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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US Department of Energy Funding to Simplify Sustainable Campus Design
- Seventhwave (WI)
- MIST (IL)
Campuses that use fewer natural resources and buoy health, learning and happiness are increasingly vital for educational institutions, as students and faculty voice demand for it. To deliver a sustainable …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Biophilic Design Principles and Green Infrastructure: Forging New Possibilities for Nature, Harmony and Resiliency in Urban Environments
- Urban Horticulture Consulting, LLC (GA)
- GreenStructure, Ltd (IL)
Green Infrastructure practices are being mandated and implemented in urban communities for multiple beneficial outcomes. Often referred to as grey infrastructure alternatives, these practices include the design, installation, and maintenance …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Earning AASHE STARS credits via the ENERGY STAR Buildings program
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
Colleges and universities can use ENERGY STAR's free tools and resources to earn credits in all four categories of AASHE STARS v2.1 -- Academics; Engagement; Operations; and Planning & Administration. …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Hampshire College's R.W. Kern Center- A Living & Learning Building
- Hampshire College (MA)
Located at the heart of Hampshire College campus, the R.W. Kern Center is a certified Living Building: generating its own energy, capturing and treating its own water, and processing and …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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The Trials and Tribulations of Building a Living-Learning Sustainable Campus
- Chatham University (PA)
What does it truly mean to be a living-learning sustainable campus? Eden Hall, just outside Pittsburgh, is a new 388 campus site, encompassing farmland, forests and two head-water catchments. Acquired …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Rising to the Challenge of Creating and Maintaining Living Buildings and a Living Campus Community
- International Living Future Institute (WA)
Campuses have been early adopters of livability, equity, and climate commitments. This session takes a deep look at how campuses can and are taking action to achieve these commitments and …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Evolving Pennsylvania State University's Sustainability Policy Within a Regenerative Paradigm
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
Penn State University (PSU) is a public research university serving Pennsylvania and the global community with a vision to integrate sustainability throughout its campuses and to prepare students to be …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Creating an Ecologically Restorative, Socially Just, and Culturally Rich Campus
- International Living Future Institute (WA)
The higher education campus, what better place to implement the most innovative & forward-thinking design frameworks? As HEIs support the next generation's transition into the workforce, it's time to design …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Nailing Net Zero, From Design to Certification
- Allegheny College (PA)
- Community College of Allegheny County (PA)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
More than 400 firms have signed onto the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) 2030 Commitment, targeting 70%+ EUI savings; however a 2016 AIA survey of participating firms revealed the portfolios …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Green Infrastructure Planning on Campus: Case Studies from University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
College campuses pride themselves in being leaders in promoting innovation in both technical and theoretical aspects of all fields of study, including sustainability. The drive for sustainability in higher education …
- Posted Nov. 2, 2018
- Publications
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University Buildings: The Push and Pull for Sustainability
- RMIT University
Universities are a key stakeholder in our built environment with buildings in many major cities around Australia and the world. Due to their primarily urban locations, size and number of …
- Posted Nov. 2, 2018
- Publications
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EPA’s new ENERGY STAR College Course
- Murray State University (KY)
- AASHE (MA)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
ENERGY STAR now offers an updated curriculum on commercial building efficiency. The three-unit, college-level curriculum is more focused and interactive, and can be integrated as a module into existing courses …
- Posted Oct. 11, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Sustainable Building Systems Concentration (Building Sciences BS)
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Energy efficiency matters. As state and federal agencies prioritize energy efficiency, they need leaders who understand how buildings work and how to find ways to make them work better.
Appalachian …
- Posted Aug. 30, 2018
- Academic Programs
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1 MegaWatt Battery Energy Storage System
- California State University, Long Beach (CA)
In 2017, California State University, Long Beach installed a 1 Megawatt energy storage system on campus as part of a multiphase project with Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS) made possible through …
- Posted Aug. 7, 2018
- Photographs
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South Seattle College SBST Students Engage with Energy Dashboard
- South Seattle College (WA)
Students in South Seattle College’s Sustainable Building Science Technology BAS program use an energy dashboard to help track utilities at SSC’s Georgetown campus.
- Posted Aug. 1, 2018
- Photographs
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Colorado College Net-Zero Library
- Colorado College (CO)
Main entrance of Colorado College's net-zero energy/net-zero carbon Tutt Library. Sustainable features highlighted in the photo include a rain screen, open design and natural lighting, green roofs and planters, photovoltaic …
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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Colorado College Net-Zero Energy/Carbon Tutt Library
- Colorado College (CO)
Balcony view of Colorado College's net-zero energy/net-zero carbon Tutt Library. Highlighting rainscreen, shading structures, black locust domestic hardwoods, green roofs and planters, photovoltaic shade structures, and open views.
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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Temple Tiny House
- Temple University (PA)
The Temple University Tiny House project is a student designed and student constructed sustainable building located at Temple Community Garden on main campus. Completed in spring 2017, the 175 square …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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University of Dayton Green Roof Installation
- University of Dayton (OH)
Kennedy Union Green roof
In September 2017, HSI, in collaboration with facilities management and Enterprise Roofing, led the installation of UD's first green roof on the Kennedy Union patio. The …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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Delta College Living Wall
- Delta College (MI)
The campus Health Professions Building North atrium at Delta College showcases a living wall, an architectural feature and natural ventilation system that acts as a bio filter to improve air …
- Posted July 26, 2018
- Photographs
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University of Dayton Student Neighborhood
- University of Dayton (OH)
The University of Dayton owns more than 400 residences in its student neighborhood. Launched in fall 2017, the Energy GPA program provides students in University-owned neighborhood housing with a grade …
- Posted July 24, 2018
- Photographs
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Architectural Studies: Environment and Behavior Studies (MA/MS)
- University of Missouri (MO)
Environment-behavior research explores a variety of environments, linking them to a range of behavioral concerns. This program is suitable for persons who seek careers in research, consulting, and/or teaching in …
- Posted July 5, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Ecological Footprinting as a Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approach to Complete Campus Engagement and Transformation Towards the One Planet Goal
- Macquarie University (NSW)
Enabling students to apply well-informed and skill-based understandings to their own decision-making about the dynamic relationships between individuals, societies, environments and economies in a resource constrained world is a central …
- Posted June 25, 2018
- Publications
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Leadership for Sustainability in Higher Education
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Manchester Metropolitan University
Sustainability is a complex concept, and the challenge of understanding it and applying it to a diverse, multi-agent, organizational setting with its potentially conflicting priorities cannot be underestimated. Leadership for …
- Posted May 30, 2018
- Publications
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R.W. Kern Center- A Living Building
- Hampshire College (MA)
Located at the heart of Hampshire College campus, the R.W. Kern Center is a multi-purpose facility that embodies the highest threshold of forward-thinking sustainable design: generating its own energy, capturing …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Portland State University: Driving Rigorous Sustainability through Top-Level Policies
- Portland State University (OR)
Portland State University (PSU), situated in the University District of downtown Portland, Oregon, is the only public urban university in the state located in a major metropolitan city. A recognized …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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University of California Merced 2020 Project
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
In 2012, UC Merced launched the “2020 Project”, an initiative to add a significant amount of new teaching, research, housing, recreation and support facilities to the campus that would accommodate …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Deep Energy Retrofits at Humber College's Building N
- Humber Polytechnic (ON)
In 2015, the College developed an Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP) with impressive goals to greatly reduce energy and water use by 2034. Specifically, Humber’s IEMP sets the following targets: …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Chesapeake College - "A Living Lab."
- Chesapeake College (MD)
Chesapeake College, founded in 1965 as Maryland’s first regional community college, serves five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 20 percent of the state’s land, 3 percent of its population, and …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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Partnership Development of Sustainable Learning
- Triton College (IL)
From a partnership of labor and industry and a community college grew an educational program geared toward meeting industry needs while highlighting facility sustainability and environmental awareness.
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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Northwestern University Comprehensive Building Energy Data Audit
- Northwestern University (IL)
Northwestern University is committed to fostering environmental and ethical stewardship. The University’s Strategic Sustainability Plan establishes a vision for reducing environmental impacts. In terms of the University’s built environment, the …
- Posted May 17, 2018
- Case Studies
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Michigan Tech Sustainability Demonstration House
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
The goal of Sustainability Demonstration House (SDH) project is to retrofit the former University President’s residence, built in 1953, titled the Kettle-Gundlach Building into a sustainability demonstration house. The SDH …
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
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Enable by House by Northwestern - a 2017 U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon Team
- Northwestern University (IL)
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon showcases innovative solar powered houses that are designed, built, and operated by collegiate teams. It is a collegiate competition of 10 contests that …
- Posted May 10, 2018
- Case Studies
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Fashion Institute of Technology Energy Master Plan
- Fashion Institute of Technology (NY)
- NYC Mayor's Office of Sustainability (NY)
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a leading art and design school in New York City, has made impressive strides to reduce its energy and carbon footprints. By implementing an …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Case Studies
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Avoided Costs from Shared Laboratory Equipment and Space at CU Boulder
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- AASHE (MA)
CU Green Labs at the University of Colorado Boulder has spent the last year writing a case study to highlight the benefits of our Biochemistry Cell Culture Facility to our …
- Posted May 4, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Green Your Room
- Princeton University (NJ)
This is an educational video created by James Tralie, Princeton University student, to inform students about how to be sustainable in dorm rooms. He describes ways to conserve energy including …
- Posted April 23, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Reducing Electricity Use in Campus Residence Halls
- Radford University (VA)
- AASHE (MA)
Our quasi-experimental design exposed first-year students in four matched residence halls to three different interventions designed to encourage energy conservation, specifically electricity conservation. We employed active and passive programming and …
- Posted April 20, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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AASHE Webinar: Retrofitting Existing Buildings for Energy Efficiency and Demand Response
- Western Michigan University (MI)
- AASHE (MA)
- Cypress Envirosystems (CA)
This is an educational webinar presented by AASHE Business Leader Cypress Envirosystems.
Compared with new facilities, existing buildings and plants often have legacy equipment which waste energy, require more maintenance, …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Green Building Certificate Program
- Colorado State University (CO)
IBE specializes facilitating the integrated design, construction and operations processes to help teams realize their green building and sustainability goals.
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Built Environments (BS)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
The College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture is pleased to offer an extraordinary degree opportunity for students interested in entering the new green economy. The Bachelor of Science in …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Concentration & Certificate in Sustainable Design
- University of Florida (FL)
G|SoA is one of the first accredited architecture programs in the US to formalize this initiative in the form a Concentration and Certificate in Sustainable Architecture. This program runs parallel …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Architectural Conservation & Sustainability Engineering (BEng)
- Carleton University (ON)
Carleton’s program in Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Engineering teaches students to approach the design and retrofit of new and existing buildings with sustainability as the primary objective, which includes considering …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Construction Minor
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
The objective of the minor is to provide a fundamental understanding of the concepts and methods used to take a design into the field and build a quality sustainable structure …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Building Science & Energy Management (AS)
- Western Technical College (WI)
This program facilitates students to make decisions incorporating the importance of sustainability in an area representing one of our country’s biggest energy consumers. Students examine the built environment and how …
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Daylighting and Occupant Density: an indoor environmental quality analysis of Appalachian State University classrooms
- Appalachian State University (NC)
This study examined a variety of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) attributes in classrooms across the Appalachian State University campus. The study focused on daylighting (the ability for natural light to …
- Posted April 11, 2018
- Publications
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Innovative Solutions for Reducing Waste at Skidmore College: Analyzing the Carbon Footprint & Economics of Paper Towels vs. Electric Hand Dryers
- Skidmore College (NY)
The purpose of this capstone project is to create the most culminating analysis of all of the available hand drying methodologies, and utilize this research in order to integrate the …
- Posted April 6, 2018
- Publications
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The Importance of Incentives and Grants for Green Buildings
- Virginia Tech (VA)
The aim of this manuscript is to reconsider the building lifecycle cost of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings certified within the higher education sector. It adds to …
- Posted March 29, 2018
- Publications
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Green Gigawatt Partnership: Ramping Up Renewables in Higher Education
- Cornell University (NY)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Trio (CA)
The Green Gigawatt Partnership seeks to catalyze one gigawatt of green power development by 2020 by recognizing colleges and universities who have signed long term contracts to purchase green power …
- Posted March 27, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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1.7 kW Powerhouse Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
- Colorado State University (CO)
The Colorado State University Powerhouse Energy Campus is located near the heart of downtown Fort Collins. The 100,000 square-foot Powerhouse Energy Campus consists of two parts; the CSU Engines and …
- Posted March 20, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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Lab Building Benchmarking - Boston and Beyond
- Harvard University (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Boston Green Ribbon Commission (MA)
This webinar will present an important new benchmarking study of academic laboratory buildings from the Boston area, conducted by the Boston Green Ribbon Commission’s Higher Education Working Group. Lab buildings …
- Posted March 15, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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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.