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

Ground Source In-Depth: Two Systems, Three Years of Data

  • Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
  • Portland State University (OR)
  • ZGF Architects (OR)
  • PAE Consulting Engineers (OR)

Ground Source Heat Pump systems, in which the relatively constant temperature of the earth is used to heat and cool a building, can be a significant energy efficiency strategy for ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Energy Storage Can Benefit Your Campus, Finances and Community!

  • Duquesne University (PA)
  • Trane (TX)
  • CALMAC (NJ)

Overall, today's electric utilities have twice the capacity they need, but they still run short of power to meet air conditioning demands during peak summer days. According to a ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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UNCP Initiative - Performance Contracting as a Catalyst for Sustainability

  • University of North Carolina, Pembroke (NC)
  • Siemens Industry, Inc. (IL)
  • Celtic Energy, Inc. (CT)

Higher Education Institutions have increasingly used Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) as a tool to implement energy saving measures and infrastructure improvements in facilities. The continued erosion of State funding ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Commitments, Actions & Economics: Managed Print Services

  • Cleveland State University (OH)
  • FirstMetrix Corporation (OH)
  • Xerox Corporation (MN)

Cleveland State University committed to a goal of developing, designing and implementing an enterprise wide document output strategy that is consistent with the Unviersity's mission and commitment to environmental ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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America's Greenest Campus: Sustainability at Rio Salado College

  • Rio Salado College (AZ)
  • Scottsdale Community College (AZ)
  • SmartPower (DC)

Building a sustainable campus takes good policies - and engagement of students both in and out of the classroom.

In 2009, Rio Salado College won SmartPower's America's Greenest Campus ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Climate Action Implementation on research campuses: Lessons from large scale energy projects

  • Cornell University (NY)
  • Stanford University (CA)
  • University of Pennsylvania (PA)

For large research campuses achieving climate neutrality requires a combination of supply-side and demand-side energy initiatives. Panelists will focus on the implementation of Climate Action Plans underway at three universities ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Weatherization Planning through Cross-Campus Collaboration

  • Colby College (ME)
  • Harvard University (MA)
  • University of Virginia (VA)

Last May, more than 50 students took a break from studying for finals and partnered with the school's Environmental Action Committee, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Green Program, and ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Internal Energy Auditing to Meet Portfolio-Wide GHG Reduction Goals at 3 Institutions

  • Colby College (ME)
  • Harvard University (MA)
  • University of Virginia (VA)

Universities worldwide are committing to greenhouse gas reduction goals and implementing climate action plans. Optimizing building efficiency is often identified as a central strategy to achieving these ambitious goals. To ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Retrofitting Existing Buildings for Energy Efficiency and Demand Response

  • California State University, Sacramento (CA)
  • Stanford University (CA)
  • Western Michigan University (MI)

Compared with new facilities, existing buildings often have legacy equipment which waste energy, require more maintenance, and incur more downtime. They are often incapable of communicating and interacting with the ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Eden Hall Campus: Laboratory for 21st century climate positive living

  • Chatham University (PA)
  • BNIM Architects (MO)

As the alma mater of Rachel Carson, Chatham University has long been committed to environmental education, advocacy and stewardship. In recent years, that commitment has included establishing a dorm focused ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnerships for Net Zero: CSU's Collaboration in Fort ZED

  • Colorado State University (CO)
  • Brendle Group (CO)

Colorado State University (CSU) is a key partner in making "FortZED," an initiative to turn downtown Fort Collins, Colorado and the campus of CSU into the largest net zero energy ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability, Actions & Economics: Student Engagement-Green Roof Project

  • Cleveland State University (OH)
  • FirstMetrix Corporation (OH)

The University combined design standards with its commitment to sustainability at Cleveland State University's LEED certified Recreation Center. The Center was initially designed with a rooftop garden; however, the ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Exceeding Expectations: Energy Efficiency in Historic Renovations

  • University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
  • Mahlum Architects (WA)

Institutions across the country are faced with historic buildings in dire need of systems, envelope and programmatic upgrades. While these renovations are vital toward preserving campus architectural legacy and character ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Environmental and Economic Benefits of Campus Biomass Combined Heat and Power

  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
  • Syracuse University (NY)

Training emerging professionals about sustainability concepts needs to happen both in and out of the classroom in order to meet ambitious national workforce education and training goals. The process of ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Going Green Can Benefit Your Campus Educationally and Fiscally

  • Macalester College (MN)
  • Trane (TX)

Going green can be good for you. A successful campus-wide sustainability effort can serve an institution both educationally and fiscally. As part of a campus-wide sustainability plan to become zero ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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An Innovative Approach to "Going Green" While Addressing Deferred Maintanence

  • University of Central Missouri (MO)
  • Trane (TX)

Going green is becoming increasingly important for schools to attract students. 63% of college applicants are looking for a green campus, according to the Princeton Review (2008). However, many college ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Maintaining Momentum with Energy and Water Conservation Projects and Campaigns

  • Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)
  • University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus (CO)

The Auraria Campus, in downtown Denver, home to the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Colorado Denver is now a leader in water ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Meeting Greenhouse Gas Reductions by Implementing a Comprehensive Energy Management Strategy

  • Williams College (MA)
  • Woodard & Curran, Inc. (ME)

Whether your campus is a signatory to the ACUPCC, subject to state GHG emission reduction goals, or is simply committed to reducing the overall campus carbon footprint, reducing GHG emissions ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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How Passion Inspired the Evolution of Energy Reduction to Sustainability

  • Washington University in St. Louis (MO)

The business case for Sustainability is more compelling than ever in tough economic times. Energy costs serve as one of the largest budget items and represent enormous potential savings for ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Driven Campus Biodiesel

  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)

The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) started producing biodiesel for its fleet four years ago. The project was initiated by an undergraduate ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Harnessing Human Power at the UC Berkeley Recreational Sports Facility

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

As energy usage across the world continues to rise, there is a strong need to develop new methods for energy conservation and power generation, particularly approaches that have less environmental ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Power in an Educational Setting: Challenges and Opportunities

  • Albright College (PA)

The Green Power Partnership (GPP), a voluntary environmental program launched by EPA in 2001 helps organizations get support from EPA in reducing their carbon footprint, lowering the transaction costs of ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Approaching Light Speed - From Zero to 5.5 MW

  • Colorado State University (CO)

The time has finally come where a combination of new legislation and public interest has put renewable energy on the forefront of environmental solutions that ensure a more secure future ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Making the Geoscience Curriculum More Sustainable

  • Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)

Sustainability is an increasingly important theme in geoscience education and our department is helping to modify the traditional geoscience curriculum so that it more fully addresses sustainability issues. At Eastern ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Putting it all together: The Push for Renewable Energy inside & outside the classroom

  • Green Mountain College (VT)

In this session, the importance of collaborative campus sustainability efforts will be highlighted. On Earth Day, 2010, Green Mountain College opened its new Combined Heat and Power Biomass Plant. This ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Solar High Tunnels: Food Production and Renewable Energy

  • Green Mountain College (VT)

Over the last decade, growers in the Northeast have been utilizing high tunnel structures, or field greenhouses, in their food production systems. These structures allow growers to extend the fall ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Biomass Utilization in Southside Virginia

  • Longwood University (VA)

Longwood University is a four-year, state-assisted, co-educational university encompassing 60 acres centrally located in Farmville, Virginia. The institution has a total of 4,700 undergraduate and graduate students and approximately ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Why Ohio U Won't Cede or Sell Its Renewable Energy Credits

  • Ohio University (OH)

Increasingly, colleges and universities are being approached by third party developers to install alternative energy systems on campus with little to no upfront capital investment. The catch? As part of ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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UCF, an In-House Energy Service Group that Saves Millions

  • University of Central Florida (FL)

The University of Central Florida (UCF) surpassed its goal and decreased its energy consumption by 25 percent per square foot in fiscal year 2008-2009. This saved the university close to ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Students teaching students to save energy in their homes

  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)

Many students living on their own for the first time are on financial aid or work to cover living expenses; making ends meet can be tough. Yet most are not ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Commitments and Actions at University of Hawaii Maui College

  • University of Hawaii Maui College (HI)

The new energy goals set forth by the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) in 2008 have set the stage for making Hawaii a global model for energy independence and ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Spotlight on Sustainability: A Student Lab Theatre

  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)

Hundreds of small theatres and classrooms across the United States, and hundreds more around the globe, rely heavily on high-wattage incandescent theatrical lighting equipment to illuminate the platform or stage ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Promoting sustainable behavior with motion sensing power strips and desk lamps

  • University of Michigan (MI)

The paper presents the outcomes of a pilot program at the University of Michigan intended to influence people's attitudes and behaviors relating to energy consumption, through the adoption of ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Extreme energy efficiency: building the sustainable Bagley Classroom at UMD

  • University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)

Extreme energy efficiency. Renewable energy production. On-site composting toilets. Passive heating. Unique building materials. Natural ventilation. The Bagley Classroom at the University of Minnesota Duluth is located on a 50 ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Harvesting the Wind: Productive Student Engagement in Campus Sustainability

  • University of Texas at Austin (TX)

While students are generally recognized as critical to the success of campus sustainability endeavors - many student groups are prime movers, in fact - their rapid turnover and apparent distractability can be ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Green Campus 101- Empowering Tomorrow's Energy Efficiency Leaders

  • Alliance to Save Energy (CA)

Colleges offer prime opportunities to address energy issues, as demonstrated by the Alliance to Save Energy's Green Campus Program. This session will showcase transferable best practices of a student-driven ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Appalachian State University Renewable Energy Initiative: A Five Year Perspective

  • Appalachian State University (NC)

Aligning with the theme for the AASHE 2010 conference, "Campus Initiatives to Catalyze a Just and Sustainable World", the Appalachian State University Renewable Energy Initiative (REI) would like to propose ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Friday Night Lights: Dialing Down Energy Use

  • Bowling Green State University (OH)

The phenomenon known as "Friday Night Lights" at Bowling Green State University was created in the fall of 2009. A student approached the Sustainability Coordinator with an idea he had ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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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unPLUg: How an Energy Competition Can Permanently Change Behavior

  • Pacific Lutheran University (WA)

Many colleges have implemented residential hall competitions to reduce energy; however do these competitions create long-term change in behavior? Too often after the tally is counted many will return to ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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To Tear Down or Retrofit - Reducing Building Energy Footprint

  • Smith College (MA)

Given data on building energy consumption, institutions can leverage available standard tools to estimate their energy reduction potential. However, many campuses, especially those with a central power plant, are not ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Scientific Laboratories Becoming More Efficient through Behavioral Changes & Equipment Solutions

  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)

Laboratories at the University of Colorado-Boulder (CU-Boulder) typically use 5-7 times more energy than classroom or office space. Like many universities, until recently, CU laboratories have not been a focal ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Integrating Teaching, Research and Operational Sustainability: Utilization of Bio-Energy at UNBC, Canada's Green University

  • University of Northern British Columbia (BC)

Located in the centre of Canada's most western province, the University of Northern British Columbia is poised to be a leader in demonstrating and developing renewable energy technology. To ...

  • 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 and ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Enhancing the human dimensions aspect of Conservation Biology, Ecology and Sustainability

  • University of Northern Colorado (CO)

As human civilization moves into a time of environmental uncertainty regarding environmental and biological threats such as global climate change, species extinction, human population growth and other issues, it is ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Strategies to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Lab Buildings on Academic Campuses

  • University of Washington, Seattle (WA)

Laboratory buildings, because of programmatic and safety requirements, remain one of the highest consumers of energy on academic campuses. As campuses develop and implement plans to achieve carbon neutrality commitments ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Pushing energy sustainability through innovative partnerships

  • University of Wyoming (WY)

We will share the challenges and rewards of working toward energy sustainability through an innovative partnership. In April 2010, we began working with the Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project (JHESP ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Energy Efficiency by Design in Parking on Campus at University of Colorado Boulder

  • Intellenergy (CT)

When considering ways to save energy on campus, parking structures are an excellent place to start. Parking garages are a necessary evil. Although creative transportation options are emerging, there continues ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Energy Markets 101: Everything a Sustainability Officer Needs to Know

  • Harvard University (MA)
  • University at Albany (NY)
  • EYP (NY)
  • Campus Climate Solutions (FL)

Energy market costs and volatility pose both a threat and an opportunity for advancing sustainability initiatives in the higher education market. Reducing energy consumption has the greatest immediate and long-term ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Providing Pomona Students with Line Drying Options: Changing Behavior and Reducing Energy Use One Sock at a Time

  • Pomona College (CA)

In Spring 2008, Pomona College began two projects to give students the opportunity to line dry their clothes. The first project was the installation of eight large, high-quality drying racks ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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.

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