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
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
New Trends in the Higher Education: Renewable Energy at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering
- Holon Institute Of Technology
Renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are the key for creating a clean energy future for not only the nation, but the world.World Energy Consumption relies heavily on coal, oil, …
- Posted March 22, 2018
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Integrated circular economy and education model to address aspects of an energy-water-food nexus in a dairy facility and local contexts
- Başkent University
Universities have responsibilities for accelerating pedagogical innovation to enable a more sustainable future. This research work develops a three-phased approach for integrating principles of a circular economy system within a …
- Posted March 22, 2018
- Publications
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1.7 kW Powerhouse Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
- Colorado State University (CO)
The Colorado State University Powerhouse Energy Campus is located near the heart of downtown Fort Collins. The 100,000 square-foot Powerhouse Energy Campus consists of two parts; the CSU Engines and …
- Posted March 20, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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Lab Building Benchmarking - Boston and Beyond
- Harvard University (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Boston Green Ribbon Commission (MA)
This webinar will present an important new benchmarking study of academic laboratory buildings from the Boston area, conducted by the Boston Green Ribbon Commission’s Higher Education Working Group. Lab buildings …
- Posted March 15, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Boston Area Lab Energy Benchmarking Study: Year 1 & Year 2
- Boston Green Ribbon Commission (MA)
Year 1 Report: Lab facilities are often the source of the greatest energy use at large research institutions, disproportionate to the square footage they occupy, so they are a key …
- Posted March 15, 2018
- Publications
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Energy Engineering for Non-Engineers: Sweetened and Condensed
- AASHE (MA)
- GreenerU (MA)
- Babson College (MA)
As a sustainability change agent, you may not have a background in engineering, but developing a basic fluency in energy engineering terms and concepts can empower you to participate in …
- Posted March 1, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Evaluation of an informational and behavior change program to increase students' self-reported energy conservation
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)
- State University of New York at Brockport (NY)
A systematic evaluation of a program, consisting of sustainability education, self-management strategies, and feedback, to decrease college students' energy use was conducted. During treatment, the experimental group showed increased self-reported …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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An aggregated and dynamic analysis of innovations in campus sustainability
- Smith College (MA)
Purpose: This paper aims to compose a systematic understanding of campus sustainability innovations and unpack the complex drivers behind the elaboration of specific innovations. More precisely, the authors ask …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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5.9 MW Wind Energy Purchase
- Southwestern University (TX)
In January 2010, Southwestern University signed an agreement with the City of Georgetown that enables the university to meet all its electric needs with wind power. Under the agreement, Southwestern …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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Energy use characteristics and benchmarking for higher education buildings
- Griffith University (Queensland)
Higher education buildings serve complex functions by providing spaces for various activities and disciplines. This study aims to understand energy use characteristics of different types of buildings in higher education …
- Posted Feb. 20, 2018
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The Biochemistry Cell Culture Facility at CU Boulder: Avoided costs and other benefits resulting from shared equipment in collaborative research space
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
With scientists experiencing intense competition for federal biomedical research funding, efficiency and cost-saving measures are powerful tools to maximize the impact of those research dollars. The large environmental footprint of …
- Posted Feb. 15, 2018
- Publications
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Aggregating Higher Education Demand for Renewables: A Primer
- University at Buffalo (NY)
- AASHE (MA)
- Trio (CA)
AASHE is excited to announce the release Aggregating Higher Education Demand for Renewables: A Primer, a new publication designed to help groups of colleges and universities use their collective …
- Posted Feb. 15, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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2016 National Solar Jobs Census
The Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census 2016 is the seventh annual update on employment, trends, and projected growth in the U.S. solar industry. The Solar Jobs Census 2016 found …
- Posted Feb. 5, 2018
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21 MW Purchase from Red Rock Solar Project
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Arizona State University is purchasing 65,000,000 kWh of renewable energy from the APS 40 MW Red Rock Solar Project via a 20 year power purchase agreement.
- Posted Feb. 5, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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2.2 MW Solar Garden
- Sullivan County Community College (NY)
SUNY Sullivan's 2.15 MW Solar Garden generates about half the electricity used by the college. The college purchases the power generated by the panels under 20 year power purchase agreement.
- Posted Feb. 5, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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1.3 MW Offsite Solar Array
- Brandeis University (MA)
- Borrego Solar (MA)
Under a 20 year power purchase agreement with Kenyon Energy, Brandeis is purchasing solar energy from a 1.27 megawatt (MW) system installed by Borrego Solar on the roof of a …
- Posted Feb. 5, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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46.5 MW Solar Purchase from Sunraysia Solar Farm
- UNSW Sydney (NSW)
University of New South Wales entered into a 15-year solar power purchase agreement with Maoneng Australia and Origin Energy. Under the agreement, UNSW is purchasing up to 124,000 MWh annually …
- Posted Feb. 5, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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Sustainable Energy Management (BS)
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
This program allows students to develop their talents and skills as applied scientists, entrepreneurs, business managers, and planners in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and related responses to …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2018
- Academic Programs
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13.5 MW Solar Carport System
- Michigan State University (MI)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
Michigan State University partnered with Inovateus Solar and Alterra Power Corp. to install a 13.5 MW solar carport system spread above 4,500 parking spaces in 5 locations around the MSU …
- Posted Jan. 18, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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4.7 MW Solar Array
- Hampshire College (MA)
- SolarCity
Hampshire College partnered with SolarCity to install 4.7 MW (DC) of solar on 19 acres of its 840-acre campus. The system is expected to provide 100 percent of Hampshire's electricity …
- Posted Jan. 12, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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4.3 MW Solar Parking Canopy
- University of California, Riverside (CA)
- SunPower Corp (CA)
UCR partnered with SunPower to install a 4.3 MW solar canopy above two campus parking lots (lots 30 and 32). The project was built and fully financed by SunPower, which …
- Posted Jan. 4, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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2.8 MW Solar Array
- Mohawk Valley Community College (NY)
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (NY)
Mohawk Valley Community College partnered with GroSolar to develop a 2 MW AC / 2.8 MW DC solar array on a site owned by the Rome Industrial Development Corporation. MVCC …
- Posted Jan. 4, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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1.8 MW of Rooftop Solar
- Charles Sturt University (NSW)
Charles Sturt University contracted with Todae Solar to design, construct and install 1.77 MW of rooftop solar spread across 17 buildings of its its Wagga Wagga campus. The system provides …
- Posted Jan. 3, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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1.6 MW Hydro Purchase from King’s Fall Hydroelectric Facility
- St. Lawrence University (NY)
In 2015, St. Lawrence University signed a long-term agreement with Gravity Renewables that allowed for the refurbishment and repair of the King’s Fall Hydroelectric Facility in Lewis County. That facility, …
- Posted Jan. 2, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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2 MW Denton Road Solar Array
- Skidmore College (NY)
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (NY)
- WGL Energy (VA)
- Dynamic Energy (MA)
Skidmore College contracted with Dynamic Energy to develop a 2-megawatt solar array located on 8 acres of College property about one mile from its main campus. The array consists of …
- Posted Jan. 2, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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850 kW Hydro Purchase from Chittenden Falls Hydroelectric Facility
- Skidmore College (NY)
In 2015, Skidmore College finalized an agreement with Gravity Renewables to purchase the output of the revitalized Chittenden Falls Hydroelectric Facility in Columbia County. The certified low-impact dam generates about …
- Posted Jan. 2, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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927 kW Hydro Purchase from Groveville Hydro Facility
- Vassar College (NY)
In September 2015, Vassar College announced a 20-year agreement with the hydro power company Gravity Renewables to purchase power generated at the 927 kW Groveville Hydro Facility in Beacon, NY. …
- Posted Jan. 2, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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2.8 MW Harford Solar Farm at the Ruminant Center
- Cornell University (NY)
This 2.8 MW solar farm is comprised of 9,333 photovoltaic panels spread across 20 acres at Cornell’s Ruminant Center in Harford, New York.
- Posted Jan. 2, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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4 MW Musgrave Research Farm Solar Project
- Cornell University (NY)
Cornell University partnered with Distributed Sun and Building Energy Asset Management to install two 2 MW solar farms (Musgrave East and Musgrave West) on 28 acres attached to Cornell's Musgrave …
- Posted Jan. 2, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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2 MW Sutton Road Solar Farm
- Cornell University (NY)
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (NY)
Sutton Road Solar Farm, a 2-megawatt energy facility in Geneva, New York, became fully operational April 2016. Spread over 17 acres, the installation offsets nearly 40 percent of the annual …
- Posted Jan. 2, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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2 MW Snyder Road Solar Farm
- Cornell University (NY)
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (NY)
- Sol Systems (DC)
The Cornell Snyder Road Solar Farm – comprised of with 6,778 photovoltaic panels on an 11-acre plot of Cornell property that adjoins the Tompkins County Regional Airport – went live …
- Posted Jan. 2, 2018
- Green Power Projects
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Methodology of energy efficient building refurbishment: Application on two university campus-building case studies in Italy with engineering students
- Polytechnic University of Milan
Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) has launched since 2011 the project “Città Studi Sustainable Campus” to improve the university’s sustainability performances within three main principles: building refurbishment, sustainable campus development and …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
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Energy planning of university campus building complex: Energy usage and coincidental analysis of individual buildings with a case study
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Zhejiang University
- Nanjing University of Science & Technology
As the demonstration of eco-communities, energy planning becomes more and more important for university campus. However, insufficient energy use data accumulation has been a significant barrier against fully understanding of …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
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Development of a web based energy management system for University Campuses: The CAMP-IT platform
- Technical University of Crete
University campuses can be considered as small towns due to their size, number of users and mixed and complex activities, including numerous actions usually met in urban environments. The energy …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
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Visualization of energy and water consumption and GHG emissions: A case study of a Canadian University Campus
- Carleton University (ON)
Campuses, communities, and other building clusters are major users of energy and water and thus can have a significant environmental impact. Frequently, their buildings’ resource consumption is metered to various …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
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Understanding the energy consumption and occupancy of a multi-purpose academic building
- Heriot-Watt University
Building energy use associated with non-domestic buildings accounts for approximately 19% of the total UK CO2 emissions. Energy consumption in a non-domestic building is a complex issue due to a …
- Posted Dec. 13, 2017
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Energy use assessment of educational buildings: Toward a campus-wide sustainable energy policy
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- University of Florida (FL)
- Queensland University of Technology
The purpose of this article is to assess the viability of blanket sustainability policies, such as Building Rating Systems in achieving energy efficiency in university campus buildings. We analyzed the …
- Posted Dec. 12, 2017
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On-Site Energy Management by Integrating Campus Buildings and Optimizing Local Energy Systems, Case Study of the Campus in Finland
- Aalto University
This research describes the potential study on the impact of energy improvements of existing campus buildings by on-site energy management and operational strategies. The focus buildings in the campus were …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2017
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Building Energy Performance in LEED 2009 vs. LEED v4
- System WorCx (NC)
As of November 2016, newly registered LEED projects must use LEED v4. One of the key changes between LEED v4 and LEED 2009 is that option 1 under the Optimize …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Occupant Engagement Leads to Substantial Energy Savings for Plug Loads
- Keewi Inc. (CA)
Plug loads, defined as devices plugged into the wall outlet, comprise about 33% of a commercial building's total energy expenditure. Existing management technologies have overlooked the effects of building occupants …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Disruptive Tech: Beyond Net Zero Energy Onsite Water Reuse
- Natural Systems Utilities (NJ)
In addition to water scarcity, drivers to consider water reuse now include aging or inadequate infrastructure, resiliency, resource recovery and increasing costs for conventional water and sewer. Many communities are …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Success Stories: Community Colleges Tools for Achieving Energy Efficiency
- Entegrity (AR)
This poster will graphically depict the steps two community colleges took to achieve energy efficiency goals on their campuses. Community college budgets and staff are often stretched more than larger …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Literally Breaking Down Walls (Roofs and Floors too). Owner and Consultant Insight to Obtaining Sustainable Building Enclosures.
- dbHMS (IL)
Sustainable buildings require complex analysis from various participants in a project team, which is especially true for developments in the MUSH market (Municipal, University, Schools K-12, and Hospitals). In a …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Smart Buildings - Integrating PoE with the IoT
- Cree (NC)
The purpose of this presentation is to provide a better understanding of how the Internet of Things (IoT) and Power over Ethernet (PoE) have and will continue to change our …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Pareto principle for your carbon reduction goals: Purchasing offsite renewable energy while addressing stakeholder needs
- BayWa r.e. Solar Projects LLC (CA)
You want to take a big chunk out of your university's carbon footprint with a minimum of effort. This presentation will lay out a vision for making big strides in …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Creating a culture of operational visibility: the data-driven future of campus operations
- Atrius (CA)
Vladi will explain how, by implementing cost-effective energy-efficiency measures, many colleges and universities have the potential to cut their energy bills by 30 percent or more. Yet campus sustainability practitioners …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Sub-Metering and Energy Dashboard Networking
- Macalester College (MN)
This networking session will allow individuals already engaged in a collaborative discussion about dashboards and energy metering to touch base. Any individuals wishing to learn more and become involved or …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Using Internet of Things to Track and Curb Energy Use in Dorms at Harvard University
- Harvard University (MA)
How can we use data to inform and accelerate energy savings in undergraduate dorms? A Harvard student-led project called Networked Energy-saving Temperature Sensors (NETS) sought to answer this question by …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Effects of phase change materials (PCM) on solar thermal storage for season extension agricultural applications
- Appalachian State University (NC)
As part of on-going efforts to use solar and biomass energy for season extension in greenhouses, the NEXUS research group at Appalachian State University is exploring the use of phase …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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An Unlikely Match: Confined Budgets, Sustainable Campuses, Facade Innovation
- BNIM Architects (MO)
High performance design strategies are realized by a collaborative, interdisciplinary team working towards a shared vision. The design of the maintenance and operations building provides a diverse user group an …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- 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.