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 Carleton Utility Master Plan: Transitioning a 100-year Legacy of Campus Steam to 21st Century Geothermal
- Carleton College (MN)
The last time Carleton College made a major shift in its campus utilities was over 100 years ago with construction of the central plant in 1910. Before that, each building …
- Posted May 13, 2019
- Case Studies
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Public Policy and Energy Resources (MPP/MS or MPP/MA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Energy and Resources Group (ERG) and the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP) offer a concurrent degree program that integrates the strengths of public policy analytical tools with the interdisciplinary …
- Posted May 13, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Energy and Resources (MA/MS)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
The purpose of the ERG Master’s program is to educate the next generation of interdisciplinary leaders. Specifically, students are taught the range of methods and subjects they should be able …
- Posted May 13, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Energy and Resources (PhD)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Energy and Resources Group (ERG) doctoral students work across disciplines and departments to create transformative knowledge for the planet and its people. As one of the first interdisciplinary programs in …
- Posted May 13, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Design and Life Cycle Cost of a Vertical Ground Source Heat Exchange System for the Smith College Field House
- Smith College (MA)
Committed to becoming a carbon neutral campus by 2030, Smith College is transitioning towards geothermal energy for campus heating and cooling. Energy consultants have been hired to conduct an economic …
- Posted May 10, 2019
- Publications
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Sustainability Demonstration House Project
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
The goal of the Sustainability Demonstration House (SDH) project is to retrofit the former president’s residence, built in 1953, titled the Kettle-Gundlach Building, into a sustainability demonstration house. The SDH …
- Posted May 7, 2019
- Publications
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Development and evaluation of a method to estimate the potential of decarbonisation technologies deployment at higher education campuses
- University of Limerick
This paper describes a method for the quantitative estimation of the potential of decarbonisation technologies deployed on Higher Education Campuses (HEC). This was developed to fill the need for a …
- Posted May 6, 2019
- Publications
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Earth Day Fair at Northwestern University
- Northwestern University (IL)
At the inaugural Earth Day Fair, the sustainNU team celebrated their ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award and shared how they conserve energy. Over 200 people attended the fair …
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Photographs
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Sustainable Energy (MEngSc)
- University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork (Co. Cork)
UCC have developed a Masters in Engineering Science in Sustainable Energy, in recognition of the growing international market for sustainable energy systems and the shortage of qualified engineers. This programme …
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Financing and Deploying Clean Energy Certificate
- Yale University (CT)
This online certificate aims to build students capacity in the areas of policy, finance, and clean technology.
The world urgently needs leaders with this combination of skills; in 2017, the …
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Energy and its Impacts (BA)
- Syracuse University (NY)
Many of the issues facing humanity today center on energy: its supply, use, and impact on our environment. Energy and its Impacts is a 25-credit Integrated Learning Major that provides …
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Energy Systems (SES) Certificate
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Today, we face the grand challenge of meeting the energy needs of a growing population while minimizing the adverse effects of these technologies on the environment. The Sustainable Energy Systems …
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Ireland’s Transition towards a Low Carbon Society: The Leadership Role of Higher Education Institutions in Solar Photovoltaic Niche Development
- University of Limerick
Ireland is currently considered a laggard within Europe in relation to decarbonisation of its society, with future projections estimating increases in greenhouse gas emissions up to and beyond 2030. To …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Publications
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Piloting Sustainability in UVA Research Labs
- University of Virginia (VA)
A one-year, comprehensive study in three campus research labs illustrates the benefits of small-scale infrastructural improvements paired with occupant engagement techniques . Lighting upgrades, equipment timers, and freezer set-points were …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Publications
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Sustainability Quest
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
Students Hula hooped 64 rotations for the 64 geothermal wells on University of Illinois at Chicago's campus! This was one of four stops on the Sustainability Quest to spread awareness …
- Posted April 29, 2019
- Photographs
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Getting to Climate Neutrality: Does Bioenergy from Wood Help or Hurt?
- Tufts University (MA)
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
Bioenergy has been declared a carbon neutral energy source by the US, EU, China, and other governments around the world. In alignment with these national policies, AASHE-STARS and other sustainability …
- Posted April 11, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Aggregating Higher Education Demand for Renewables
- APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (VA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
Cohorts of colleges and universities are aggregating energy loads to achieve economies of scale when sourcing renewable energy. This article highlights the benefits of this aggregated approach by examining several …
- Posted April 4, 2019
- Publications
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Parametric analysis for cost-optimal renewable energy integration into residential buildings: Techno-economic model
- Illinois State University (IL)
- Hanyang University
Determining the optimum penetration of renewable energy systems and their associated aggregated technical and economic benefits is a growing concern for both researchers and policy makers. The purpose of this …
- Posted March 31, 2019
- Publications
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Examining the effect of an environmental social marketing intervention among university employees
- University of Birmingham
- Queen Mary University of London
- University of Sheffield
- Global Action Plan
This paper examines the impact of an environmental social marketing intervention on employees’ energy saving intentions in a higher education institution (HEI) in the UK. The study examines the influence …
- Posted March 30, 2019
- Publications
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Potential of integrating power generation with solar thermal cooling to improve the energy efficiency in a university campus in Saudi Arabia
- King Abdulaziz University
Along with the rapid ongoing developments and expansions of the King Abdulaziz University campus, it is sensible to rethink the way electrical and cooling energy is generated and to explore …
- Posted March 30, 2019
- Publications
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Competing priorities: lessons in engaging students to achieve energy savings in universities
- De Montfort University
- Imperial College London
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
This paper aims to present findings from an EU-funded international student-led energy saving competition (SAVES) on a scale previously unseen. There are multiple accounts of short-term projects and energy saving …
- Posted March 4, 2019
- Publications
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Hodgdon Hall Solar Panel Project
- Tufts University (MA)
This project, spearheaded by the Tufts Energy Group, provides a real life educational experience to the campus community to learn about and use renewable energy in an accessible fashion. The …
- Posted March 1, 2019
- Green Power Projects
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Harvard's Challenge: Institutional Green Power
- Harvard University (MA)
This case study examines the options that Harvard University has for complying with one aspect of its Climate Action Plan, which was announced in February 2018. It specifically focuses on …
- Posted March 1, 2019
- Case Studies
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Offsets and RECs: What's the Difference?
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
In encouraging organizations to choose green power for their electricity, the Green Power Partnership frequently explains renewable energy certificates (RECs) - what they are, why they are needed for green …
- Posted Feb. 25, 2019
- Publications
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Sustainable Energy Certificate Program
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
The Sustainable Energy Certificate is recognition for (a) completing a course of study that prepares you to evaluate the technical, political, economic, social, and environmental dimensions of deploying sustainable energy …
- Posted Feb. 13, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable Energy Minor
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
The Sustainable Energy Minor is a 21 credit minor which combines a foundational knowledge of economics, social sciences, and environmental sciences with more specific topics about sustainable energy and climate …
- Posted Feb. 13, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Solar Power Professional Certificate
- Loyola Marymount University (CA)
In this online program, students will learn the fundamentals of photovoltaic "PV" solar powered energy systems, gaining the knowledge you'll need for an entry level position with a dealer, installer, …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2019
- Academic Programs
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Climate Change & Energy Focus (BA in Human Ecology)
- College of the Atlantic (ME)
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Effectively advocating for renewable energy and implementing local projects require a range of knowledge and skills. The College of the Atlantic's interdisciplinary curriculum makes it possible to gain a powerful …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2019
- Academic Programs
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How to Prove ROI and Get Funding for an Energy Management Information System (EMIS)
- Weber State University (UT)
- AASHE (MA)
- Atrius (CA)
Still on the fence about purchasing an Energy Management Information System to manage your university’s resource data? The time to act is now.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, …
- Posted Jan. 17, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Reduce Peak Demand and Increase Grid Stability with On-Site Energy Storage
- Austin Community College (TX)
SHINES, or Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar, is a three-year project focused on making solar energy cost-competitive with traditional energy sources. The goals of this project …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Transitioning to Renewables
- Dallas County Community College District System Office (TX)
Each year, a transition to all-renewable sources of energy seems more feasible for colleges and universities. The Texas Higher Education Renewable Energy Consortium is a coalition of colleges committed to …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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UT Austin Green Labs and Green Offices
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
The Green Offices and Green Labs initiative at University of Texas at Austin aims to transform campus workspaces into more eco-friendly environments. Improvements include reducing overall waste, implementation of collection …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Energy Studies Minor
- San Diego State University (CA)
The CES coordinates the minor in energy studies offered at SDSU. This is an interdisciplinary minor that exposes students to a variety of topics in energy technology and policy. It …
- Posted Dec. 13, 2018
- Academic Programs
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AASHE STARS Credits through ENERGY STAR®
- AASHE (MA)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
Download this five-page guide for a summary of ENERGY STAR tools and resources that could be used to earn AASHE STARS credits (version 2.1, July 2017), including credit descriptions and …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Tools
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Universities as Models of Sustainable Energy-Consuming Communities? Review of Selected Literature
- Texas State University, San Marcos (TX)
Given the prominent position of academia in sustainability studies and sustainability science, it is natural to want to look to universities as models of (or keepers of knowledge about) sustainable …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Publications
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Aggregating Higher Education Demand for Renewables: A Primer
- AASHE (MA)
- Trio (CA)
Campuses are increasingly looking to renewable energy as the most financially attractive strategy for achieving dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while reducing long-term energy costs and minimizing energy price …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2018
- Publications
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Sustainable and Renewable Energy Systems Minor
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville (WI)
The Sustainable and Renewable Energy Systems Minor is designed to be a hands-on interdisciplinary program with an emphasis on the study of the economic, social, and environmental aspects of various …
- Posted Nov. 20, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Sustainable and Renewable Energy Systems (BS)
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville (WI)
The study of sustainability and renewable energy systems (SRES) addresses the concerns of world resources, including energy and renewable energy, and their social, economic, and environmental impacts.
The sustainability and …
- Posted Nov. 20, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Teaching decision-making for sustainable infrastructure: a wind energy case study module
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Purpose This paper aims to introduce a case-based module teaching sustainable engineering, linking the Envision rating system with behavioral decision science. Three complete modules are publicly available in a repository …
- Posted Nov. 13, 2018
- Publications
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Energy and Climate Planning at Rice University
- Rice University (TX)
Rice University completed the Rice Integrated Climate and Energy Master Plan (RICEMaP) in 2013. Since that time, the world has arguably entered into a period of significant transition with respect …
- Posted Nov. 8, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Urban, Rural, and On-Campus Solutions (UROC): Living Campus Accelerator Toolkit
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Arizona State University has committed to becoming carbon neutral for campus buildings by 2025. University Sustainability Practices (USP) is working tirelessly to help fulfill this vision. USP and partner universities …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Raising the Bar - Updated Environmental & Social Criteria for EPEAT-Registered Computers/Displays
- Global Electronics Council (OR)
Product design has progressed, and EPEAT standards are progressing along with them. An update to the computer and display standard that large-scale purchasers have relied on to identify more sustainable …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Solar and Sheep Grazing - Is it for Ewe?
- Furman University (SC)
Does your institution have solar panels or are you thinking about installing them? Does your institution have sheep or know someone who does? If you answered 'yes' to either of …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Weatherizing Together: Finding Effective Community Partnerships
- Furman University (SC)
Is your school planning on or already implementing a home weatherization program? Have you found community partners for your program? Furman University's home weatherization program, the Community Conservation Corps (CCC), …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Community Impacts Through Energy-Efficient Housing Education
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
The Energy Efficient Housing Research Group (EEHR), an outreach arm of the Hamer Center for Community Design, is a conduit between high-performance housing research and housing stakeholders. EEHR connects multidisciplinary …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Divestment: How Public Universities Can Defund Climate Change
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
This presentation addresses widely held beliefs regarding institutional investors, specifically higher education's approach to investments, and provides a review of methods of fossil fuel divestment campaigns across the country. By …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Closing the Food Loop
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
As a group of student from three different universities and a diverse range of interests, we all noticed that there were many problems with the current food system. To start, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Agrivoltaic Arrays: Cultivating the Future of Renewable Energy
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Agrivoltaics' combines the terms, 'agriculture' and 'photovoltaics' to create a symbiotic relationship between food and renewable energy. The vast majority of solar energy generated comes from solar farms. However, as …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Creating Campus Revenue Streams to Support Sustainability Initiatives
- Brown University (RI)
- Ithaca College (NY)
- Michigan State University (MI)
- Ecosystem (QC)
Educational institutions across North America are aiming to reduce both energy spend and GHG emissions, with targets ranging from 10%-50% by 2030, 2025, or even 2020. At the same time, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Contracting for Renewable Energy Procurement: Financing and Legal Strategies and Considerations
- K&L Gates (DC)
Colleges and universities are adopting aggressive sustainability targets and deadlines to reduce carbon emissions. To meet these targets, institutions have a range of options, including installing on-site energy generation and …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- 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.