Energy
Introduction
For most institutions, energy consumption is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, which cause global climate change. Implementing conservation measures and switching to renewable sources of energy can help institutions save money and protect them from utility rate volatility. Renewable energy may be generated locally and allow campuses to support local economic development. Furthermore, institutions can help shape markets by creating demand for cleaner, renewable sources of energy.
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Farm Animals Among Solar Panels at PCC Rock Creek
- Portland Community College (OR)
Talisman the guard llama and other farm animals graze between the solar panels at Portland Community College's Rock Creek campus.
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
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Lightsource bp Module Installation
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
70-MW Solar Power Purchase Agreement - Pennsylvania State University partnered with solar developer Lightsource bp on a 70-megawatt, off-site solar energy project to supply about 25% of the University's electricity …
- Posted Aug. 23, 2021
- Photographs
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Nittany 3 Solar Farm - Southern View
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
70-MW Solar Power Purchase Agreement - Pennsylvania State University partnered with solar developer Lightsource bp on a 70-megawatt, off-site solar energy project to supply about 25% of the University's electricity …
- Posted Aug. 23, 2021
- Photographs
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Nittany 3 Solar Farm
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
70-MW Solar Power Purchase Agreement - Pennsylvania State University partnered with solar developer Lightsource bp on a 70-megawatt, off-site solar energy project to supply about 25% of the University's electricity …
- Posted Aug. 23, 2021
- Photographs
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Nittany 1 Solar Farm
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
70-MW Solar Power Purchase Agreement - Pennsylvania State University partnered with solar developer Lightsource bp on a 70-megawatt, off-site solar energy project to supply about 25% of the University's electricity …
- Posted Aug. 23, 2021
- Photographs
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The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
The Kendeda Building - The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design at Georgia Institute of Technology is the first building in Georgia to earn Living Building Challenge certification. The Kendeda …
- Posted Aug. 23, 2021
- Photographs
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Managed Print Program at American University
- American University (DC)
SCI 2021 Feature: Ditching Desktop Printers
A campus-wide Managed Print Program at American University is streamlining the print process and reducing costs associated with energy usage and waste. Since this …
- Posted Aug. 23, 2021
- Photographs
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L'Anse Community Solar Project
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
L'Anse Community Solar Project - A team of engineering researchers and students from Michigan Technological University worked with local and state partners to bring solar to the Community of L'Anse, …
- Posted Aug. 23, 2021
- Photographs
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CSUDH 1MW/4 Hr Battery Storage
- California State University, Dominguez Hills (CA)
Large-Scale Battery Storage - California State University, Dominguez Hills recently installed one of the largest behind-the-meter battery storage systems in Southern California, which currently provides demand response services that net …
- Posted Aug. 11, 2021
- Photographs
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Dickinson College Achieves Carbon Neutrality
- Dickinson College (PA)
Carbon Neutral 2020 - Dickinson College attained carbon neutrality in 2020, reaching a goal that was established in 2007. Dickinson reduced GHG emissions by increasing energy efficiency of the campus, …
- Posted Aug. 11, 2021
- Photographs
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43.8 kW Roof Top Mounts Multiple Locations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
Three rooftop solar installations on campus totaling 43.8 kw at the Frank Porter Graham Student Union, Bell Tower Parking Deck, and North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Education Center.
- Posted July 20, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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45 MW PPA Exoplexus
- Macalester College (MN)
We purchase our renewable energy from a 45MW solar PV grid in Minnesota. It is owned by Ecoplexus and fed into Xcel Energy's portfolio.
- Posted July 20, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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4.5 mW Carport Canopies
- California State University, Long Beach (CA)
The rows of high-reaching solar panels will provide 4.5 megawatts and supply one-third of the campus’ energy demands during peak periods. The new system also will add 44 electric vehicle …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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2 mW PPA: Off-Site Solar Farm
- Clark University (MA)
2 mW, 9 acre solar farm off-site in Charleton MA for which Clark receives the exclusive alternative PPA credits.
Through a state and federally supported program to encourage the development …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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42 kW Alpine Garage and Field
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)
There is a 42kW system on the Alpine Garage and Field. UCCS retains 17/42 of the attributes.
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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182 kW Gallogly Events Center
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)
As of 10/3/2017, the University’s largest, on-site solar system was installed on Gallogly Events Center. It is a 182 kW photovoltaic system and it allows the Gallogly Events Center to …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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6.5 kW: Facilities Management Building
- California State University, Sacramento (CA)
Sac State installed a Photovoltaic (PV) system with a new car port located behind the Facilities Management building during the 2001-02 time frame. The car port is 108 Ft. long …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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614 kW Solar Arrays - 4 Installations
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
Georgia Tech is a large user of power but we reduce the associated impacts by incorporating solar energy into many of our buildings. In total there are over 4,000 solar …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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120 kW: Ivy Stacks Building
- University of Virginia (VA)
The UVA-owned Ivy Stacks solar array was designed and installed by Sun Tribe Solar and aims to support the University’s sustainability and carbon-reduction goals.
The solar array came online in …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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364 kW: Ruffner Hall and the Bookstore to Dominion Power
- University of Virginia (VA)
The university says the solar panel systems – one atop Ruffner Hall and the other at the University Bookstore – consist of 1,589 solar panels, each one about 3 by …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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126 kW: Clemmons Library Roof Installation
- University of Virginia (VA)
In 2017 a 126 kW solar PV array was installed on the roof of Clemmons Library.
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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15 kW: Skipwith Hall
- University of Virginia (VA)
In 2016, a 15 kW solar PV array was installed on Skipwith Hall.
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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3 MW Power Purchase
- Dickinson College (PA)
Dickinson's Solar Field is a 3-MW solar facility constructed on Dickinson property. Dickinson purchases electricity from the solar field through a power purchasing agreement with Tesla.
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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11 kW Array Cassat-James Residence Hall
- Carleton College (MN)
A 10.6 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) panel array was installed on the Cassat-James roof as part of this residence hall construction project in 2009. Electricity production averages 10 MWh per …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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5 MW Solar Farm Installations
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)
The 5-MW solar project consists of two solar arrays, each providing 2.5 MW of clean energy. Construction on the project began in 2016 with the first array (Route 14 in …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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515 kW Installations - Tutt Library
- Colorado College (CO)
The library includes a geothermal energy field on Armstrong Quad, consisting of 80 wells, a 115-kilowatt rooftop solar array; a 400-kilowatt offsite solar array; a green roof-top garden; and a …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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35 kW Ground Installation - Baca Campus
- Colorado College (CO)
A 35 kw solar array was installed at CC's Baca campus through work done by NSO Priddy Trips in 2015. The array was funded by an allocation of $50,000 from …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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200 kW Power Purchase - CU Solar Farm
- Missouri State University (MO)
While sunshine itself is free, the equipment to turn it into a usable source of power is not. The CU Solar Initiative provides customers the ability to more easily afford …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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48 kW Solar PV Array -- McCarthy Gymnasium / FDC
- University of St. Thomas (MN)
The McCarthy Gym array is part of the microgrid research facility and it is currently operating in "island mode."stss
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Green Power Projects
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Lehigh, Lafayette, Muhlenberg and Dickinson Join Forces for Unprecedented Renewable Energy Project
- Dickinson College (PA)
- Lafayette College (PA)
- Lehigh University (PA)
- Muhlenberg College (PA)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
In February 2020, Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Muhlenberg College and Dickinson College announced a partnership to purchase renewable energy as a collective. Together, the four schools will purchase the largest …
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Publications
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Energy use and CO2 emissions in the UK universities: An extended Kaya identity analysis
- Florida International University (FL)
- Australian National University
- Kingston University London
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- Universität Duisburg-Essen
We investigate the progress of the UK universities in greening their energy sources in line with the UK's goal of becoming a net-zero economy by 2050. Using the HESA estate …
- Posted May 28, 2021
- Publications
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Embodied, operation, and commuting emissions: A case study comparing the carbon hotspots of an educational building
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
- University of Florida (FL)
- University of Vaasa
- Jilin University
Building operational energy, mobility energy, and materials embodied energy contribute to a significant portion of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings stand at the intersection of these three contributors and, …
- Posted May 26, 2021
- Publications
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Virtual Energy Treasure Hunt Event
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
In April 2021, Suffolk County Community College hosted our first US Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Treasure Hunt Event. The DOE describes the Treasure Hunt as “One of the best …
- Posted May 26, 2021
- Case Studies
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Campus Energy-Efficiency Project (CEEP)
- University of Utah (UT)
$30M project on the Health Science Campus of the University of Utah, to use energy-efficiency to avoid the need for an expensive chilled water (CHW) plant expansion.
- Posted May 26, 2021
- Case Studies
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Brown University's Thermal Efficiency Project-2
- Brown University (RI)
Brown University is a 6.5 million sq. ft. research university campus founded in 1764 in Providence, Rhode Island. Its annual energy bill is $20 million. It serves 7,000 undergraduate students, …
- Posted May 26, 2021
- Case Studies
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President's Sustainability Research Fellowship 20-21: Sustainable Space Utilization
- Swarthmore College (PA)
The 2020-2021 President's Sustainability Research Fellowship Sustainable Space Utilization project was conducted by Alex Flowers '21 over the 2020-2021 Academic Year. The purpose of the Sustainable Space Management project was …
- Posted May 26, 2021
- Case Studies
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UIUC Solar Farm 2.0: Ultra-Sustainable on-campus solar array
- University of Illinois University Administration (IL)
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
Referred to as “Solar Farm 2.0,” a new 54-acre, 12.32 megawatt (MWdc) utility-scale array is located on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus, north of Curtis Road, between First …
- Posted May 26, 2021
- Case Studies
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FY20 Energy-Efficiency Initiatives Project
- University of Utah (UT)
The first phase of a series of campus-wide projects to target carbon reductions.
The FY20 Energy-Efficiency Initiatives project targeted industry proven low-cost, fast-payback measures focusing on carbon neutrality and energy-efficiency. …
- Posted May 25, 2021
- Case Studies
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20 MW Solar Energy Purchase
- University of Utah (UT)
The University of Utah has made a PPA of 20 MW of off-site solar energy in Huntington, UT, set to begin delivery in early 2022. The University of Utah’s 25-year …
- Posted May 25, 2021
- Case Studies
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20MW Geothermal Power Purchase
- University of Utah (UT)
The University of Utah, through a partnership with Cyrq Energy and Rocky Mountain Power, has made a groundbreaking geothermal energy purchase. This contract will supply the University of …
- Posted May 25, 2021
- Case Studies
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Implications of Massachusetts Climate Policy for Smith College
- Smith College (MA)
Smith College has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. To meet this goal, Smith is considering transitioning its district energy system from steam heat generated with natural gas to …
- Posted May 21, 2021
- Publications
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Energy Efficiency Strategy
- Swarthmore College (PA)
Project Name: Energy Efficiency Strategy Name: Christian Stone Project Mentors: Elizabeth Drake, Domenic Porrini Project Board Members: Greg Brown, Jim Adams, Janet Semler, Andy Feick, Roderick Wolfson, Aurora Winslade Faculty …
- Posted May 21, 2021
- Case Studies
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Energy Efficiency Strategy
- Swarthmore College (PA)
Project Overview
We began by providing a platform for all key stakeholders, including faculty, facilities and capital planning managers, and administrations, to have their perspectives considered through the interviewing process …
- Posted May 18, 2021
- Case Studies
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Bennington College Commons Renovation
- Bennington College (VT)
- Efficiency Vermont (VEIC) (VT)
Bennington College’s Commons building is the original center of its 1932 campus plan. This 45,120 square-foot renovation is the first substantial upgrade to the building since its inception. It reinforces …
- Posted May 18, 2021
- Case Studies
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Carbon Neutrality at Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study Analysis of Arizona State University
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Campus sustainability and the goal of reaching carbon neutrality have become a major trend among many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) globally, and many of them have taken public pledges to …
- Posted May 4, 2021
- Publications
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Energy Efficiency Improvement in K-12 Schools: A Case Study in Florida
- Florida Institute of Technology (FL)
K-12 schools are responsible for over 1.4% of the total annual energy consumption in the United States. In a collaboration between Florida Institute of Technology and Brevard Public Schools (BPS), …
- Posted April 22, 2021
- Publications
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Maximizing the Financial and Environmental Benefits of Distributed Energy Resources
- New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJ)
- GridMarket (NY)
AASHE member, GridMarket, partnered with the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability for a "lunch and learn" in December 2020. The webinar summarized current opportunities for higher education campuses …
- Posted Feb. 2, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Funding community sustainable development using zero energy buildings
- Millersville University (PA)
This paper aims at bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks for community sustainable development and descriptive-only case studies by using a case study to demonstrate a conceptual model or framework …
- Posted Jan. 12, 2021
- Publications
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Green FSC: Creating a Sustainable Campus
- Florida Southern College (FL)
Colleges and universities account for more than 1.5% of US total annual emissions: understanding how individual institutions can become more sustainable is critical in tackling the existential threat of global …
- Posted Jan. 12, 2021
- Publications
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AASHE Award Winnner Ceremony 2020
- Dickinson College (PA)
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
- Lafayette College (PA)
- Lehigh University (PA)
- Muhlenberg College (PA)
- Palo Alto College (TX)
- Smith College (MA)
- Southwestern University (TX)
- University of Central Florida (FL)
- University of Dayton (OH)
- University of Sydney (NSW)
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Coimbra
- Carlos III University of Madrid
The AASHE Sustainability Awards provide global recognition to the individuals and organizations leading the higher education sustainability movement. On Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 a virtual ceremony honored the 11 winners …
- Posted Jan. 12, 2021
- 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 5: Building Energy Efficiency
- Total performance year site energy consumption per unit of floor area
- Total performance year source energy consumption per unit of floor area
- Percent reduction in total source energy consumption per unit of floor area from baseline
- Description of initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices in regard to energy efficiency
- Description of energy use standards and controls employed by the institution
- Description of LED lighting and other energy-efficient lighting strategies
- Description of passive solar heating, geothermal systems, and related strategies
- Description of co-generation employed by the institution
- Description of initiatives to replace energy-consuming equipment with high efficiency alternatives
- Website URL - Energy conservation and efficiency program
OP 6: Clean and Renewable Energy
- Percent of total energy consumption from clean and renewable sources
- Website URL - Clean and renewable energy programs
- Percent of electricity from coal
- Percent of electricity from geothermal
- Percent of electricity from hydro
- Percent of electricity from natural gas
- Percent of electricity from nuclear energy
- Percent of electricity from solar photovoltaic
- Percent of electricity from wind
- Percent of electricity from wind
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.