schools. The commercial building sector, which includes educational institutions, accounts for 18.44 ...


Western's Water Management Program

  • Western University (ON)

Western University has over 90 buildings and most of them didn’t have a water meter. Only those buildings with a direct feed from the City had a meter. In ...


Avoiding Chemical Flame Retardants on Campus

  • Harvard University (MA)

Harvard University’s Sustainability Plan, created in partnership with faculty, students, and staff, is rooted in a sustainable development vision focused on enhancing community and individual well-being within and across ...


Student Design Fund

  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)

The Student Design/Research Project Fund is a new and innovative sustainability project from the University of Tennessee. It created a pool of money to where applicants can apply for ...


Art meets sustainability in new mural at Sheridan College

  • Sheridan College (Ontario) (ON)

On April 27, 2016 Sheridan College unveiled ‘Woven Stories’, a colourful, two-storey public art mural, on the western façade of the Rob Turner Building at its Davis Campus in Brampton ...


Building Sustainability: A holistic application of sustainable practices in UVA buildings

  • University of Virginia (VA)

Building Sustainability is a comprehensive model to building optimization that utilizes various programs based on the needs of each building. Utilizing the strengths of the Office for Sustainability’s retro-commissioning ...


Starting with small energy conservation projects leads to huge energy conservation success

  • University of Rochester (NY)

The University of Rochester has many competing demands for funding. In the early 2000’s energy projects were managed by individual facilities departments with typically less than $40,000 expended ...


Solar Energy Justice in Portland

  • Lewis & Clark College (OR)

Project Description We are two Environmental Studies majors pursuing a project to put solar panels on affordable housing in Portland. We are working with Central City Concern (CCC) to put ...


Study to Reduce Peak Electrical Demand Charges for the John C. Hodges Library

  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)

The goal of this project is to design electrical and thermal storage systems that will reduce electrical consumption during periods of peak demand and thereby save the University money in ...


NC State University Facilities, Academic Affairs Collaborate For Summer Energy Savings

  • North Carolina State University (NC)

A hot, humid North Carolina summer isn’t when you might expect NC State University to save nearly $900 a day in avoided energy costs. But thanks to a new ...


A Strategy for Energy Performance Analysis at the Early Design Stage: Predicted vs. Actual Building Energy Performance

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)

Developments in information technology are providing methods to improve current design practices, where uncertainties about various design elements can be simulated and studied from the design inception. Energy and thermal ...


Going Geothermal: The Project Dedication Video

  • Ball State University (IN)

True to our tradition of innovation, Ball State continues to be revolutionary and responsible. We are creating the nation's largest ground-source, closed-loop district geothermal energy system, benefiting both the ...

  • Posted May 13, 2016
  • Videos & Webinars
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M. Arch. with a Concentration in Sustainable Architecture

  • California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CA)

The Concentration builds on the regular M.Arch I curriculum, with specialized sustainable architecture classes in the advanced studio and elective course offerings. The subject matter is designed to give ...

  • Posted April 29, 2016
  • Academic Programs
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PACES: A Physical Activity Campus Environmental Supports Audit on University Campuses

  • University of Florida (FL)
  • Kansas State University (KS)
  • Purdue University (IN)
  • South Dakota State University (SD)
  • Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Central Office (NJ)
  • Syracuse University (NY)
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
  • East Carolina University (NC)
  • University of Rhode Island (RI)
  • Michigan State University (MI)
  • West Virginia University (WV)
  • University of Maine (ME)
  • University of New Hampshire (NH)

Purpose. This study evaluated the policy and built and recreation environmental supports for physical activity on 13 university campuses.

Design. Environmental audit survey.

Setting. Thirteen U.S. universities, 2009.

Subjects ...

  • Posted April 28, 2016
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Minor in Sustainable Design

  • Pennsylvania College of Technology (PA)

This minor requires 6 courses, including Building Materials I, Sustainability: Building and Living Green, Passive Design and BIM, and 3 sustainable design minor electives.

  • Posted April 26, 2016
  • Academic Programs
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Building Science and Sustainable Design (BS)

  • Pennsylvania College of Technology (PA)

The Bachelor of Science degree in Building Science and Sustainable Design promotes a healthier, more energy efficient way to build which reduces negative environmental impacts and slows the depletion of ...

  • Posted April 26, 2016
  • 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.

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