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.

2541 resources

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 ...

  • 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 ...

  • 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 (PA)

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 ...

  • 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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Energy Isn't "Free"

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

Our university recently undertook a campuswide program designed to ensure that the excellence of our administrative environment matches its research and teaching, and to direct the maximum level of resources ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Identifying Energy Conservation Measures. Tailoring Retro-commissioning to meet your needs.

  • New York University (NY)

Retro-commissioning (RCx) has been identified as a definitive way to determine Energy Conservation Measures at an often less than one year payback. This briefing will discuss lessons learned and best ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Net-Zero Study on a Community College

  • University of Dayton (OH)

During the 1960's and early 1970's, on average, of one community colleges was opened every week (Breneman & Nelson). Therefore, colleges in the same regions are likely to ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaging Students to Generate 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 integrated performance of buildings in the landscape to regenerate the campus environment with ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Research on Energy Savings Opportunities in University Libraries

  • Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)

While HVAC equipment shutdowns have long been recognized as a strategic option for achieving energy savings, the particular requirements of preservation environments for university library collections make such strategies difficult ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Development and Implementation of the Calvin Energy Recovery Fund

  • Calvin University (MI)

Typically, the first and least expensive recommended step in addressing climate change and peak energy concerns at an institutional level is improved energy efficiency. Yet, few organizations move forward with ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Laboratory for a Sustainable Energy Course

  • Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)

At our university all students are required to complete a general education science lecture course, a science and society lecture course, and a laboratory course that accompanies one of these ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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UCSB's Student Services Renewable Energy Initiative and the Net Zero Project

  • University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)

The Student Services Renewable Energy Initiative is a major component of our University's Division of Student Affairs' goal to achieve Zero Net Energy and LEED EB Gold Status for ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Group Projects for a Sustainability Symposium

  • Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)

Since we have 240 students enrolled in sections of the introductory sustainable energy course and 40 sustainable energy studies majors in upper division courses, we put on a Sustainability Symposium ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Lights Off Cornell: Students Use Mobile Apps for Energy Conservation

  • Cornell University (NY)

Launched in Spring 2010, Lights Off Cornell (LOC) is a student-led energy conservation program that organizes Cornell students, faculty, and staff to turn off lights after hours Monday through Friday ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Towards Green Campuses In Egypt: Using Simulation Tools for Optimization of Drawing Halls in Egypt

  • Mansoura University

The paper describes the use of simulation tools for optimizing the energy demands of drawing halls in Mansoura University, as a part of the strategy "Towards green campuses in Egypt"".

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Exploiting In-State Rivalries for Energy Conservation - the Take Charge! Challenge in Kansas

  • Kansas State University (KS)

Energy conservation competitions are increasingly common at colleges and universities, but few move beyond the boundaries of individual institutions. This presentation will report on the results of the Take Charge ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability in Campus Operations at Three Higher Education Institutions in Tompkins County, New York.

  • New York Institute of Technology - Manhattan Campus (NY)

This paper demonstrates how the three higher education institutions in Tompkins County, New York are making good progress in the planning and implementation of actions to make campus operations more ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Conservation Nationals 2012: Building a collaborative strategy for expanding conservation events in residential housing

  • Atrius (CA)

For a growing number of schools, resource use reduction competitions within and between campuses have proven to be useful mechanisms to engage, educate, motivate and empower individual and community stewardship ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Leading by Example: Advancing Sustainability at the Institutional Level Through Performance Contracting

  • Siemens Industry, Inc. (IL)

This school has embarked on a campus-wide, state-wide, 5-phase holistic energy project over 8 years that is estimated at a staggering $60 million in energy efficiency retrofits. A project of ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Academic Infusion of Sustainability: Leading Faculty and Curriculum Developers Share Best Practices

  • Ball State University (IN)
  • Alliance to Save Energy (CA)

Training emerging professionals about sustainability concepts needs to happen both in and out of the classroom in order to meet ambitious national workforce education and training goals. The process of ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero energy home constructed by students built to NAHB green standards

  • Alfred State College (NY)

The college has been constructing homes with a student workforce as part of the curriculum since 1966 and selling them to the public. House number 51 is built to the ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainable Academic Computing Through Centralized Virtualization

  • Alfred State College (NY)

Computer and information technology students require 24 hour access to powerful desktop computer workstations in order to complete lab assignments that may involve several virtual client and server computers. The ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Remote Controlled 2-Axis Photovoltaic Mount with Metering

  • Alfred State College (NY)

Senior students designed a remote controlled azimuth and altitude adjusting PV mount. The project allows students in an alternative energy course to change the PV module's slope and azimuth ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Wide Energy Challenge: Success through Unique Strategies and Diverse Collaborations

  • Allegheny College (PA)

After committing to a Climate Action Plan and undertaking multiple energy efficiency retrofits, Allegheny College tackled the development of an effective yet feasible Energy Challenge. It was conceived as a ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Developing a Large-Scale Solar Project on Campus

  • AMSOLAR International (CA)

A large private university entered into a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement in 2010 with a solar development company focused on the education sector. The project was completed in fall 2010 ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Appalachian State University Renewable Energy Initiative: Education for the Future

  • Appalachian State University (NC)

The Renewable Energy Initiative, ASUREI, is a student-led organization funded by student fees. We seek to reduce the environmental impact of our university in Boone, NC by funding, designing and ...

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Obtaining Wind and Solar-Produced Electricity for Your Campus

  • Austin Energy (TX)

Wind and solar farm developers need credit-worthy customers willing to commit to long-term purchase contracts for the energy that these facilities will generate. Some colleges and universities have an appetite ...

  • 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

OP 6: Clean and Renewable Energy

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

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