Air & Climate
Introduction
Global climate change is having myriad negative impacts throughout the world, including increased frequency and potency of extreme weather events, sea level rise, species extinction, water shortages, declining agricultural production, and spread of diseases. The impacts are particularly pronounced for low-income communities and countries. In addition, institutions that inventory and take steps to reduce their air pollutant emissions can positively impact the health of the campus community, as well as the health of their local communities and regions.
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Assessment of emission reduction as a function of biomass boiler installation
- Franklin Pierce University (NH)
Life cycle analysis of biomass (wood pellet) production demonstrates significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, when compared to the life cycle analysis of No. 2 heating fuel. Life cycle analysis …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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We're on board with ACUPCC: Now what?
- Hillsborough Community College (FL)
Almost 700 institutions of higher education are signatories to the ACUPCC and it is encouraging to note that this momentum appears to be building. Community or 4-year colleges, that have …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Interweaving Academic Reading Skill Development with Global Warming and Sustainability Education
- Montgomery College (MD)
There are still people who do not know much about, or even deny the existence of, global warming. Education may, therefore, play a role in our efforts to reduce the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Predictive Modeling of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)
Climate action plans currently developed by institutions of higher education across the country need to provide various mitigations strategies to achieve carbon neutrality in the "near future". These strategies are …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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State Policy Influence on ACUPCC Climate Action Plans
- Stetson University (FL)
Climate change policy in the US has been highly variable, with little structure at the federal level and great variability among states. The lack of overarching national climate change policy …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Demonstrating Carbon Sequestration with a Verifiable Land-Use Change
- Truman State University (MO)
The use of degraded agricultural lands for carbon sequestration has the potential to store significant amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Through verifiable land-use changes, property owners could realize revenue by …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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University of Northern BC Campus Bio-energy System
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
The University of Northern BC (UNBC) is located in Prince George, BC - Canada. The main campus of UNBC was opened in 1994 and currently hosts a student enrollment, faculty …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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University of Toronto Mississauga's Greenhouse Gas Inventory: A Case Study
- University of Toronto (ON)
This presentation provides a case study of the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)'s greenhouse gas inventory, in a Canadian regulatory context. This presentation will cover the rationale for completing a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Facilitating Effective Implementation of the ACUPCC
- Western Michigan University (MI)
The American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) requires signatories to submit greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and climate action plans (CAPs) for their respective campuses. Although almost 700 presidents …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Deliberative Poll on Climate Change
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
For climate policy decisions to be accepted at any institutional level, it is critically important to gain public support. Unfortunately for issues with important scientific and technical details such as …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Carbon Footprint Calculator for On-campus Students: Development and Education
- Rice University (TX)
Online carbon footprint calculators lack the specificity to allow students living on a university campus to estimate their personal carbon footprint. Because on-campus students do not receive residential energy bills, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Carbon Neutrality as a Pedagogical Tool
- Calvin University (MI)
We asked our students a simple question, "What would it take to make our campus carbon neutral?" They discovered that on-campus sequestration potential is minimal, despite a 90-acre campus forest. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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GHG External Reporting: Collaborate, Collect, Report
- Brown University (RI)
- Keene State College (NH)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- University of Vermont (VT)
Sustainability coordinators have limited time and resources to commit to greenhouse data collection and reporting, and the growing number of climate registries, tools and initiatives can be daunting to navigate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Role of Higher Education in the Climate Policy Debate
- The Student PIRGs (OR)
Comprehensive climate policies have already passed in California and New Jersey. A dozen other states are currently debating similar policies. Congress will likely adopt some kind of climate policy in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Mega University - Two Roads, One Path To Climate Neutrality
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- University of Florida (FL)
The University of Florida and Arizona State University both enjoy grassroots support and top level leadership for sustainability. With 55 and 65 thousand students respectively, the development of a campus …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Case Study: Engaging Pomona College Students in an ACUPCC Climate Action Plan
- Pomona College (CA)
- Sasaki Associates, Inc. (MA)
- CTG Energetics, Inc. (CA)
As colleges and universities embark on a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions for the ACUPCC, they are faced with creating a process that will accurately assess the campus' energy …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free by 2050
- Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (MD)
Sustainability can only come if we can bring the CO2 content of our atmosphere back within safe limits. This will require large reduction in CO2 emissions from the industrialized nations …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Measuring Institutional Carbon "Foodprints"
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- Clean Air-Cool Planet (NH)
Amid growing concerns about climate change, colleges and universities across the country are conducting greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories in order to begin taking steps toward reducing their carbon footprint. Many …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using a Class to Conduct a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory: Lessons from Macalester College
- Macalester College (MN)
During spring 2008, students in Macalester College's environmental studies senior seminar conducted a greenhouse gas emissions inventory of Macalester College as their class project. This project is the campus's first …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Boldly Sustainable: Developing a Town-Gown Climate Action Plan in Ithaca, NY
- Cornell University (NY)
- Ithaca College (NY)
- Second Nature (MA)
- Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (WI)
- Performance Systems Development (NY)
The success of the ACUPCC depends to a large extent on whether higher education institutions can not only move forward on their own campuses, but also build support for greenhouse …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Planning to Move Beyond Climate-neutral: Supporting Students in Catalyzing Change.
- University of British Columbia (BC)
The need for comprehensive, integrated climate action is offering new avenues for collaboration and the formation of new partnerships. Nowhere is this more visible than on campuses, where collaboration among …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Field Report for the Nelson Insitute for Environmental Studies Carbon Footprint Project
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (WI)
This project examines the carbon footprint of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (NI) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The goal of the NI Carbon Footprint Project is to provide …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Leverage Your Greenhouse Gas Inventory
- Fitchburg State University (MA)
- Gordian (SC)
- Clean Air-Cool Planet (NH)
Campuses across the country are completing GHG inventories, many for the first time. Though the effort can be daunting and complicated, the inventory is an important strategic tool that institutions …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Overcoming the Challenges of Calculating your Carbon Footprint: An American University Case Study
- American University (DC)
- Facility Engineering Associates (VA)
As institutions that mold our future leaders and professionals, colleges and universities have a duty to set an example in promoting sustainability. Today, American colleges and universities are calling for …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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From Creating a Carbon Footprint Baseline to Achieving Climate Neutrality: A Structured Approach to Meeting your ACUPCC Goals
- Seattle University (WA)
- University of Central Oklahoma (OK)
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
- Johnson Controls, Inc (WI)
- City of Saint Anthony Village (MN)
Panelists will discuss how their ACUPCC activities have been couched within a broader master planning context, an energy management program context, and a dedicated process focused on meeting the terms …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Developing a Climate Action Plan with the Campus Carbon Calculator
- Middlebury College (VT)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Clean Air-Cool Planet (NH)
- Brighter Planet (IL)
Hundreds of schools across the US and Canada have relied upon the Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator to measure their baseline GHG emissions and to track their progress in …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Navigating GHG Inventory Methodologies: Comparing Experiences at Harvard and Clark University
- Clark University (MA)
- Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. (MA)
This presentation explores the inventory tools and methods institutions of higher education might consider when approaching a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory of their campus. To elucidate the different calculation and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Presidents Climate Commitment and the University of Maine Master Plan
- University of Maine (ME)
- Sasaki Associates, Inc. (MA)
The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) is guiding over 500 institutions toward the ultimate goal of climate neutrality. As a charter signatory of the ACUPCC, the University …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Comparison of How Colleges Promote Greenhouse Gas Inventory Strategies
- Bridgewater State University (MA)
Ideally, everyone should care the environment because a clean planet is a necessity for the survival of the human race. The problem is however, not all students or college campuses …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Exchange Programs as a Potentially Cost Effective and Socially Beneficial Approach to Offsetting Carbon Emissions Locally
- Oberlin College (OH)
To achieve carbon neutrality, organizations can balance unavoidable emissions by purchasing "carbon offsets" that provide credit for emissions captured or reduced elsewhere. Locally managed and implemented offset programs can provide …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Life Cycle Assessment of a Banana Split
- Central Piedmont Community College (NC)
It seems everyone is talking about sustainability. We are bombarded with news, businesses, governments, parents, and academia about products ranging from cars to household cleaning agents. However, when one asks …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Ithaca College's Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Ithaca College (NY)
Ithaca College has estimated its greenhouse gas inventory for the last seven years using the Clean-Air Cool-Planet excel-based calculator. The emissions inventory has been accomplished each year by an undergraduate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Carbon Budgets as a Teachable Moment
- Union College - NY (NY)
The calculation of a college's carbon budget one of the most important steps toward assessing an institution's sustainability and creating a plan to improve operations. Calculating carbon budgets also integrates …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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University Leadership in Island Climate Mitigation
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
Islands are uniquely affected by climate change. Rising sea levels threaten coastal infrastructure and fresh water aquifers ocean acidification deteriorates coral reefs ecosystems and native forests are susceptible to new …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Fiscal Year 2008 Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Cornell University
- Cornell University (NY)
Cornell University has been reporting GHG emissions associated with Central Utilities for the past decade. However, FY 2008 marks the first year of reporting GHG emissions associated with commuting and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using IPCC DDC Scenarios and MAGICC-SCENGEN Model for Teaching Global Climate Change
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
Global climate change is a very complex phenomenon: students need to understand the causes of climate change, its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences, and the adaptation and mitigation options to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Focusing Again: The National Teach-in on Global Warming Solutions
- Lewis & Clark College (OR)
February 2009 will be a watershed for the United States, and indeed, the planet. Decisions made in the first hundred days of the new congress will determine whether serious action …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Principles and Practices for Effective Sustainability Education
- Luther College (IA)
So your president signed the President's Climate Commitment, and you've completed a carbon footprint analysis. What do you do about the education component? This presentation will provide an informal survey …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Next Step: Developing and Implementing Climate Action Plans for Reducing Net GHG Emissions
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
With the challenge so critical and the stakes so high, the need for climate leadership has never been greater. The good news is that the higher education sector is responding …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Establishing Carbon Offsets for Univerities through Tree Planting in Rural Africa
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
In February of 2008, a representative of The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST), gave a presentation at Northern Arizona University outlining the function and methods used by …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Learning from Experience: Collaboration for Campus Carbon Cutbacks
- Rocky Mountain Institute (CO)
This poster will reveal some preliminary findings from Rocky Mountain Institute's (RMI) new research project: Accelerating Campus Climate-Change Initiatives. RMI is partnering with AASHE to develop a comprehensive research report …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Triple Bottom Line on Campus - Walking the Talk, Saving Money and Saving the Planet
- Sterling Planet, Inc. (GA)
Through our experience with several colleges and universities, this presentation will discuss how college and universities have implement measures to lower there green house gas emissions, save money and create …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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UBC Okanagan Campus Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality: Geothermal District Energy System
- University of British Columbia (BC)
The purpose of this brief is to share information about UBC Okanagan's campus roadmap to carbon neutrality, featuring the Geothermal District Energy System and related green building strategies.
UBC Okanagan …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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No Mow Zone Sign
- Rosemont College (PA)
In 2008, Rosemont College created a No Mow Zone along a creek bed between Cardinal Hall & Alumni Hall. The no mow zone conservation area is intended to prevent sediment …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Outreach Materials
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The Earth Institute
- Columbia University (NY)
The Earth Institute brings together the people and tools needed to address some of the world's most difficult problems, from climate change and environmental degradation, to poverty, disease and the …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Research Centers & Institutes
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Emmett Institute on Climate Change & the Environment
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
The Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment is the leading law school center focused on climate change and other critical environmental issues. Founded in 2008 with a generous …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Research Centers & Institutes
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BS in Atmospheric Science
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Atmospheric Science includes the physics of climate variability and climate change, changes in stratospheric ozone, coupling of atmospheric chemistry and climate, changes in the oxidation capacity of the troposphere, smog, …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Academic Programs
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PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Atmosphere/Energy
- Stanford University (CA)
Atmosphere and energy are linked in two primary ways. First‚ fossil-fuel energy contributes directly to air pollution and climate change. Second‚ atmospheric winds‚ solar radiation and precipitation are sources of …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Academic Programs
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PhD in Energy, Civil Infrastructure & Climate
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
The objective of the Energy, Civil Infrastructure and Climate (ECIC) program is to educate a cadre of professionals who will be able to analyze from engineering, environmental, economic, and management …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2016
- Academic Programs
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Certificate in Climate Change Management & Policy
- George Washington University (DC)
The six-course, 18 credit Certificate in Climate Change Management and Policy offers instruction in technological approaches to solving key planning issues. It focuses on the technical side of sustainability; the …
- Posted Feb. 25, 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 1: Emissions Inventory & Disclosure
- Description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory
- GHG emissions inventory (upload)
- Brief description of the GHG inventory verification process
- Brief description of the methodology for completing an air emissions inventory
OP 2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user, performance year
- Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year
- A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives
- Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.