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.
Featured Resources
New Resources
Deep Energy Retrofits at Humber College's Building N
- Humber College (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 ...
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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 ...
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
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 ...
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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 ...
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Publications
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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 ...
- Posted May 17, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- View more
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 ...
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
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 ...
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
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 ...
- Posted May 11, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
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 ...
- Posted May 10, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
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 ...
- Posted May 10, 2018
- Case Studies
- View more
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
- View more
Ontario Helping Colleges and Universities Fight Climate Change
- Ontario Tech University (ON)
- Upper Canada College (ON)
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (ON)
- Sheridan College (Ontario) (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
- View more
Purchasing Carbon Offsets 101
- Second Nature (MA)
"Join this webinar for an introduction to purchasing carbon offsets through the voluntary carbon market. The webinar will cover how schools can use verified carbon offsets to meet emissions reduction ...
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Rutgers Energy Institute
- Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus (NJ)
The Rutgers Energy Institute (REI) has four main purposes: to educate undergraduate and graduate students, to pioneer in energy research and innovation, perform community outreach to share information and engage ...
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Research Centers & Institutes
- View more
The Solar Institute
- George Washington University (DC)
The Solar Institute identifies, generates, and shares pragmatic policy solutions to catalyze the adoption and scale of solar energy. Serving this mission, the Institute conducts objective research to advance politically ...
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Research Centers & Institutes
- View more
Earth Institute Center for Environmental Sustainability
- Columbia University (NY)
The Earth Institute Center for Environmental Sustainability is dedicated to the development of a rich, robust and vibrant world within which we can secure a sustainable future. Through a diverse ...
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Research Centers & Institutes
- View more
Graduate Certificate in Energy
- Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus (NJ)
The Graduate Certificate in Energy is offered by the Rutgers Energy Institute to graduate students in a large variety of graduate programs at Rutgers. During the program, students are required ...
- Posted May 8, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Earth Tones - Earth Day Concert and Expo
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Appalachian State hosts an annual "Earth Tones" concert, with bands powered by solar panels, on the Duck Pond Field. Sponsored by ASUSES, the festival includes representatives from the SDSA, ASUREI ...
- Posted May 1, 2018
- Photographs
- View more
Smoothie Bike at Elon University
- Elon University (NC)
Elon student uses human power to blend a delicious smoothie during Party for the Planet, a celebration of all things sustainable at Elon University!
- Posted April 25, 2018
- Photographs
- View more
Green Your Room
- Princeton University (NJ)
This is an educational video created by James Tralie, Princeton University student, to inform students about how to be sustainable in dorm rooms. He describes ways to conserve energy including ...
- Posted April 23, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Sustainability: Why Universities Can Lead by Example
- North Central College (IL)
This TEDx Talk describes the benefits of adopting more energy-efficient systems and technology on college campuses. Such practices pay off for these institutions in the long run while also helping ...
- Posted April 23, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Reducing Electricity Use in Campus Residence Halls
- Radford University (VA)
- AASHE (PA)
Our quasi-experimental design exposed first-year students in four matched residence halls to three different interventions designed to encourage energy conservation, specifically electricity conservation. We employed active and passive programming and ...
- Posted April 20, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Sustainability in university campus: options for achieving nearly zero energy goals
- University of Coimbra
Purpose The purpose of this study was to design a renovation plan for a university campus building (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering) with the aim to achieve nearly zero ...
- Posted April 17, 2018
- Publications
- View more
AASHE Webinar: Retrofitting Existing Buildings for Energy Efficiency and Demand Response
- Western Michigan University (MI)
- AASHE (PA)
- Cypress Envirosystems (CA)
This is an educational webinar presented by AASHE Business Leader Cypress Envirosystems.
Compared with new facilities, existing buildings and plants often have legacy equipment which waste energy, require more maintenance ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
Bioenergy Minor
- Oregon State University (OR)
The Bioenergy Minor focuses on bioenergy concepts and issues and offers students an opportunity to gain significant research experience and skills. This interdisciplinary minor is open to all majors. It ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
BioRenewable Systems (MS)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
Biorenewable Systems are the structures and processes that create and support biologically-based products capable of being continuously replaced through sound technology and management. BRS is positioned to be a world-renowned ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
BioRenewable Systems (PhD)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
Biorenewable Systems are the structures and processes that create and support biologically-based products capable of being continuously replaced through sound technology and management. BRS is positioned to be a world-renowned ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Sustainable & Renewable Energy Engineering (BEng)
- Carleton University (ON)
This program provides analytical and hands-on skills for designing, building, operating and enhancing sustainable energy systems that combine energy generation, distribution and utilization in an environmentally responsible and economically beneficial ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Renewable (Solar) Energy Option, Energy Engineering (MS)
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
The UMass Lowell graduate program in Energy Engineering offers professional training at the master's degree level designed to prepare the student to perform state-of-the-art work on energy systems.
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Energy Systems Concentration, Engineering (MS)
- San Francisco State University (CA)
Issues related to limited energy resources, energy efficiency and conservation, and renewable energy, as well as the effects of ever-increasing energy production and consumption are prompting a significant surge in ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Wind Energy Minor
- Iowa State University (IA)
The curriculum of the newly approved PhD degree program for WESEP, as part of our IGERT project: A new PhD Program on Wind Energy Science, Engineering and Policy (WESEP), includes ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Wind Energy Science, Engineering & Policy (PhD)
- Iowa State University (IA)
The curriculum of the newly approved PhD degree program for WESEP, as part of our IGERT project: A new PhD Program on Wind Energy Science, Engineering and Policy (WESEP), includes ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Electric Power & Energy Systems Concentration, Electrical Engineering (BSE)
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The goal of the electric power and energy systems concentration is to prepare graduates for positions in industries dealing with generation, transmission and utilization of electric power. Generation includes conventional ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Alternative Energy Concentration, Electronics Engineering Technology (BS)
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The alternative energy technologies concentration explores the demands of energy resources in the new economy. This program strives to educate individuals in the use of energy sources such as solar ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Master in Energy Engineering: Renewable Energy
- Polytechnique Montréal (QC)
The Sustainable Design and Manufacturing of Modular Mastery in Mechanical Engineering course is designed for applicants who wish to further their training in the design and manufacturing of products and ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Environmental & Renewable Resource Economics Minor
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
This minor introduces students to how fundamental economic principles can be used to explain and seek solutions for problems related to the degradation of the environment and unsustainable use of ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
BA/MA in Energy & Environment
- Boston University (MA)
The program in Energy & Environment offered through the Department of Earth & Environment combines advanced undergraduate and graduate coursework to provide students with the foundational knowledge and advanced analytical ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Sustainable Energy (MS/MPS)
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
The Sustainable Energy area of study examines the biological, technical, economic, environmental, business, and policy feasibility and life cycle impacts of sustainable energy systems, with a particular focus on biobased ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Sustainable Energy (PhD)
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
The Sustainable Energy area of study examines the biological, technical, economic, environmental, business, and policy feasibility and life cycle impacts of sustainable energy systems, with a particular focus on biobased ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Sustainable Energy Minor
- Boston University (MA)
The Minor in Sustainable Energy, open to all undergraduates, teaches students the interdisciplinary nature of energy studies. The curriculum includes the essential elements of energy from the business, economics, policy ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Energy & Sustainability Certificate
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The transdisciplinary certificate examines current energy systems and what would be required to create a sustainable energy future. Students begin with an overview of how energy affects peoples' lives, the ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
Power Systems & Sustainable Energy (MS)
- Santa Clara University (CA)
Santa Clara's MS in Sustainable Energy introduces graduate students to an multi-disciplinary approach to designing sustainable energy systems. The master program's mission is to provide a strong curriculum ...
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Academic Programs
- View more
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.