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

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
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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
  • Academic Programs
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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
  • Videos & Webinars
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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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A Campus Sustainability Map Organized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

"Designing a map is not a trivial task." (1) This session discusses the purpose, process, and outcomes of developing a campus sustainability map. However, as we will demonstrate, while designing ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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What's in Your Toolkit? Laboratory Efficiency for Cutting Edge Labs

  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory (CO)

Cutting-edge research often hosts hazards that must be contained effectively to maintain a safe work environment for researchers. As a result, laboratories are complex buildings that can be challenging and ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Sustainability & Facilities 101: Maximizing Collaboration

  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County (MD)

Sustainability and Facilities Management (FM) professionals and departments often are tasked with working closely together on various projects throughout campus. Many of these professionals, by nature of their work, are ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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COVID or Us? Interpreting GHG Emission Reductions Amid a Pandemic While Improving Energy Efficiency

  • Bemidji State University (MN)

Located in Northern Minnesota, Bemidji State University (BSU) operates within a dispersed, rural, and diverse community. With a longstanding commitment to carbon reduction, BSU has strategically partnered with the university ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Leveraging the Envision Framework to Create a Sustainability Strategy for Campus Development at British Columbia Institute of Technology

  • British Columbia Institute of Technology (BC)
  • Luuceo Consulting Inc (BC)

BCIT began working with the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure's Envision framework and rating system in 2017 on the North Campus Infrastructure Renewal Project. BCIT decided to pilot Envision to ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Studying Plug Load Savings from Idle Devices in Unoccupied Buildings during the Pandemic

  • Stanford University (CA)

During the pandemic, some unoccupied buildings at Stanford were reaping less electricity savings than expected. In these particular buildings, heating and cooling had been turned off, and all occupants were ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Healthy Building Practices and Supporting Local Manufacturers of Building Products

  • BlueGreen Alliance (DC)

Core to the design, construction, and operations of any building are practices that promote the well-being of the occupants that live and work in those spaces. The spectrum of healthy ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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CSU Building Decarbonization: A Framework for Decarbonizing Existing Fossil Fuel Infrastructure on Higher Education Campuses

  • California State University, Chancellor's Office (CA)
  • Glumac (OR)

The California State University (CSU) provides high quality, affordable and inclusive public higher education throughout California. The CSU system has made significant strides to reduce its impact on the environment ...

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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Interactive Urban Planning Sustainability Tools

  • Millennial Cities

Millennial Cities is an interactive web mapping site that provides access to important maps, data, and web mapping applications related to climate change, social justice, the environment, and more. The ...


University of Michigan Carbon Neutral Power and Heat Infrastructure Study: Summary Report

  • University of Michigan (MI)

This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Integral Group, an external firm selected ...

  • Posted Nov. 17, 2021
  • Publications
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The University of Michigan Building Efficiency Studies

  • University of Michigan (MI)

This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 and 2020 - 2021 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by SmithGroup Inc., an external ...

  • Posted Nov. 17, 2021
  • Publications
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Building Standards at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality

  • University of Michigan (MI)

This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Building Standards Internal Analysis Team. The Building ...

  • Posted Nov. 17, 2021
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Campus Sustainability Incubator Fund

The Campus Sustainability Incubator Fund seeks to enable MIT community members to use the MIT campus as a test bed for research in sustainable operations, management, and design. The seed ...


The First TRUE Zero Waste Certified Academic Building: A Case Study

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

Throughout the two years of working toward zero waste at Chou Hall at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, the Chou Hall Zero Waste Initiative team has learned a ...

  • Posted Nov. 16, 2021
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Advancing Operational Climate Action During COVID-19: Perspectives from Global Research Universities

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
  • University of British Columbia (BC)
  • Second Nature (MA)

The coronavirus pandemic has effected us all - changing the way our university campuses currently operate and will operate well into the future. And while universities continue to respond to the ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The intersection of sustainability and energy master planning: actionable carbon neutrality at Vassar college

  • Vassar College (NY)
  • Ecosystem (QC)

Energy master plan firms often spend months -- and sometimes years -- developing numerous technical solutions, simulations, and scenarios, without effectively engaging key stakeholders. As a result, it is hard to build ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Using Building Science and Technology to Deliver Equitable Indoor Air Quality

  • Duquesne University (PA)
  • AUROS Group (PA)

The data is clear. Building occupants directly benefit from high indoor air quality in both 1) improved health and 2) improved performance. This lightening talk will not only empirically support ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Not Just an Efficient Toilet: Shifting from Water Management to Water Stewardship

  • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
  • Alliance for Water Stewardship

Universities have employed traditional water efficiency strategies effectively. But what if your institution's water is sourced from communities adversely impacted by water withdrawals? Or if rainfall on your campus ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Keys to Safer Disinfection in a COVID Environment

  • University of Virginia (VA)
  • Healthy Schools Campaign (IL)

Sustainability in higher education often follows a top-down approach, focusing on student enrichment and project-based solutions. What has been missing is the willingness to consider who has been left out ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Everything I Learned in a Kindergarten Classroom: Designing Timeless Spaces for Equity, Learning and

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

Sustainability is more than energy efficiency and materials management. Designing sustainable learning spaces requires addressing multiple desired outcomes with limited resources. Truly sustainable spaces account for how the space welcomes ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A More Bird-Safe Campus: The JCCC Bird Collision Study in Practice and the Classroom

  • Johnson County Community College (KS)

Johnson County Community College has since 2018 collected data on bird/window strikes across its xxx acre, suburban campus, assembling an impressive dataset on bird species and strike location(s ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Equipping Students with Data for Change - Chestnut Living Lab Study

  • Ithaca College (NY)

In 2018, Ithaca College's Office of Energy Management & Sustainability received funding from the Office of the President to design a research project focused on equipping students with the ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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What's the plan for LED lighting and it's environmental impact?

  • Circadia Group (PA)

LED Lighting is here to stay and very soon you will not have another any other option to purchase. Many have come to know how beneficial the technology is in ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Establishing a Green Labs Certification Program

  • Northern Arizona University (AZ)

The Green Labs Program is a collaboration between the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Health & Safety with the goal to minimize the environmental impact of laboratories on NAU campus ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Duquesne University's Sustainable MBA: Keeping our Facilities & our Students Ahead of the Pack

  • Duquesne University (PA)
  • AUROS Group (PA)

To stay at the top in their field, Duquesne University's thought leaders are embracing technology to inform and advise their choices on building renovations and upgrades. Duquesne University is ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Preventing Bird Window Collisions by Creating a Bird-Safe Campus with American Bird Conservancy

  • American Bird Conservancy (VA)

Collisions with glass kill up to 1 billion birds each year in the United States. The good news is that a) collision mortality is preventable and b) campuses can save ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Findensers and Floods: A Pilot Study on Reducing Campus Laboratory Water Use

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

Hey, there's water all over!' a department director recalled exclaiming when he discovered the chemistry building's most-recent flood. Floods occur periodically in buildings at the University of Wisconsin ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Living up to the UN SDG's with the Living Building Challenge

  • International Living Future Institute (WA)

Many colleges and universities have aligned their sustainability plans with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG's). These 17 global goals aim to end extreme poverty, fight inequality ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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From Zero to Mass-timber in 20 Months.

  • University of Denver (CO)
  • Lake Flato Architects (TX)
  • PCL Construction (CO)

How the University of Denver went from having no experience with mass-timber buildings to topping out the first entirely mass-timber structure in Denver in 20 months. We know many institutions ...

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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