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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The Effects of Energy Dashboards and Competition Programming on Cyclic Electricity Consumption on a College Campus
- Western Michigan University (MI)
This report examined issues pertaining to the efficacy and cost effectiveness of energy dashboards in the effort to influence electricity-related behavior change on college campuses. Given the increasing popularity of …
- Posted April 17, 2020
- Publications
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Are Electric Buildings a Feasible Carbon Neutrality Strategy?
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (CA)
The path to campus carbon neutrality is becoming clearer: electrify everything and procure renewable electricity. Electrifying campus energy infrastructure is a complex undertaking that requires a significant financial investment. While …
- Posted March 18, 2020
- Videos & Webinars
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The Workability of Dominican University of California (DUoC) Transitioning to a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Program Energy Supply
- University of San Francisco (CA)
For almost 10 years Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), or community based energy programs, have been developing and or providing clean energy resources to both commercial and residential customers in various …
- Posted March 6, 2020
- Publications
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Developing a Framework to Assess Renewable Energy Options for Higher Education Institutions: Values-Based Recommendations for Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
Voluntary renewable energy projects offer organizations like Portland State University (PSU) the opportunity to address climate action-related goals and address other environmental, economic, and social values. To achieve the goals …
- Posted March 6, 2020
- Publications
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The relationship between energy use and space use of higher educational buildings in subtropical Australia
- Griffith University (Queensland)
With an aim to understand the impact of a variety of space usage on the building energy consumption in university campuses, this study selected 122 university buildings located in subtropical …
- Posted March 5, 2020
- Publications
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Opportunities and Benefits of a University-Based Weatherization Assistance Program: The Case of Furman University's Community Conservation Corps
- Furman University (SC)
Weatherization assistance programs have been in existence in the United States for decades, but they are commonly managed and implemented by local government organizations. Furman University, a small liberal arts …
- Posted March 4, 2020
- Publications
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Quantifying potential savings from sustainable energy projects at a large public university: An energy efficiency assessment for texas state university
- Texas State University, San Marcos (TX)
At Texas State University (TSU) in the United States, “sustainability” is pursued within the context of (1) a non-binding declaration in the University’s plan, and (2) a State legislative directive …
- Posted Feb. 10, 2020
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A lifecycle cost analysis of transitioning to a fully-electrified, renewably powered, and carbon-neutral campus at the University of Dayton
- University of Dayton (OH)
This paper analyzes the cost-effectiveness of converting the University of Dayton (UD) to a fully-electrified, renewably powered, carbon-neutral campus by 2025. The greenhouse gas (GHG) impact and 30-year lifecycle costs …
- Posted Feb. 10, 2020
- Publications
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Energy Systems Engineering Technology (Advanced Diploma)
- Mohawk College (ON)
Students will experience a unique new program introducing a multi-disciplinary approach that focuses on the generation, capture, storage, and distribution of clean and renewable energy and their integration with conventional …
- Posted Feb. 3, 2020
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Energy Studies Minor
- Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
Continuing growth in fossil fuel energy consumption is not sustainable into the indefinite future and a transition to an economy based on renewable energy technologies such as hydroelectric, solar, and …
- Posted Dec. 6, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Lots of Watts: Building an Energy Cohort to Buy Big Renewables
- Lafayette College (PA)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- Second Nature (MA)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
Cohorts of colleges and universities are aggregating energy loads to achieve economies of scale when sourcing renewable energy. This workshop helps campuses achieve dramatic reductions in greenhouse gases by sourcing …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Fighting Irish, Fighting Food Waste: Converting Food Waste into Energy at Notre Dame
- University of Notre Dame (IN)
Nearly 40% of all food in the United States goes uneaten, and 95% of all wasted food winds up in the landfill. At Notre Dame, food and hospitality is a …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Weatherization Programs: Partnerships to Address Community Issues
- Furman University (SC)
- University of Florida (FL)
The benefits of weatherization programs are extensive. These programs have the capacity to address social and economic inequality, the historical effects of gentrification, and the growing impacts of climate change …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Food Waste to Energy: Partnering with Dining Halls for Waste Diversion and Electrical Production
- Central Connecticut State University (CT)
Central CT State University has partnered with our food service vendor to collect food waste from our dining halls. The waste is brought to nearby Quantum BioPower where it produces …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Strategic Planning of Energy Retrofits That Drive Cutting Edge Projects in GHG Reductions
- Humber Polytechnic (ON)
In 2014, Humber College (Toronto, Canada) faced a challenge familiar to many institutions. Despite years of incremental energy efficiency gains, large reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions remained …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Paper and Plug Load Energy Reduction: How Focusing on two Issues Broadened our Reach
- Red River College Polytechnic (MB)
In the current climate of fiscal restraint faced by many post-secondary institutions, it can be challenging for Sustainability Offices to advance their reach and impact with new programs and initiatives. …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Wood Bioenergy: Carbon Neutral or Worse Than Coal?
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
As a growing number of institutions, cities, states, and nations work to achieve rapid decarbonization, many are turning to wood bioenergy. All forms of bioenergy are considered to be carbon …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Affordable Renewable Energy for the Developing World that is Creating Jobs
- University of Central Florida (FL)
In our world, there are currently 1.3B people living with no access to electricity. The lack of electricity can have negative impacts on their education, communication, safety and even health. …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Partnerships for Dramatic Energy Use Reduction On-Campus & Off
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
In most urban areas, buildings contribute at least 75% of local greenhouse gas emissions, representing an opportunity to reduce energy use through benchmarking, conservation, and efficiency. As a result, a …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Achieving Resilient, Low Carbon Campuses via a Sustainable Economic Model
- Pratt Institute (NY)
We are developing a Roadmap to achieve a resilient, low carbon campus as well as upgrade our infrastructure, and have been working to find private partners who can help us …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Tax Incentive use for Expanding Resilient Solar Power Infrastructure in Economically Depressed Areas
- Dallas College (TX)
Mr. Baker will lead a discussion of how solar power avoids wholesale energy costs, it also saves on non-energy costs related to distribution networks, generation capacity, and, in particular, transmission. …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Local Power: How to Partner With Local Investors to Install Renewable Energy Systems on Campus
- Luther College (IA)
This session addresses the following question associated with the conference theme: 'How can higher education most effectively collaborate with business, government and civil society to create a sustainable economy?' The …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Economies of Scale - Reducing Overhead and Increasing Efficiency Across the Organization
- University of Vermont (VT)
At colleges and universities everyone consumes energy, from the underground classrooms up to the president's office. But only a few of the staff are accountable for the incurred energy costs …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Stronger Together - Aligning Milwaukee's Institutions and Civic Agencies for Large-Scale Renewables
- Marquette University (WI)
- Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI)
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
Urban land use, regulated utility markets, and up-front financing play into the challenges for renewable energy in Milwaukee, WI, as it does for many institutions across the country. On-site installations …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Economically and Environmentally Sustainable Utilities and Energy
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Texas A&M University (TAMU) in College Station, Texas is one of the largest universities in the country, experiencing significant growth while fulfilling a mission of world class teaching, research, and …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Broadening the Impact of Renewable Energy Purchases: A Case Study
- Low Impact Hydropower Institute (MA)
Current trends in the renewable energy market, particularly in the growing PPA procurement segment, have focused on energy usage and supporting new development. This limited focus has been directed primarily …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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The Energy Challenge at IUPUI
- Indiana University Indianapolis (IN)
The IUPUI Energy Challenge is a brand-new engagement program between the buildings on campus to reduce their energy use. This is achieved through encouraging behavior changes of the people who …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Making the Case for Campus-Wide Energy Monitoring and Student-Led Initiatives for Implementation
- Creighton University (NE)
We present the case for campus-wide energy monitoring, a community-engaged energy dashboard, and how these initiatives become feasible with student leadership. At Creighton University, we have developed a holistic, detailed, …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Data, Data, Data: Longitudinal Importance of Assessing Student Energy Behaviors
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (MA)
- NORESCO (NC)
UMass Dartmouth has partnered with NORESCO for eight years on a behavior change program called Energy Conservation Through Behavior Change® as a part of a larger energy savings project. The …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Vampire Energy Slayers 2.0
- University of San Diego (CA)
The Vampire Energy Slayers program was first developed at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). At the University of San Diego, we have embraced the program and aim …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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University of Denver's Renter Efficiency Program for Students
- University of Denver (CO)
The Renter Efficiency Program for Students (REPS), at the University of Denver, provides free energy audits to students who rent off campus. The audits consist of teaching the tenants about …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Building Envelope Energy Performance Ranking & Archetype Energy Models: A Case Study
- Morrison Hershfield (ON)
The University of Victoria (UVic) is undergoing a capital planning process and commissioning a comprehensive building investigation to prioritize and plan envelope rehabilitation work across their portfolio, intending to incorporate …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Low Carbon Electrification
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
- Creative Energy (BC)
As Institutions across North America continue to expand, they are struggling to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets due to the significant capital investments required for net zero construction. Many institutions …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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On the Cutting Edge: Great Results From New Approaches to Behavioral Change Cues
- Stanford University (CA)
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
- Atrius (CA)
- Kriegh Architecture Studios (WA)
The next frontier in energy efficiency is occupants and how they interact with the buildings. Once we have the prescriptive things like codes and building envelopes done, it's about how …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Understanding Decision Making for Building Energy Efficiency at a Higher Education Institution
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
The built environment provides significant opportunities to lower greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency (EE). In the United States, campuses have been major beneficiaries of EE programs and services. …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Solar Energy Systems: Site Assessment of Eureka College
- Eureka College (IL)
Students in the Environmental Science and Environmental Studies majors at Eureka College are required to complete both an internship for college credit and a capstone course to earn their degree. …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Campus Energy Master Planning: Innovations and Best Practices
- Michigan State University (MI)
- Stanford University (CA)
- ICF International (VA)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
Hundreds of colleges and universities have publicly committed to carbon neutrality, with over 120 targets in the next 15 years. How are schools addressing often the largest source of emissions: …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Using Technology to Achieve Sustainability
- University of Mississippi (MS)
Numerous academic and residential buildings, thousands of people subsisting together, and various facilities to support the establishment, it won't be wrong to compare a college campus to a small town. …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Energy Performance Improvement: Energy Savings and Occupant Awareness Program at Texas A&M University
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Utilities & Energy Services (UES) Division at Texas A&M University strives to bridge the gap between implementing energy conservation measures and its success through increasing occupant engagement and empowerment. UES …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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An In-House Energy Dashboard: Challenges and Achievements from Oregon State University
- Oregon State University (OR)
Digital energy dashboards have proven to be a convenient tool for energy data management, analysis and reporting. Dashboard software can be leveraged to not only support campus operations, but also …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Energizing a Growing Urban Campus: Taking Data to Implement Energy Savings & Sustainability at UW Tacoma
- University of Washington, Tacoma (WA)
- McKinstry (WA)
How do you take conventional building system surveys, upgrades and sub-metering data to the next level: comprehensive energy savings and genuine campus sustainability? How can you empower meaningful sustainability stewardship …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Exploring Deep Decarbonization on a Research Intensive Campus
- California Institute of Technology (CA)
- Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (WI)
Caltech is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, whose mission is to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education. For the past decade, Caltech …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Bioenergy & Land Use Meetup
- Colgate University (NY)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Second Nature (MA)
The University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute (UNHSI) and Second Nature are facilitating a Bioenergy Working Group that is looking to answer the following questions: - Are biogenic emissions carbon …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Partners in Greening the Economy: Clean Energy and Electrification on Campus and in the Community
- Weber State University (UT)
For sustainability, we collectively need to green our economy to improve environmental and human health and wellbeing. One aspect of this larger process is to shift to clean energy sources …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Lots of Watts: Building an Energy Cohort to Buy Big Renewables
- Lafayette College (PA)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
As campuses face climate action targets, or seek to manage energy budgets, large-scale renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs) have emerged as a practical and cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Incorporating Stakeholder Values: Assessing Renewable Energy Options at Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
To determine options for renewable energy development and procurement, the Campus Sustainability Office at Portland State University (PSU) turned to it's Living Lab program to engage students in this key …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Committing your campus to 100% renewable energy
- Environment America (MA)
It's 2019. We have the power to harness clean, abundant energy from the sun and the wind, and we can do it more efficiently and cheaply than ever before. Yet …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Preparing and Implementing an Energy Master Plan
- St. John's University, New York (NY)
- Antares Group Inc. (MD)
The Energy Master Plan completed for the St. John's University Queens campus provided a Roadmap for the campus to meet the GHG and energy reduction targets as a member of …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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The Future of ENERGY STAR in Higher Education
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
- RE Tech Advisors (VA)
This networking session will focus on the support ENERGY STAR can offer to colleges and universities to help improve building efficiency. We'll recap the recent work ENERGY STAR has done …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Care Enough 2B Energy Aware: Using Submetering & Energy Models 4 Curriculum Dev. & Community Action
- St. Louis University High School (MO)
St. Louis University High School's faculty-coached and student led Energy Reduction team uses Energystar Portfolio, electric and solar panel submetering data, and energy modeling to create accessible curriculum for various …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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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.