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.

2541 resources

Earth Source Heat (ESH) is Cornell's version of a deep geothermal system

  • Cornell University (NY)

Cornell constructed a 10,000-foot deep observatory borehole, the Cornell University Borehole Observatory (CUBO). CUBO will enable researchers to study how much heat can be produced by geothermal energy.


Photovoltaic panel

  • Université de Sherbrooke (QC)

With a capacity of 1 MW, the solar park of the Université de Sherbrooke is the largest dedicated to applied research in Canada. Photovoltaic panels are located in various places ...


Solar Park

  • Université de Sherbrooke (QC)

With a capacity of 1 MW, the solar park of the Université de Sherbrooke is the largest dedicated to applied research in Canada. Photovoltaic panels are located in various places ...


Bennington College Commons Building

  • Bennington College (VT)

This holistic remaking of the historic and beloved center of campus community life combines dining, social, and academic areas within a collection of dynamic spaces. The building is animated by ...


Solar Panels at The Catholic University of America

  • The Catholic University of America (DC)

Solar Panels at The Catholic University of America.


Greening the Bottom Line: Advancing Institutional Sustainability Goals With Green Revolving Funds

  • Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)

Greening the Bottom Line: Advancing Institutional Sustainability Goals with Green Revolving Funds tracks the latest trends and highlights best practices to enable more institutions and communities to learn about and ...

  • Posted Aug. 17, 2023
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Rethinking education for SDG 7: A framework for embedding gender and critical skills in energy access masters programmes in Africa

  • University of Cape Town

To address the complex energy access challenges on the African continent a local skilled workforce is needed. Considering the crucial role distributed and renewable energy (DRE) is expected to play ...

  • Posted June 15, 2023
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Is IoT monitoring key to improve building energy efficiency? Case study of a smart campus in Spain

  • University of Zaragoza

This work validates and demonstrates the potential of a methodology based on a continuous monitoring system with real time measurements, as a key support to make decisions on buildings energy ...

  • Posted June 15, 2023
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Transdisciplinary learning exercise on post occupancy evaluation and retrofitting of built spaces

  • College of Engineering Trivandrum

The need to develop sustainable strategies and solutions to design and retrofit buildings to be comfortable living environments that reduce energy and resource consumption is crucial in achieving the sustainable ...

  • Posted June 15, 2023
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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Energy Consumption in Office Buildings: A Case Study of an Australian University Campus

  • University of Technology Sydney
  • University of Twente

Building energy management, in terms of both adopted technologies and occupant consumption behaviour, is becoming an essential element of sustainability and climate change mitigation programs. The global COVID-19 pandemic and ...

  • Posted June 15, 2023
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Understanding the impact of state-level financial incentives on the deployment of renewable energy at colleges and universities

  • Georgia State University (GA)

Over 400 colleges and universities have signed carbon reduction pledges through Second Nature. Nonetheless, a review of their greenhouse gas inventories shows that many universities continue to show limited or ...

  • Posted June 15, 2023
  • Publications
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What is Ecological Economics?

  • United States Society for Ecological Economics (PA)

This document is a very brief description of the field of ecological economics, which purports to be more trans-disciplinary than environmental economics. The former also claims to have closer ties ...

  • Posted June 8, 2023
  • Course Materials
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Sustainable Lab Community Engagement Campaign

  • McGill University (QC)

McGill University is working toward two ambitious sustainability targets: to become zero-waste by 2035 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. As one of the top research universities in Canada ...


Food Waste to Energy: From Pilot Scale Biogas to Grid Tied CHP on a Campus Farm

  • Dickinson College (PA)

The Dickinson College Farm is culminating a multi-year project to convert campus food waste to sustainable energy through a grid-connected biogas system. Biogas is a carbon neutral, renewable alternative to ...


University of Cincinnati Utilities Water Reclamation Project

  • University of Cincinnati (OH)

This is a water reclamation project from the on campus utility plant. Wastewater collection piping was installed running through the power plant, a catch basin for the collected water including ...


Yale Undergrad Confronts the Emanating Climate Threat of Refrigerant Leaks through the Yale Refrigerants Initiative (YRI)

  • Yale University (CT)

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many (if not all) universities’ sustainability offices had to reimagine what engaging with their communities looked like and how they’d meet campus ...


Ameresco leads partnership in establishing Colorado’s largest of its kind battery energy storage system complex at Colorado Mountain College

  • Colorado Mountain College (CO)
  • Ameresco, Inc. (MA)

As the largest installation of its kind in Colorado, completed in September 2022, the combined solar and battery work furthers HCE’s goal of increasing the clean energy sources it ...


Reducing Energy in the Campus Theatre Complex

  • Texas A&M University (TX)

Rudder Theatre Complex (RTC) supports a large variety of campus events. Whether it is a Broadway show or new student and family orientation session, the RTC experiences high usage year-round ...


Community Solar: Supercharging the Equitable Energy Transition

  • Solar Energy Industries Association (DC)

The U.S. is at a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change and must take decisive action to build an equitable clean energy economy. In this presentation, David ...

  • Posted May 17, 2023
  • Conference Presentations
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Lightning Talks: Campus Operations (Group 2)

  • Stanford University (CA)
  • Center for Resource Solutions | Green-e (CA)
  • Timber Framers Guild (NH)

This session consists of 3 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to campus operations. The Lightning Talks are: Stanford Shines: A Decade-Long Decarbonization Journey .. and We've Just Gotten Started - The ...

  • Posted May 17, 2023
  • Conference Presentations
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Dynamic Cooling Load Management via Room Set Point Adjustments

  • Stanford University (CA)

Stanford University’s COOLER research program began in the summer of 2020 and ran through 2022. This unique collaboration between the Land, Buildings, and Real Estate’s (LBRE) “Operations” team ...

  • Posted May 17, 2023
  • Conference Presentations
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Dissecting Decarbonization: Proven Clean Energy Solutions for Campuses

  • Bard College (NY)
  • Colorado State University (CO)
  • Pace University (NY)
  • United States Department of Energy (DC)

Decarbonization is the latest buzzword around energy and climate solutions. What do campus decarbonization projects look like on the ground? How are they financed and implemented? Which technologies are proven ...

  • Posted May 17, 2023
  • Conference Presentations
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Energy and carbon reduction - A total holistic approach by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

  • Nanyang Technological University

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has been actively implementing various energy reduction efforts to promote sustainability and reduce its carbon footprint. The university recognizes the importance of energy conservation and has ...


The State of Renewable Energy In Higher Education

  • AASHE (PA)
  • Coho Climate Advisors (MD)

This slide deck identifies and summarizes important renewable energy trends in higher education so that campuses can learn from each other as they transition to renewable energy. It is based ...


CSUF Unleashes 1.16MW of Solar Power

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

With a flip of the switch, Cal State Fullerton continues to capitalize on the power of the sun.

The university today celebrated the completion of a solar-energy network for the ...

  • Posted April 19, 2023
  • Photographs
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Renewable Energy Trends in Higher Ed: Different Solutions for Different Institutions

  • Brown University (RI)
  • Loyola University Chicago (IL)
  • Michigan State University (MI)
  • AASHE (PA)
  • Coho Climate Advisors (MD)

Colleges and universities are buying more renewable energy than ever. Their strategies are evolving and increasing, including: onsite, offsite, PPAs, Utility Green Tariffs, Retail Renewables, unbundled RECs, and emerging approaches ...

  • Posted March 23, 2023
  • Videos & Webinars
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Energy Sustainability Graduate Certificate

  • University of South Florida (Tampa) (FL)
  • University of South Florida (FL)

Concerns about future economic growth, standards of living, and environmental quality have made sustainable energy a top priority worldwide. The goal of this certificate program is to provide students with ...

  • Posted Feb. 23, 2023
  • Academic Programs
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Academic Collaborations that Achieve Sustainable Operations

  • The Ohio State University (OH)
  • AASHE (PA)
  • ENGIE (TX)

This webinar will explore how innovative universities are leveraging comprehensive energy management partnerships to collaborate with private industry, research and deploy new technologies, and meet sustainability goals.

In 2017, The ...

  • Posted Feb. 16, 2023
  • Videos & Webinars
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Citrus College Educational Development Center

  • Citrus College (CA)

Citrus College was recognized with an excellence in Energy & Sustainability Award for the Educational Development Center modernization project:

"Best innovative project -Medium size District" Award


McGill Sustainable Labs Guide

  • McGill University (QC)

The McGill Sustainable Labs Guide contains a variety of actionable steps that lab users can take to make their lab operations more sustainable. Some of these practices can be applied ...


Campus Recognized for Energy, Water Efficiency

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

Cal State Fullerton has been honored with two Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Best Practice Awards and will be recognized in June at the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference.

One of ...


LEED Gold: Student Recreation Center

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

Going for the Gold has special meaning for Cal State Fullerton’s Student Recreation Center, which has the honor of being the first CSUF building awarded a Gold Leadership in ...


LEED Platinum: Student Housing Phase III

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

Cal State Fullerton’s newest student housing complex is a step ahead of any statewide — it is the first in California awarded the Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ...


Solving Climate Change Problems: CSUF Presents Energy and Sustainability Summit

  • California State University, Fullerton (CA)

More than 100 people packed the room at Cal State Fullerton’s first Energy and Sustainability Summit, held Oct. 26.

The summit, sponsored by Edison International, featured three panels of ...


University of Costa Rica makes biodiesel from Jack Fruit seed oil

  • Springboard Biodiesel (CA)
  • University of Costa Rica

In celebration of Campus Sustainability Month here is the University of Costa Rica in San Jose. They are conducting research on various inedible indigenous seed oils including jack fruit seed ...


Farmington Solar Facility

  • Amherst College (MA)
  • Bowdoin College (ME)
  • Hampshire College (MA)
  • Smith College (MA)
  • Williams College (MA)

Farmington Solar Project - The New England College Renewable Partnership (NECRP) is a consortium of five small New England liberal arts colleges - Smith, Amherst, Bowdoin, Hampshire, and Williams - and is highlighted ...


Center for Development Economics at Williams College

  • Williams College (MA)

The Center for Development Economics (CDE) at Williams College offers an intensive, 10 month (one academic year), master’s degree program designed for economists from low and middle-income countries who ...


Princeton Builds Sustainability

  • Princeton University (NJ)

Princeton recycles at least 95% of its materials in construction and demolition projects, while investing in water-saving and emissions-reducing technologies in and around its new buildings such as the construction ...


Community tour of UMN Morris 240kW solar PV agrivoltaic field

  • University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)

During the UMN WCROC Midwest Farm Energy Confererence, Vice Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, Bryan Herrmann gave visitors a tour of the new 240kW solar PV agrivoltaic field. This installation ...


Agnes Scott College - Rebekah Scott Hall LEED Platinum Renovation / Restoration

  • Agnes Scott College (GA)

Rebekah Scott Hall is the third LEED-certified building on Agnes Scott’s 100 acre campus. The 1905 new Italian Renaissance Revival structure underwent renovation between May 2017 to August 2018 ...


University of Sydney technology spin-off Gelion delivers smart solar benches on campus

  • University of Sydney (NSW)

SCI 2022


Stanford Solar Generating Station #2 (SSGS2)

  • Stanford University (CA)

Stanford Solar Generating Station #2 (SSGS2), Stanford’s portion of a larger solar and energy storage project called Slate, began commercial operation in mid-March 2022.


Notre Dame, Indiana Michigan Power 'flip the switch' on new solar facility

  • University of Notre Dame (IN)

Notre Dame Solar investment - In 2021, University of Notre Dame and Indiana Michigan Power held a ribbon cutting for St. Joseph Solar Farm, a 210-acre solar facility located about seven ...


Solar tracker at Furman Farm

  • Furman University (SC)

A solar panel on a tall pole is the centerpiece of the Furman Farm. It automatically adjusts to follow the most efficient angle of the sun's rays.


The David A. Tepper Quadrangle at Carnegie Mellon University

  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

Carnegie Mellon University's David A. Tepper Quadrangle, home of the university's Coulter Welcome Center and the Tepper School of Business, earned LEED Gold certification in 2019.

CMU will ...


Energy Systems Minor

  • Syracuse University (NY)

This minor option will provide students enrolled within the College of Engineering and Computer Science with a grouping of courses/electives that will provide academic depth in the field of ...

  • Posted June 13, 2022
  • Academic Programs
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Energy Efficiency Minor

  • University of California, Davis (CA)

Development and implementation of more energy efficient technologies and practices has been identified as the most rapid approach to reduce dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuel resources. Individuals with ...

  • Posted June 10, 2022
  • Academic Programs
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Mechanical Engineering with a Specialization in Renewable Energy and Environmental Flows

  • University of California, San Diego (CA)

The specialization in renewable energy and environmental flows is designed for students who are interested in technologies that enable sustainable growth, in flow and transport in atmosphere, ocean, and groundwater ...

  • Posted June 10, 2022
  • Academic Programs
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Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology

  • Nova Scotia Community College (NS)

This program prepares students to meet the growing needs of employers in the rapidly expanding field of alternative energy, sustainability and energy systems management. Students are involved in energy auditing ...

  • Posted June 10, 2022
  • Academic Programs
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Graduate Certificate/Concentration in Wind Power Engineering

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)

The Graduate Certificate/Concentration in Wind Power Engineering is the first ever wind energy certificate/concentration program in the U.S. This 15 credit program offers a unique opportunity for ...

  • Posted June 10, 2022
  • 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 5: Building Energy Efficiency

OP 6: Clean and Renewable Energy

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Energy Partners