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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Energy Sciences Minor
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
The Energy Science minor comprises four introductory core courses that provide a comprehensive overview of energy in society, fundamental energy principles, the economics of energy, and environmental issues related to …
- Posted Aug. 30, 2018
- Academic Programs
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California State University East Bay Climate Action Plan 2018
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
Cal State East Bay made a commitment to climate neutrality when President Morishita signed the Carbon Commitment (formerly the American Colleges and Universities Presidents’ Climate Commitment) in January 2015. Once …
- Posted Aug. 30, 2018
- Publications
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Carbon Neutral Campus: Solar Research
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
This project was set out to analyze two UIC buildings, the Student Services Building and the Pharmacognosy Field Station, in order to determine their potential for solar energy along with …
- Posted Aug. 10, 2018
- Case Studies
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1 MegaWatt Battery Energy Storage System
- California State University, Long Beach (CA)
In 2017, California State University, Long Beach installed a 1 Megawatt energy storage system on campus as part of a multiphase project with Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS) made possible through …
- Posted Aug. 7, 2018
- Photographs
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Princeton University Vertical Farming Project
- Princeton University (NJ)
The Princeton University Vertical Farming Project, led by Dr. Paul Gauthier, uses a hydroponic and artificial lighting growing system to study the viability of feeding a rapidly growing world population …
- Posted Aug. 6, 2018
- Photographs
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Energy Certificate
- Stockton University (NJ)
Energy Studies is an interdisciplinary program. It is designed to educate students in the multifaceted problems associated with energy use in our society and to pose methods for possible solutions …
- Posted Aug. 6, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Pathways to carbon neutral energy systems at the University of California, Davis
- University of California, Davis (CA)
To achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 the University of California, Davis (UCD) seeks to eliminate its dependence on fossil energy sources. This study outlines a methodology to identify optimal equipment …
- Posted Aug. 6, 2018
- Publications
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South Seattle College SBST Students Engage with Energy Dashboard
- South Seattle College (WA)
Students in South Seattle College’s Sustainable Building Science Technology BAS program use an energy dashboard to help track utilities at SSC’s Georgetown campus.
- Posted Aug. 1, 2018
- Photographs
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University of Virginia Renewable Energy
- University of Virginia (VA)
Renewable energy (PV panels on Clemons library) helps reduce UVA's nitrogen footprint, in addition to UVA's greenhouse gas footprint.
- Posted Aug. 1, 2018
- Photographs
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Dickinson College Solar Array
- Dickinson College (PA)
Dickinson’s new (2018), 12-acre solar array project—designed and built by Tesla—is projected to generate approximately 5,200,000 kwh per year, representing more than 25 percent of Dickinson’s current electricity consumption and …
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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Colorado College Net-Zero Library
- Colorado College (CO)
Main entrance of Colorado College's net-zero energy/net-zero carbon Tutt Library. Sustainable features highlighted in the photo include a rain screen, open design and natural lighting, green roofs and planters, photovoltaic …
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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Colorado College Net-Zero Energy/Carbon Tutt Library
- Colorado College (CO)
Balcony view of Colorado College's net-zero energy/net-zero carbon Tutt Library. Highlighting rainscreen, shading structures, black locust domestic hardwoods, green roofs and planters, photovoltaic shade structures, and open views.
- Posted July 31, 2018
- Photographs
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University of Dayton Energy GPA
- University of Dayton (OH)
The Energy GPA program provides students in University-owned student neighborhood houses with a grade of their monthly energy use. Monthly "report cards" include electricity and gas usage and a monthly …
- Posted July 30, 2018
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College of the Atlantic SCI 2018 1
- College of the Atlantic (ME)
The College of the Atlantic Thoreau Environmental Leaders Initiative aims to cultivate effective advocates for renewable energy and climate change issues. Through speakers, workshops and events, the initiative provides a …
- Posted July 30, 2018
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Boot Camp Trainees Pitch Ideas to Potential Employer
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Virginia Tech students Tyneshia Griffin and Virginia Pellington pitch their ideas to the Sustainability Boot Camp's Founding Partner, Trane, during an on-site Think Tank Challenge in Ashland, VA. The Sustainability …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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University of Dayton Energy Team
- University of Dayton (OH)
Since its founding in 2016, the green revolving fund has funded over 30 projects. The completed projects have reduced emissions by 980 metric tonnes of CO2 (MTCO2) equivalent, or 1.4% …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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University of Dayton Green Roof Installation
- University of Dayton (OH)
Kennedy Union Green roof
In September 2017, HSI, in collaboration with facilities management and Enterprise Roofing, led the installation of UD's first green roof on the Kennedy Union patio. The …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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Vassar Groveville Hydro Project
- Vassar College (NY)
Photo Credit: Karl Rabe/ Vassar College In Fall 2015, Vassar College signed a 20-year agreement with Gravity Renewables to establish a purchasing partnership with a small scale hydropower project on …
- Posted July 27, 2018
- Photographs
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Solar Sheep at Antioch College
- Antioch College (OH)
Since 2015, Antioch College has brought sheep to campus to live in a distinctly different location – the five-acre Antioch solar farm. The small “self-fertilizing lawnmowers” live within the fenced-in …
- Posted July 27, 2018
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Delta College Living Wall
- Delta College (MI)
The campus Health Professions Building North atrium at Delta College showcases a living wall, an architectural feature and natural ventilation system that acts as a bio filter to improve air …
- Posted July 26, 2018
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Solar Photovoltaic Arrays at Hampshire College generating up to 100% of electricity on site
- Hampshire College (MA)
In 2015, the Hampshire College Board of Trustees approved a plan to provide 100% of electricity from on-site solar arrays through a combination of 19 acres of ground-mounted PV arrays, …
- Posted July 26, 2018
- Photographs
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University of Dayton Student Neighborhood
- University of Dayton (OH)
The University of Dayton owns more than 400 residences in its student neighborhood. Launched in fall 2017, the Energy GPA program provides students in University-owned neighborhood housing with a grade …
- Posted July 24, 2018
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Master of Engineering - Energy Engineering (ME EnE)
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)
The Master of Engineering - Energy Engineering (ME EnE) is a practical graduate degree program that focuses on commercial buildings and manufacturing processes and the energy they consume. Graduates become …
- Posted July 5, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Physics with Energy Science Concentration (BS)
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)
The Bachelor of Science program in physics is designed to help students attain their professional goals in physics. Four concentration options within the Bachelor of Science program enable students to …
- Posted July 5, 2018
- Academic Programs
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Electricity and Water Conservation on College and University Campuses in Response to National Competitions among Dormitories: Quantifying Relationships between Behavior, Conservation Strategies and Psychological Metrics
- New York University (NY)
- Oberlin College (OH)
“Campus Conservation Nationals” (CCN) is a recurring, nation-wide electricity and water-use reduction competition among dormitories on college campuses. We conducted a two year empirical study of the competition’s effects on …
- Posted June 29, 2018
- Publications
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Developing ecological footprint scenarios on university campuses: A case study of the University of Toronto at Mississauga
- University of Toronto Mississauga (ON)
The ecological footprint represents a simple way to assess the amount of materials consumed and waste produced by a given entity. The approach has been applied to countries, towns, households, …
- Posted June 28, 2018
- Publications
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Princeton Student Climate Initiative
- Princeton University (NJ)
On the Friday night after midterms week, seven Princeton undergraduates gathered in the Pace Center for Civic Engagement to talk climate change legislation. Decked in hoodies, sweats, and mismatched socks, …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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R.W. Kern Center- A Living Building
- Hampshire College (MA)
Located at the heart of Hampshire College campus, the R.W. Kern Center is a multi-purpose facility that embodies the highest threshold of forward-thinking sustainable design: generating its own energy, capturing …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Sustainable Choices
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College (AZ)
Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) is a fast growing community college in a suburb of the Phoenix Metro area. As one of ten colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Introduction to Sustainable Living
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
My proposal for the 2018 Student Sustainability Leadership Award is for a course that I was able to develop at UCLA designed to help students learn knowledge and skills that …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Stanford R&DE's Student Living Laboratory
- Stanford University (CA)
Stanford University’s Residential & Dining Enterprises in partnership with students and academic departments have transformed its facilities in to a living laboratory by performing cutting edge research on student behavior …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Deep Energy Retrofits at Humber College's Building N
- Humber Polytechnic (ON)
In 2015, the College developed an Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP) with impressive goals to greatly reduce energy and water use by 2034. Specifically, Humber’s IEMP sets the following targets: …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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Sustainable Energy for University Science Majors: Developing Guidelines for Educators
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Weizmann Institute of Science
This paper describes the basic tenets of a sustainable energy course for university science majors. First, it outlines the three core components of the course: 1. The scientific evidence for …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Publications
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UCI Bus Love: UC Irvine’s Transition from a Bio-Diesel to Electric Transit Fleet
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) is the first college campus in the nation to transition over to a fully-electric bus fleet. The student-funded-and-operated Anteater Express campus shuttle service has …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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Chesapeake College - "A Living Lab."
- Chesapeake College (MD)
Chesapeake College, founded in 1965 as Maryland’s first regional community college, serves five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 20 percent of the state’s land, 3 percent of its population, and …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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A Behavior Based Energy Conservation Program at Suffolk County Community College
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) is the largest community college in New York State, with over 26,000 students enrolled across three campuses and two extension sites. As a large institution …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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Partnership Development of Sustainable Learning
- Triton College (IL)
From a partnership of labor and industry and a community college grew an educational program geared toward meeting industry needs while highlighting facility sustainability and environmental awareness.
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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SIMAP: Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
SIMAP™ is a carbon and nitrogen accounting platform that can track, analyze, and improve your campus-wide sustainability. Our proven algorithms, based on nearly two decades of work supporting campus inventories …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Tools
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Assessing the Energy and Water Use of Vertical Farming at Princeton University
- Princeton University (NJ)
Research in sustainable solutions for harmful large-scale agriculture will help preserve the earth’s ecosystems and natural resources. Hydroponics is a method of farming that is shown to use considerably less …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Publications
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The U-Challenge at Texas A&M
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Johnson Controls, Inc (WI)
- Siemens Industry, Inc. (IL)
The U-Challenge is a semester-long research competition for students that has evolved over the past two years to encompass both graduate and undergraduate teams from all majors. Student teams of …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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Renewable Energy for Campus Facilites Services
- Black Hills State University (SD)
Demonstrating the effectiveness of the use of renewable energy at low costs in campus facilities services vehicles will help Black Hills State University reach its carbon and waste reduction goals. …
- Posted May 17, 2018
- Case Studies
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Northwestern University Comprehensive Building Energy Data Audit
- Northwestern University (IL)
Northwestern University is committed to fostering environmental and ethical stewardship. The University’s Strategic Sustainability Plan establishes a vision for reducing environmental impacts. In terms of the University’s built environment, the …
- Posted May 17, 2018
- Case Studies
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The ripple effect: Hydo-Aeorponics growing on campus
- Missouri Southern State University (MO)
- Chartwells Higher Education (NY)
In August of 2016 Missouri State University brought 2 zip grow towers( a Hydo-Aeorponics vertical grow tower system) to campus in partnership to display a hyper-local growing option for produce. …
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
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Implementation of a Green Labs Program in Campus Laboratories
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (AL)
UAB Green Labs Program is an institution-wide, voluntary program designed to reduce the university’s carbon output while simultaneously reducing operation costs of research buildings. The program accomplishes its goals by …
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
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Solarizing UC Santa Barbara
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
In 2017 UCSB increased its onsite renewable energy generating capacity tenfold through a multi-site Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). UCSB now has over 5.3 megawatts (MW) of on-site solar capacity which …
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
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Michigan Tech Sustainability Demonstration House
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
The goal of Sustainability Demonstration House (SDH) project is to retrofit the former University President’s residence, built in 1953, titled the Kettle-Gundlach Building into a sustainability demonstration house. The SDH …
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
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Enable by House by Northwestern - a 2017 U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon Team
- Northwestern University (IL)
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon showcases innovative solar powered houses that are designed, built, and operated by collegiate teams. It is a collegiate competition of 10 contests that …
- Posted May 10, 2018
- Case Studies
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Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Upgrade Project
- Northwestern University (IL)
Northwestern University is committed to fostering environmental and ethical stewardship. The University’s Strategic Sustainability Plan establishes a vision for reducing the University’s environmental impacts. In the area of transportation, the …
- Posted May 10, 2018
- Case Studies
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Fashion Institute of Technology Energy Master Plan
- Fashion Institute of Technology (NY)
- NYC Mayor's Office of Sustainability (NY)
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a leading art and design school in New York City, has made impressive strides to reduce its energy and carbon footprints. By implementing an …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Case Studies
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Ontario Helping Colleges and Universities Fight Climate Change
- Upper Canada College (ON)
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (ON)
- Sheridan College (Ontario) (ON)
- Ontario Tech University (ON)
- Niagara College Canada (ON)
- Fairtrade Canada (ON)
Ontario is investing in colleges and university campuses to improve energy efficiency while also fostering student involvement. Ontario is helping fund green projects such as installing energy-efficient windows, high-efficiency boilers, …
- Posted May 8, 2018
- 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.