Case Studies

Introduction

AASHE’s case study library contains hundreds of detailed case studies on a wide variety of higher education sustainability initiatives from faculty development programs to whole campus energy retrofits to community partnerships. All case studies are entered in the annual AASHE Awards Program.

At a Glance

880
Total Resources
472
Organizations
21
Countries
48
U.S. States & Territories
7
Canadian Provinces

Bars in graphs can be clicked to view resources that align with a particular category. Because a resource may be listed under multiple topics and disciplines, graph data may include higher total counts than what is indicated in total resources above.

880 resources

Payne Family Native American Center

  • University of Montana (MT)

The Payne Family Native American Center, the first of its kind in the nation, is an excellent example of sustainability in practice. This symbolically rich building provides a place for ...

  • Posted July 24, 2012
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Apogee Stadium

  • University of North Texas (TX)
  • HKS Architects (TX)

Completed in fall 2011, the 30,000-seat Apogee Stadium is the first LEED Platinum collegiate football stadium in the world. The stadium features luxury suites, an amenity-filled club level, a ...

  • Posted July 24, 2012
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Linde + Robinson Laboratory for Global Environmental Science

  • California Institute of Technology (CA)
  • Architectural Resources Group (CA)

This groundbreaking project rehabilitated a 1932 astrophysics laboratory at Caltech into a cutting-edge center for research and instruction in global environmental science. The $35 million rehabilitation preserved the significant architectural ...

  • Posted July 24, 2012
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Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

The Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery is a world-class research facility that houses twin interdisciplinary institutes: the private, nonprofit Morgridge Institute for Research and the public, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. With ...

  • Posted July 24, 2012
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Sabine Hall Science Building

  • Perkins+Will (NY)
  • Dallas College (TX)

Richland College, one of seven colleges of the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD), is dedicated to its mission of "teaching, learning and community building." Sabine Hall Science Building, its ...

  • Posted July 24, 2012
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Water Conservation Strategies in LEED Residence Halls

  • Emory University (GA)
  • Ayers Saint Gross (MD)

Emory University's water conservation goals are extensive and not only include reduced potable water use in our buildings but also across campus, effecting uses such as irrigation and physical ...

  • Posted July 24, 2012
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Education Building

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

This project renovated nearly 71,000 GSF of the existing Education Building including a 37,000 GSF replacement and a four story addition. This project also included the reconstruction of ...

  • Posted July 24, 2012
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Kaua'i Community College - Ho'ouluwehi: The Sustainable Living Institute of Kaua'i

  • University of Hawaii Kauai Community College (HI)

Kaua'i Community College ("KCC") created Ho'ouluwehi: The Sustainable Living Institute of Kaua'i to bring the college and island community together in a place-based approach to cultural, economic ...

  • Posted July 11, 2012
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Efforts in Making Tuition More Sustainable

  • Sewanee - The University of the South (TN)

Recently, Sewanee has taken three tuition actions in an effort to make the cost of an excellent college education more sustainable. In January 2012, the University announced that it would ...

  • Posted July 11, 2012
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Providing a Framework for Student Driven Sustainability in the Residence Halls: The Green Room Certification Program

  • Indiana University Bloomington (IN)

The Green Room Certification Program (GRCP) is designed to provide students living in the residence halls an individual or room-by-room framework for 1) reducing their energy and resource consumption, and ...

  • Posted July 10, 2012
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The Student Sustainability Summits

  • University of Cincinnati (OH)

The Student Sustainability Summit (Summit) at the University of Cincinnati (UC) began in the spring of 2011. Its ever-evolving aim is to train the next generation of students to become ...


Behind the Shower Curtain: How UC Merced Saved a Million Gallons of Water

  • University of California, Merced (CA)

In the fall of 2011, in the agricultural center of California, UC Merced assembled a broad coalition of students, faculty, organizers, and administrators to implement a campus-wide dormitory competition to ...


Implementing UBC's Climate Action Plan

  • University of British Columbia (BC)

The University of British Columbia (UBC)'s comprehensive Climate Action Plan, launched in 2010, is the result of a multi-year planning process that involved over 200 students, staff and faculty ...


Alfred State's Net-Zero Energy Demonstration Home

  • Alfred State College (NY)

Students in a variety of construction-related programs at Alfred State constructed a net-zero energy demonstration home as part of their coursework. The 2200 square foot home, which is located on ...


One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Green Fish: How URI Saves 40 Million Gallons of Water a Year

  • University of Rhode Island (RI)

Without clean water, the University of Rhode Island's Aquaculture Center can't fulfill its mission to house fish for research. Yet, the center's water source left a large ...


Energizing the Community for Water Sustainability

  • Stetson University (FL)

The project was designed to energize Stetson students and the broader community around water sustainability on and off campus. Most domestic, agricultural, and industrial water used in Florida originates in ...


We Conserve: A Campus Wide Campaign

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

The University of Wisconsin - Madison initiated the aggressive We Conserve program in 2006 to further strengthen its environmental stewardship practices and to promote education and motivation to the community on ...


Skidmore College's Innovative District Geothermal System

  • Skidmore College (NY)

Skidmore College has utilized geothermal heating and cooling, a renewable energy, for several years now, beginning with the installations in our Northwoods Village residential apartments, then the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall ...


Unity House

  • Unity Environmental University (ME)
  • Thornton Tomasetti (ME)
  • Bensonwood Homes (NH)

Completed in 2008, the 1,937-square-foot, LEED Platinum Unity House is the on-campus home of Unity College's President. Unity House was designed and built with education in mind. It ...


Environmental and Regulatory Management System (ERMS)

  • University of Texas at Arlington (TX)

UT Arlignton's Environmental and Regulatory Management System (ERMS) is a methodical approach to minimize adverse environmental impacts, maintain regulatory compliance, promote sustainability, and encourage safe work practices at The ...


Roadmap to Sustainability for Departmental Planning

  • Yale University (CT)

The Roadmap to Sustainability is a unique program designed to guide departments within a larger institution in creating department/unit specific Sustainability Action Plans. The Yale Office of Sustainability developed ...


Baylor Energy Awareness Program: Engaging the Campus Community

  • Baylor University (TX)
  • Aramark (PA)

Baylor Facility Services, along with ARAMARK Higher Education and Baylor University, has embarked on a ground-breaking energy engagement program for the campus, leading Baylor's staff, students and community in ...


Duke University's Sustainability Communications - Making the Campus Climate Action Plan Personal

  • Duke University (NC)

In 2007, Duke University signed the ACUPCC and embarked on a journey to assess institutional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, develop strategies to impact the campus footprint and become a carbon ...


Recycling, Reuse, and Composting Program: Phase 1

  • University of Rochester (NY)

Until 2008, a formal recycling program did not exist at our University. In order to establish a sustainability program that would expand and thrive, Support Operations implemented Phase 1 of ...


Foam Free Dining at the University of Florida

  • University of Florida (FL)
  • Aramark (PA)

Gator Dining Services at the University of Florida (UF) eliminated foam containers from campus dining operations, making the University of Florida the only ARAMARK foam- free dining operation in the ...


Weaving Sustainability into New Employee Orientation

  • University of Louisville (KY)

At the University of Louisville, we took advantage of an existing, mandatory day-long New Employee Orientation to begin educating all new full-time employees about the fundamentals of sustainability, our institutional ...


WE Over ME Farm

  • Paul Quinn College (TX)

Surrounded by a food desert, Paul Quinn College has assumed the responsibility to provide the residents of Highland Hills/southern Dallas within the zip code of 75241, access to healthy ...


Diversity@Emory - The Path to Emory University's Diversity Web Portal

  • Emory University (GA)

To establish Emory University's first diversity web portal --diversity.emory.edu


Culture Clash: Art, Electrons, Teaching, Research, and Engagement Meet at the Solar Strand

  • University at Buffalo (NY)

The University at Buffalo's 750 kilowatt Solar Strand, brought to life by world-renowned artist Walter Hood, reflects a transformative vision that defines the future of sustainability. Its approach moves ...

  • Posted June 29, 2012
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Wisconsin's Green Future Campaign

  • Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WI)

Project Overview: The WTCS Presidents' Association Green Initiative Committee requested assistance by the Statewide Marketing Consortium (SMC) to develop communications tools on sustainability. Given the vast number of students educated ...

  • Posted June 29, 2012
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Combining technology and water to conserve irrigation

  • University of Texas at Austin (TX)

The University of Texas at Austin's facilities management initiated a comprehensive program in fall 2007 to develop and implement demand-side water conservation measures. During this project it was determined ...

  • Posted June 29, 2012
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Beyond the White Stripes: Transportation Demand Management at a Commuter College

  • Bellevue College (WA)

Bellevue College (BC) is the largest institution in Washington State's Community and Technical College System with an enrollment of more than 38,000 students annually. Like many community colleges ...

  • Posted June 29, 2012
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Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative

  • Duke University (NC)

The Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCOI) was established in 2009 in order to help Duke University achieve carbon neutrality by 2024. Duke University is one of the only universities in ...

  • Posted June 29, 2012
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Sustainable IT: Deploying and Demonstrating Innovative Data Center Cooling Technology to Achieve End Use Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Benefits at Rochester Institute of Technology

  • Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
  • OptiCool Technologies (NY)

In the spring of 2012 Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) worked with one of its Clean Energy Incubator (CEI) technology companies to deploy, test, and validate their advanced and innovative ...

  • Posted June 28, 2012
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Lakeshore Technical College Old Growth Forest

  • Lakeshore Technical College (WI)

The Lakeshore Technical College's Old Growth Forest is a unique biological feature that has evolved over more than 10,000 years without any significant intervention. The 25 acre forest ...

  • Posted June 27, 2012
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Public-Private Food Waste Composting Program

  • Illinois State University (IL)
  • Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)

The goal of this project was to provide a viable option for businesses and institutions to divert their food waste from the solid waste stream. McLean County is a prime ...

  • Posted June 26, 2012
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Owens Community College HARVEST Project

  • Owens Community College (OH)

The Owens Community College Harvest Project seeks to "Help all People Reap the Value of Education through Service and working Together." Our on campus food pantry and community garden serve ...

  • Posted June 22, 2012
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Paperless Campus Initiative

  • St. Edward's University (TX)

In recent years, St. Edward's University has undertaken several paperless initiatives. That which has most directly impacted the entire university community (students, faculty and staff) was spearheaded by Human ...

  • Posted June 22, 2012
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One World One Water (OWOW) Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship

  • Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)

Metropolitan State College of Denver is now the home of an exciting new water institution - the One World One Water (OWOW) Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship. (Faculty and ...

  • Posted June 15, 2012
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Earning Green By Going Green: A Case Study of the Waste Stream at LIU Post

  • LIU Post (NY)

This is a complete analysis of the waste stream at LIU Post, looking at nearly every type of category of waste that we produce. A waste audit was conducted to ...

  • Posted June 11, 2012
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Sustainable Sites Certification for The Green at College Park on the Campus of The University of Texas at Arlington

  • University of Texas at Arlington (TX)

The Green at College Park at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) received one of the first three certifications issued worldwide by the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) in February ...


Zero Waste at Ohio Stadium: Lessons Learned and a Beginner's Guide

  • The Ohio State University (OH)

In autumn 2011, The Ohio State University launched the Zero Waste at Ohio Stadium program, becoming the largest stadium in the country to attempt a "zero waste" initiative. Zero waste ...

  • Posted March 13, 2012
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Pratt Institute - Myrtle Hall

  • Pratt Institute (NY)

Pratt Institute partnered to obtain a vacant lot at the northern boundary of our campus in Brooklyn , that had been a Kentucky Fried Chicken. The lot is part of the ...

  • Posted June 30, 2011
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Connecting the Next Generation to Urban Landscapes

  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)

The International Society for Land care Emissions (ISLE) has proposed a Next Generation Land Care project for the University of Colorado at Boulder to assess and measure the ecological, human ...

  • Posted June 27, 2011
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Groundmaking: Class of 2010 Green Roof at Rensselaer

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY)

In the spring of 2011, after almost 16 months of planning, members from the entire Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute community joined hands in planting 18,000 small plants on a 6 ...

  • Posted June 25, 2011
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Marcellus Monitoring: Helping communities turn fear into data collection.

  • Dickinson College (PA)

In 2010, the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) set out to develop a community-based monitoring protocol that could help communities answer the question "is my local stream being adversely ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
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Warren Wilson College Native Grass Landscaping: Changing the Way We Plant the Campus to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Improve Wildlife Habitat and Minimize Maintenance

  • Warren Wilson College (NC)

Since 1999, students on the College's Landscaping Crew have collected native grass and wildflower seeds, established a six-acre campus nursery and acres of prairie meadow habitat, and helped restore ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
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Getting to Net- Zero Energy: Lessons Learned from a Living Building Challenge

  • Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
  • Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects (MO)

In 2008, Washington University in St. Louis committed to the construction of a new building at its environmental field station, Tyson Research Center. This project, the Living Learning Center (LLC ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
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Centennial Solar Panel System

  • Northwestern University (IL)
  • Engineers for a Sustainable World (CO)

The Centennial Solar Panel System (CSPS), a 17 kW solar photovoltaic array at Northwestern University, is a partner project between Engineers for a Sustainable World and the Northwestern Sustainability Fund ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
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Greeks Go Green LEAF Rating System

  • Cornell University (NY)

The Greeks Go Green LEAF Rating system rates chapters and keeps track of their progress related to sustainability initiatives. This system provides for an objective, consistent evaluation of over 70 ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
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