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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Designing and Operating a Certified "Living Building:" Meeting Certification and Maintaining Net-Zero Energy
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
- Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects (MO)
The Tyson Living Learning Center at Washington University in St. Louis opened in May 2009 and on October 12, 2010 became one of the first two buildings in the world …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Murray State University Takes Advantage of Smartgrid Volt/VAR Optimization Technology
- Murray State University (KY)
- Honeywell (NH)
In February 2010. UtiliData, Inc. commissioned a Smartgrid Volt/VAR Optimization system on the campus of Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. The system was based upon the AdaptiVolt™ Volt/VAR Optimization …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Powerful Partnerships: Working with Your Local Utility to Promote and Fund Energy Efficiency Initiatives
- University of San Diego (CA)
During a time of budget cuts and resource constraints, colleges now more than ever need to work smarter to lower costs, and to meet their energy efficiency and sustainability goals. …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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National Campus Energy Trends: How do you measure success?
- Gordian (SC)
This session will present campus energy performance metrics including national trends and specific case studies. Metrics are generated from the largest academic facilities database in the country representing nearly 10 …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Mindfulness in Energy Use: Course Participants Driving Conservation
- University of Louisville (KY)
Universities face an increasingly challenging financial landscape. In our state, government officials have cut funding for higher education for 12 years running. This budgetary crisis, combined with increasing enrollment, has …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Laboratory Fume Hood Campaigns: Students Educating Staff to Save Energy
- Alliance to Save Energy (CA)
Students are valuable campus leaders and effective advocates for energy savings on campus, including in unique locations like scientific laboratories. By spearheading lab fume hood campaigns and/or competitions, students have …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Who Knew Becoming NABCEP Certified Could Have a Social Justice Component?
- Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (NC)
Who knew becoming NABCEP Certified Could Have a Social Justice Component?
This presentation will outline the procedures of how to become NABCEP certified for the entry Level PV and Solar …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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WaterShed: the University of Maryland's Winning Solar Decathlon 2011 Entry
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
WaterShed is the net-zero home inspired by the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem that won the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon 2011. The student-designed, student-built home features constructed wetlands, a modular …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Analysis of Actual Energy Savings for Variable Flow Fume Hoods
- Boston University (MA)
Fume hoods are recognized as one of the major factors that result in high energy use in laboratories. To reduce their impact, many laboratories in industry and academia utilize variable-air-volume …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Summit Keynote Given by Billy Parish
- AASHE (MA)
Billy Parish is Co-Founder and President of Solar Mosaic, a solar investment marketplace, and Co-Author of Making Good: Finding Meaning, Money & Community in a Changing World. In 2002, he …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Demonstrating Affordable Net-Zero Energy on Campus
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
Is it possible to achieve net-zero-energy performance and carbon neutrality in a retrofit of an historic residence with a tight budget? When this university's Office of Sustainability was presented with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Role of Dining Services in Sustainability Programming
- Ithaca College (NY)
Ithaca College and their food service provider, Sodexo Corporation, have worked together since 2009 to give continued support to the campuses Climate Action Plan through a Comprehensive Energy Initiative. Staffers …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Innovative Tool for Integrated Energy Planning
- Michigan State University (MI)
One of the greatest challenges for universities is how to reliably meet the university's growing energy needs while reducing negative impacts of power generation. The presenting institution has its own …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Lighting the Way to Energy Savings
- New York University (NY)
Are you bewildered by the lighting options available? As LED's start to enter the mainstream many institutions are contemplating whether to make the switch from traditional fluorescent and incandescent. There …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Oil Literacy
- Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
Oil drives the global economy and supports the lifestyles to which the industrialized world has become accustomed. But fossil fuels are precious and finite, and their consumption continues unabated. Oil …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Case Study on a Residential Energy Efficiency Service Learning Education Program
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
The mission of the National Energy Leadership Corps (NELC) education program is to train (STEM discipline) students in partner universities to complete energy assessments and to perform home energy assessments …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Bolster Your Ongoing Efforts with ENERGY STAR
- Radford University (VA)
Radford University (RU) is working towards a goal of climate neutrality. To conserve resources, reduce costs and GHG emissions, and educate campus stakeholders, Radford University participates in US EPA's ENERGY …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Strategic Planning for Sustainability and Energy Conservation at a University
- Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Central Office (NJ)
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, has been recognized by the EPA as the top institution in Higher Education, for reducing Green House Gases under their MOU Program. This …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sizing Your School's Solar Potential
- Santa Monica College (CA)
Tomorrow's brave new sustainable world will undoubtedly find environmentally progressive campuses on the forefront of renewable energy development, specifically in the saturation of solar photovoltaics on rooftops. Facilities and Operation …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Envisioning the Resilient Campus: Planning for Reduced Campus Energy Consumption through Data Analysis and Visualization at St. Olaf College
- St. Olaf College (MN)
Campuses are making great strides to integrate sustainability into their operations and planning through initiatives such as STARS and the ACUPCC. However, while campus master plans may include a section …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Partnering to Increase Community Access to Solar Energy
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
The Southwest is blessed with the highest abundance of solar resource in the country, yet institutional barriers persist that keep solar costly and prevent local governments, homeowners and businesses from …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Cooling Tower Wastewater Recycling with Smart Integrated Membrane Systems
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
The feasibility of reclaiming potable-quality water from the UCLA Co-Generation (CoGen) plant cooling tower blowdown wastewater was evaluated using a novel integrated ultrafiltration (UF)/Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane system in order …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Case Study of Multi-Campus, Interdisciplinary Energy Education Through Public-Private Partnership
- University of Hawaii Community Colleges (HI)
Energy Service Companies (ESCO's) that partner with campuses to reduce their energy bills by millions provide an unprecedented opportunity for multi-stakeholder educational programs that engage students in cutting edge training, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Case Study of Multi-Campus, Interdisciplinary Energy Education to Empower Student Engagement
- University of Hawaii Community Colleges (HI)
Today's students are tech and media savvy and ready to work at a professional level with mentors and stakeholders who can help them make a measurable impact in the areas …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Empowering Physical Plant as Sustainability Ambassadors
- Xavier University (OH)
The Office of Physical Plant as Xavier University has 85 professionals, serving a campus community of 8,000 plus. The Sustainability Program was quietly effective, but the department's humility meant that …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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From Coal to Clean Energy: Divest for A Clean Energy Future
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
The urgency and intensity of the climate crisis is escalating, and policy mechanisms are failing. Young people across the nation will be facing the consequences of environmental crises that they …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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University of Northern BC Renewable Energy Feasibility Study, with Primary Consideration to Wind Energy
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
This project performed through the University of Northern BC and funded by the UNBC Green Fund. The primary objective of the study was to examine the wind energy potential for …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Towards a Zero Plus Campus
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
The Zero Plus Campus Project (Z+ Project) is developing an innovative interdisciplinary curriculum focused on modeling the performance of the buildings integrated in the landscape to regenerate the campus environment …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Solar Photovoltaic Installations On Campus: A Comparative Overview With Case Studies
- AASHE (MA)
A representative series of comprehensive case studies for solar photovoltaic installations at institutions of higher education in the United States.
This presentation will highlight a range of solar installations on …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Energy auditing by summer undergraduate interns
- Sewanee - The University of the South (TN)
With tight budgets, many small colleges have a hard time finding the funds to hire a consulting engineering firm to conduct energy audits and develop retrofit strategies. A way to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Estimating the energy and greenhouse gas emissions embedded in metered water at the University of Arizona
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Located in the center of the Tucson metropolitan area, the University of Arizona obtains its water from a system of on-site wells and a municipal water system that includes significant …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Billion Dollar Green Challenge: How Campus Green Revolving Funds are Saving Energy and Money (2011)
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
Facing burdensome budget cuts and unstable energy costs, many colleges are grappling with how to finance urgently needed, but capital-intensive, energy efficiency retrofits. In response to this need, the panel …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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High Efficiency Run-Around Energy Recovery in Large Buildings
- Konvekta USA Inc. (NJ)
Air-conditioning systems are among the greatest energy consumers in large buildings such as schools, laboratories and hospitals. European high performance 'run around energy recovery systems' (RAERS), guaranteeing strict separation of …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Hands-on undergraduate instruction in renewable energy; Linking student research and community partners
- Allegheny College (PA)
Students in an introductory research methods class have engaged in research projects that enable them to help evaluate various local renewable energy options. All are hands-on projects that require students …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating an Energy Management Program from Limited Resources, Expertise and Funding
- Meredith College (NC)
This session will examine methods to establish an energy management program at a small college. Using a women's college in Raleigh, North Carolina as a case study, the presentation will …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Designing Sustainability Into Products: The Effectiveness of Eco-messages integrated into user interfaces
- New York University (NY)
Sustainability messages were added to the control panels of washing machines in university laundry facilities, and data was gathered to compare users' cycle choices (hot, warm, or cold) with cycle …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Community Partnerships for a University-based Renewable Energy Biodigester
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
The university is operating the first commercial-scale dry anaerobic biodigester in the western hemisphere. The facility will provide the equivalent of up to 10% of campus electricity and heat, and …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Innovative Investment Models for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
- Drexel University (PA)
- Blue Hill Partners (PA)
Innovative business models and financing solutions are required to drive the next level of efficiency and sustainability on campus. Blue Hill Partners, a Philadelphia based firm, has teamed with the …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Opportunities for Achieving Significant Energy Reduction in Existing University Buildings: developing efficient HVAC operations
- Boston University (MA)
This paper presents the results of 4 years of a course-based energy audit for a variety of mid to large size office, classroom and laboratory buildings with forced air HVAC …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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University Energy Conservation Measures: It Takes a Community
- Bowling Green State University (OH)
Energy Conservation Measures ("ECM") is an immense undertaking by the university to retrofit 45 buildings on campus with an end goal of increasing energy efficiency. A multimillion dollar project begun …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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When Do Variable Flow Fume Hoods Save Energy? implications for lab design and behavior modification
- Boston University (MA)
Many university sustainability websites indicate the importance of using variable flow fume hoods and devising programs to ensure they are closed when not in use in order to reduce energy …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Living and Learning in a Passive House Residence Hall
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
In the fall of 2011, ten students will move into a unique campus residence, TerraHaus, the first American college residence designed to meet the Passive House standard, the highest international …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Creating Partnerships for More Effective Energy-Saving Competitions
- New York University (NY)
Campus residential energy saving competitions have become critical elements of many universities' sustainability engagement and environmental performance efforts. One such method for reductions is campus competitions. Residents are encouraged to …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Energy Management in the Curriculum: The ENERGY STAR Course for Colleges and Universities
- American University (DC)
- Cadmus Group, Inc. (FL)
Understanding the fundamentals of energy management is a marketable skill in any economic climate. Further, understanding the means to and metrics of energy efficiency, and how policy decisions intertwine with …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Bridging the Information Gap in Campus Energy Management: Submetering Buildings for Energy Use Reduction
- American University (DC)
- Cadmus Group, Inc. (FL)
Colleges and universities often prefer the simplicity of measuring the energy use of many buildings, or even an entire campus, with a single meter installed at minimal expense. However, as …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Business Case for Behavior-Based Conservation Programs at Stanford
- Stanford University (CA)
Behavior-based conservation programs yield lower energy and cost savings than those achieved via major building system retrofits, but such programs engage individuals and make sustainability more tangible. When purposefully constructed …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building an Electric Car in the Classroom - An Experiment in Project Based Learning
- Alfred State College (NY)
In the fall semester of 2010 a class of seventh semester seniors in the Alfred State College Mechanical Engineering Technology program successfully produced a road legal, all-electric vehicle from a …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Learning from the Solar Decathlon: abrasion, collaboration, and transformation
- University of Florida (FL)
The Solar Decathlon, a biannual international collegiate competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE), challenges 20 interdisciplinary student teams from around the world to design, build and operate …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Maximizing Dorm Energy Savings with Intelligent HVAC Controls
- New York University (NY)
Universities can reduce their HVAC energy use in Residence Halls by 25-32% by installing occupancy based thermostat controls. Traditionally when occupants are allowed to heat and cool as much as …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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An Overview of Biomass Energy Technologies for Campuses
- Biomass Energy Resource Center (VT)
Biomass is a renewable energy option that can be used for heating, cooling, power, and combined heat and power for college and university campuses. There are many biomass technology options, …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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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.