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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Collaborative Research to Improve Dorm Heating Performance: Improved comfort and energy efficiency
- Boston University (MA)
A common problem observed in small dorms in winter is open windows due to overheated rooms. We present results from a study by students, facilities staff, and faculty of the …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Using the Social Cost of Carbon as an Ingredient to Minimize Life Cycle Cost and Carbon
- Miami University (OH)
Optimizing a campus's utility master plan to minimize its twenty-five year life cycle cost is one thing, but add the social cost of carbon to the mix and the results …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Energy Feedback Sculpture: Using Public Art to Motivate Sustainable Behavior
- Iconic Energy Consulting
Public art, particularly interactive art, is uniquely positioned to communicate and engage. How might universities, institutions, and cities take advantage of public art to motivate sustainable behaviors among their constituencies? …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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WattTime: Energy Management to Reduce Emissions and Support Clean Energy Future
- WattTime (CA)
Every time any device in a building on any campus turns on, a single power plant must produces slightly more electricity to power it. But what kind of power plant? …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainable Energy: Research and Innovation to Commercialization at the University of Missouri
- University of Missouri (MO)
In addition to leading research and innovation in alternative energy, University of Missouri has demonstrated a commitment to sustainable energy by taking discoveries to applications in the real world. In …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Green Rehab Experiment: Charting a Path to NZE for Market Rate Off-Campus University-Owned Housing Renovations
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
The Green Rehab Experiment is a multi-disciplinary applied research project that aims to chart a path towards net-zero energy performance for the renovation of 100-year old, off-campus, multi-family apartment buildings …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainable Buildings: Utilizing BOMA BEST (Green Globes EB in Canada) to Enhance the Sustainable Operations of Your Campus
- University of Alberta (AB)
As part of The University of Alberta´s institutional Sustainability Plan we build all our new buildings to LEED or Green Globes standards. But as we operate and manage ± 200 …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Zero Net Energy Campus Master Planning
- BR+A (MA)
Colleges and Universities are targeting carbon neutrality in the coming decades; some are on track to achieve these goals ahead of schedule. We have gathered data on over 100 campuses …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Assessing the Carbon Footprint of Higher Education: Factors Influencing the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- North Carolina A&T State University (NC)
Thanks to the leadership of AASHE and Second Nature almost 20% of all higher education institutions have committed to making significant greenhouse gas emission reductions, and many have made substantial …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Small Scale Biogas for Energy Sustainability and Education
- Dickinson College (PA)
This presentation will describe the science and practical logistics of running a small scale biogas system on campus. Biogas (also known as biomethane) is a climate-friendly, renewable alternative to natural …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Capitalizing on Local Renewable Resources for Campus Energy Needs: The Williams Lake Campus Bio-Mass System
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
Campuses across North America are increasingly looking to renewable energy sources to help reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and provide reliable and consistent energy costs. Each university has different …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Sustainable and Comprehensive Utilities and Energy Management
- Texas A&M University (TX)
Texas A&M University embarked on a comprehensive program, in 2002, to better understand and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness of campus facilities. The result has been a decrease in campus …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Greening Laboratories: US Freezer Challenge
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (GA)
In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted its first Freezer Challenge, a two-month agency-wide competition addressing cold storage practices in laboratories. CDC reduced energy use by 320,000kWH …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Powering a New South: Sustainabilty through Student Engagement in the University Press and Beyond
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Through an examination of the processes, experiences, and outcomes of a yearlong, multi-disciplinary, experiential university press project, instructors and press advisors will examine energy through the lens of our local …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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A Unique Partnership With Our Utility Company
- University of San Diego (CA)
In 2009, the University of San Diego (USD) applied to become part of the Local Governments Partnerships in San Diego through San Diego Gas and Electric. The request was approved …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Helping Students Lead on Solar: Collaborations to Advance Renewable Energy on Campus
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
Despite having some of the lowest-priced electricity in the nation, our students forged ahead to identify opportunities for solar energy and the ways it will fit into the energy future …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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A Low-Cost Remote Monitoring System Using Arduino and ModBus TCP
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Performance validation of renewable energy generating systems is crucial to maintain up-time, inform decision making, provide data for academic integration, and to validate green credits. If these systems are not …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Developing Campus Resiliency Through a Climate Action Plan
- Dickinson College (PA)
In 2008, Dickinson College developed a Climate Action Plan to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions and set a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2020. The Stone House Group was brought …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Energy Maddness - A Residence Hall Energy Competition
- Saint Louis University (MO)
On a diverse campus flush with deep thinkers, how can the message of sustainability be successfully broadcasted? Our University chose to use competition as an engagement tool. This presentation will …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Local Farmers, Season Extension, and Technology transfer: Experiences from the "Nexus" Greenhouse project at Appalachian State
- Appalachian State University (NC)
The Nexus project looks to reinvent the heated greenhouse by using on-farm biomass resources and solar energy to create season extension inside a conventional hoop house with minimal fossil energy …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Furman University's Energy Efficiency Eco-philanthropy Project
- Furman University (SC)
During the 2015 - 2016 academic year, The Environmental Community of Students, a first year engaged living program at Furman University, received an $80,000 donation from a local donor to …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Prioritizing Infrastructure Upgrades: Highlighting Shippensburg University's Success
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- Gordian (SC)
Nationwide trends indicate that capital funding at public institutions has stagnated for the past 7 years, at rates significantly below private institutions' funding levels. In response to shortfalls, public institutions …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Energy Education that Makes K-12 'Energy Wise'
- North Carolina A&T State University (NC)
Educating our youngest generation about energy efficiency is more important than ever. This session will introduce a successful approach to a university energy education outreach program targeting the local K-12 …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Beyond the Campus: Community Engagement in Sustainability and Resilience
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
In this session we will show how we engaged community partners in climate change resilience efforts and promoted energy and water conservation in the community. In 2015-16 the Institute for …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Campus-Scale Water Reuse Solutions to Enhance Water Sustainability in Higher Ed
- NextEra Distributed Water, Inc. (VA)
Water reclamation and reuse is vital for bulk-water consumers, like college campuses, to meet water supply challenges. Campus-scale reclaimed water projects, like the WaterHub® at Emory University, are becoming increasingly …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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UMN Energy Club: Preparing Leaders in Energy and Climate through Connecting and Empowering Students
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
Because energy underpins every aspect of society, it requires a diverse range of perspectives to truly understand its comprehensive role in the world. Energy influences many fields, including technology, policy, …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Colloquium on Research Innovation in Food, Energy, Water Systems Nexus (INFEWS) AASHE 4TH Annual Workshop Research in Sustainability
- University of Arkansas (AR)
This colloquium focuses on the direct interdependencies and connections that exist related to the production, extraction, generation and use, between food, energy, and water and the impacts at the nexus …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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The Economics of Sustainability: Using Microeconomic Principles to Teach Sustainability
- Aquinas College (MI)
As a means to support a sustainable business program at Aquinas College, principles of microeconomics courses take on a unique sustainability focus. Here the concepts of consumption and production are …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Go Beyond Offsetting by Onsetting Carbon Consciousness
- Living Routes, Inc. (MA)
This poster will describe the pros and cons of Carbon Onsetting and explain onsetting as an alternative system that allows greater student engagement and can support meaningful sustainability projects. It …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Leveraging Portfolio Manager and ENERGY STAR on Campus
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
Portfolio Manager and ENERGY STAR remain largely untapped resources in the higher education sector. Come to this session to learn about how some leading edge schools are capitalizing on our …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Edinboro University Green Initiatives
- Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (PA)
In the past decade Edinboro University has made sustainability a hallmark of its facilities management. This poster summarizes EU's projects including a solar array, use of passive solar architecture for …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Solar Best Practices: Onsite vs. Offsite and Leveraging Energy Information Software and Energy Storage for Optimal Savings
- Stanford University (CA)
- SunPower Corp (CA)
Universities and colleges are often limited in their ability to implement large-scale solar projects due to space constraints on campus. To solve this challenge, some academic institutions are turning to …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Setting the World Aflame: Town-Gown Collaboration through Solar Spring Break
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
UC Berkeley partners with GRID Alternatives' Solar Spring Break to engage students during spring break in the installation of solar panels for underrepresented communities. This partnership provides communities with access …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Implementing a LED Lighting Program Across a Major University Campus
- Princeton University (NJ)
- Pearl Street LED Lighting Systems (NJ)
Princeton University has begun the execution of a program to convert their entire campus to LED lighting. This lighting efficiency program is in support of the Universities sustainability initiatives and …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Renewable Energy for Colleges: Onsite and Virtual Solar Solutions
- NRG Energy, Inc (NJ)
Procuring renewable energy is expanding beyond its obvious value as the environmentally responsible thing to do; now it's increasingly becoming an economically viable option, as well. Colleges and universities, in …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Creating a culture of operational visibility: the data-driven future of campus operations
- Atrius (CA)
Join us to discuss how, by implementing cost-effective energy-efficiency measures, many colleges and universities have the potential to cut their energy bills by 30% or more. Yet campus sustainability practitioners …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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From 'What if?' to 'What's next?'
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
Inspired by the power of asking 'what if', the Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) project (www.ornl.gov/amie) showcases an innovation platform to develop, integrate, and demonstrate energy solutions at game-changing speed …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems: National Science Foundation (NSF) Initiative to Examine Critical Issues in Today's World
- National Science Foundation
At the end of 2015, the NSF put out its first request for proposals for the INFEWS program. Over the next five years the program plans to fund interdisciplinary projects …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
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White Paper: Investing in Clean Energy: Campuses and Endowments
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowments Network's new report titled “Investing in Clean Energy: Campuses and Endowments” was designed to encourage conversation about the financial and societal benefits of clean energy investments higher …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2016
- Publications
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Obama, Bill Gates to lead major effort to spur spending on climate research
- The Washington Post (DC)
This article describes the launch of two separate initiatives to invest billions of dollars in clean energy research and development. "Mission Innovation” is a commitment by countries - including United …
- Posted Nov. 14, 2016
- Publications
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Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016
- United Nations Environment Programme
This report tracks private and public investments in renewable energy, including research and development funding. Key findings in relation to R&D funding include:
- Research and development spending on renewable energy …
- Posted Nov. 14, 2016
- Publications
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296 kW Rooftop Arrays: School of Law Building, MacMillan Law Library, and North Decatur Building.
- Emory University (GA)
Together, the three sites will have the capacity to produce about 295.5 kilowatts (kW), a rating of the systems' direct current (DC) output power, according to Brent Zern, assistant director …
- Posted Nov. 2, 2016
- Green Power Projects
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539 kW Rooftop Array: Res/Rec
- North Central College (IL)
The installation of 1,632 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and energy storage system on the roof of the Residence Hall/Recreation Center (Res/Rec) will provide 22 percent of the electricity for Res/Rec, …
- Posted Nov. 1, 2016
- Green Power Projects
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Certificate of Specialization in Energy and Clean Technology Law
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
JD and LLM (traditional track) students are eligible to earn this certificate, which encourages students to develop a broad background in fundamental areas of the law while receiving advanced training …
- Posted Oct. 31, 2016
- Academic Programs
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Promoting energy efficiency in a South African university
- University of Johannesburg (Gauteng)
Electricity supply issues have resulted in widespread blackouts and increased utility costs in South Africa. This is placing financial pressure on universities as they have limited means of increasing their …
- Posted Oct. 28, 2016
- Publications
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Report: Options for Achieving a Carbon Neutral Campus by 2035
- Cornell University (NY)
Created by the Senior Leaders Climate Action Group at Cornell University to better inform decision-making on reaching carbon neutrality by 2035. The report focuses on cost-benefit analysis of solutions to …
- Posted Oct. 21, 2016
- Publications
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4 kW State Farm Solar Research Facility System
- Appalachian State University (NC)
This research facility offers multiple opportunities to students and staff at Appalachian state to conduct research in photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies. There are a number of photovoltaic and solar …
- Posted Oct. 20, 2016
- Green Power Projects
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3.2 MW Solar Parking Canopy
- Bristol Community College (MA)
A new 3.2 MW solar parking canopy covering 800 parking spaces across five acres at the Bristol Community College’s Fall River Campus is the largest of its kind in New …
- Posted Oct. 18, 2016
- Green Power Projects
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100 kW Ground Mount Array: Donald W. Reynolds Center for Technology
- Western Nevada College (NV)
- Black Rock Solar (NV)
In 2012, a 418-panel arrangement that can produce 100-kilowatts of energy was placed adjacent to the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Technology.
- Posted Oct. 18, 2016
- Green Power Projects
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10 kW Rooftop Array: Measurement, Materials & Sustainable Environment Center
- University of Kansas (KS)
Powerful research defines KU. And now it’s spelled out — in solar panels — on one of the newest buildings in KU’s engineering complex. Westar Energy recently awarded the university …
- Posted Oct. 18, 2016
- Green Power Projects
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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.