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
Total Resources
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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.
New Resources
Transforming Campus Energy Infrastructure from Steam to Low-Carbon Energy at Humber Polytechnic
- Humber Polytechnic (ON)
Project SWITCH is a campus-wide energy infrastructure transformation at Humber Polytechnic’s North Campus that replaced a legacy steam-based heating system with a low-temperature hot water energy network designed to enable …
- Posted Jan. 23, 2026
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Returnable Shelves - Promoting Environmental and Social Benefits via Recyclable Waste Diversion
- University of Michigan (MI)
Michigan Dining launched the Returnable Shelves initiative to cut landfill waste and make it easier to access deposit-eligible bottles and cans. The project involved attaching lightweight shelves to existing landfill …
- Posted Jan. 23, 2026
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Creating a Bird-friendly Aggieland
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Creating a Bird Friendly Aggieland project aims to enhance campus biodiversity by creating a safe environment for birds while enriching the campus community's understanding of the importance of wildlife …
- Posted Jan. 23, 2026
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Pitt Eats by Chartwells: A Campus‑Driven Approach to Ending Food Insecurity
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
- 412 Food Rescue (PA)
The University of Pittsburgh’s Food Security Lockers innovatively recover surplus food from campus dining and distribute it to food insecure students. Launched in Fall 2023, the University of Pittsburgh’s Food …
- Posted Jan. 23, 2026
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Seed Library in the Georgia Southern Campus Community Garden
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
Placing the Seed Library in the campus Community Garden at Georgia Southern has diverse benefits for economic, social, and environmental sustainability. With a budget of around $700, the project is …
- Posted Jan. 23, 2026
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A Greener Way To-Go: Harvard’s Reusable Dining Container Program
- Harvard University (MA)
Harvard College (the undergraduate degree-granting program of Harvard University) has a unique residential system. Virtually all 7,000 undergraduates live on campus for all four years and participate in an undergraduate …
- Posted Jan. 23, 2026
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Redbird Fresh Market Developed to Address Food Insecurity at Illinois State University
- Illinois State University (IL)
The Redbird Fresh Market provides eight weeks of fresh produce bags each fall and spring semester to campus employees and students. Participants pay $8/bag, making the program very accessible. Additionally, …
- Posted Jan. 23, 2026
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Seeing Through Raccoon Eyes: How GSU is Using AI Vision Software to Reduce Post-Consumer Food Waste
- Georgia State University (GA)
Georgia State University (GSU) utilizes Raccoon Eyes, a computer-vision food waste auditing tool, to better understand post-consumer food waste patterns and design targeted, data-driven interventions. After a successful pilot in …
- Posted Jan. 22, 2026
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From Risk to Readiness: Institutionalizing Climate Resilience at McGill University
- McGill University (QC)
In 2024, McGill University released its first climate risk assessment, identifying the risks posed by a changing climate to its campus infrastructure, operations, and community. By providing a comprehensive understanding …
- Posted Jan. 22, 2026
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Prospering Environmental Stewardship at Saint Peter's University
- Saint Peter's University (NJ)
The project includes five sustainability strategies as follows: 1. Campus Kitchen, Food Pantry, Clothes Closet 2. Recycling of University Discards. 3. CURA: (Center for Urban Research in Agriculture) Hydroponics Farm …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2026
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Integrated Energy Resilience: Education, Infrastructure, and Community Benefit
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
Southern Oregon University’s recently completed energy resilience project at the Hawk DIning Building and and Lithia Motors Pavilion (The Hawk and Lithia Solar and Energy Resilience project) represents a transformative …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2026
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Cultivating Sustainability Leaders: The Impact of the Batten Honors College at Virginia Wesleyan University
- Virginia Wesleyan University (VA)
The Batten Honors College of Virginia Wesleyan University recruits high-achieving students and equips them to be problem solvers who are environmentally-conscious, strategic-thinking global citizens, ethically-bound to bettering their community and …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2026
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IE Sustainability Townhall: A Participatory Funding Model for Campus Sustainability and Community Impact
- IE Business School
The IE Sustainability Townhall is a participatory governance and funding initiative at IE University designed to promote initiatives that strengthen community engagement around sustainability, environmental stewardship, human connection, and the …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2026
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Georgetown University – Building Energy System Optimization I
- ENGIE (TX)
- Ecosystem Energy Services
Georgetown University’s Building Energy System Optimization I (BESO I) project was a comprehensive initiative that transformed campus energy infrastructure, improved efficiency, and advanced sustainability goals. Launched in 2021, the project …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2026
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Give 'N Go Bentley's Move-Out Program
- Bentley University (MA)
- Casella (VT)
Give 'N Go is Bentley University’s campuswide sustainable move-out and reuse program that enables students (and the broader Bentley community) to donate usable goods and “swap” items for free during …
- Posted Jan. 15, 2026
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Kennesaw State University (KSU) Food Forest: A Living Learning Lab Advancing High Impact Pedagogy, while Promoting Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Resilience, Food Justice, and Food Security.
- Kennesaw State University (GA)
The Kennesaw State University (KSU) Food Forest is a slightly larger than 1/3-acre permaculture-based edible landscape which is located at the KSU Field Station, formerly a Georgia Department of Transportation …
- Posted Jan. 15, 2026
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The Urban Resilience Fellows Program: Bridging Higher Ed and Municipal Innovation
- University of Texas at Arlington (TX)
The Urban Resilience Fellows Program is a pioneering interdisciplinary initiative that connects UT Arlington students and faculty with local government and industry partners to develop innovative solutions for North Texas' …
- Posted Jan. 15, 2026
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Building a Sustainable Internet: A Student-Led Interdisciplinary Environmental Course
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
As the massive energy demands of digital technologies continue to make headlines, students at the University of California, Berkeley have designed and are teaching their own course "Building a Sustainable …
- Posted Jan. 15, 2026
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Sustainability Course Designation Added into Student Course Search
- Florida State University (FL)
FSU Sustainable Campus worked with The Registrar and the Faculty Senate Sustainability Committee to all students to search for sustainability related courses when signing up for classes.
- Posted Jan. 15, 2026
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MGH IHP Career Closet Pop-up
- MGH Institute of Health Professions (MA)
Many health professional students reported the need for business casual clothing, but the cost of these items was prohibitive. The Career Closet Pop-up helps provide students with free professional attire …
- Posted Oct. 8, 2025
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Solar Power Purchase Agreement Advances RE at Colorado State University
- Colorado State University (CO)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
In 2021, CSU signed a PPA with Solaris Energy, Inc. who in turn contracted with a third-party vendor to install 20 new solar PV systems. This project was developed through …
- Posted Sept. 17, 2025
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A Ground Source Heat Pump Solution for Colorado State University
- Colorado State University (CO)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
Colorado State University (CSU) installed a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system to provide heating and cooling to its 420,000-square-feet Moby Athletic Complex. The Moby Complex contains an 8,000-seat basketball …
- Posted Sept. 15, 2025
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Inflation Reduction Act geothermal/Ground Source Heat Pump 1 page case study
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI)
This document provides information about The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Sonnentag Center Ground Source Heat Pump/geothermal system submission for the tax incentives set up by the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Posted Aug. 25, 2025
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Recycling plastic bottle initiative at the University of Sharjah, College of Medicine
- University of Sharjah (Sharjah)
The aim of this project was to raise awareness about recycling plastic bottles due to the increased use of plastic bottles - and subsequently, the amount of discarded plastic bottles …
- Posted June 6, 2025
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Implementing Recycling-Friendly Infrastructure in Residence Halls
- University of Dayton (OH)
This project was developed as part of the University of Dayton’s Hanley Sustainability Institute Summer Undergraduate Fellowship program and Student Leaders program. HSI was established in 2014 by a gift …
- Posted April 28, 2025
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Expanding Experiential Learning with an Energy Efficient House
- University of Dayton (OH)
At the University of Dayton, the Hanley Sustainability Institute (HSI), housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, employs students, staff and faculty as sustainability leaders on campus and in …
- Posted April 28, 2025
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University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute: Energy Assessment Bootcamp
- University of Dayton (OH)
Energy may oftentimes be an intimidating topic for those who are not directly immersed in the field. In reality, energy is not always as complex as it seems, and when …
- Posted April 28, 2025
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Food Recovery Efforts at the University of Dayton
- University of Dayton (OH)
The Food Recovery Network chapter at the University of Dayton helps fight both the issue of hunger and food waste by collecting, transporting, and donating food each week from dining …
- Posted April 28, 2025
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Considering the Accessibility of Compostable Straws
- Williams College (MA)
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
While plastic straws have drawn attention in the past few years as having negative environmental impacts, organizations looking to make progress at the intersection of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and …
- Posted Feb. 14, 2025
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Binghamton 2 Degrees: Building Community Resilience Through Collaborative Action
- Binghamton University (NY)
Binghamton 2 Degrees is a transformative initiative uniting Binghamton University and the greater Binghamton community to envision a resilient future under the looming threat of two degrees of warming. Through …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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TASTE Food: The Automated Scope 3 tool for Tracking Emissions from Food
- The Culinary Institute of America (NY)
- Stanford University (CA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- AASHE (MA)
- World Resources Institute (DC)
Currently, estimating purchased food emissions requires time intensive methods and cost prohibitive software which are often limited to estimating emissions based on spend. Previously, institutions that analyzed purchased food emissions …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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B.Y.O. Campaign and Romeoville Repair Cafe: Reducing Waste by Promoting a Circular Economy through Single Use Waste Reduction and Product Repair
- Joliet Junior College (IL)
American throwaway culture is rapidly expanding garbage landfill around the world; majorly, it’s caused by planned or perceived obsolesces and daily disposables. Many people unknowingly throw away items that could …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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So Local It Has an Accent: Vanderbilt University Campus Dining’s Local Suppliers Program
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
Vanderbilt University Campus Dining has long been a major advocate for increasing its local supplier purchasing. Officially beginning in 2010, VU Campus Dining has held partnerships with a wide variety …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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The evolution of on-campus catering through single-use plastic reduction
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Aramark (PA)
Arizona State University (ASU), the largest public university in the United States, has reimagined its catering services to align with its ambitious sustainability goals. Anchored in service design methodology, this …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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Fault Detection and Diagnostics at California State University, Northridge
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
- Siemens Industry, Inc. (IL)
This project has enhanced CSUN's understanding and management of its building mechanical systems, fostering collaboration among building controls specialists, HVAC mechanics, and sustainability staff. The Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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Cat Trax Bike Share Program
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
Cat Trax bike share is a collaborative program between the town of Durham, NH and the UNH Sustainability Institute. We manage and maintain a fleet of 30 bikes that are …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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Tackling Scope 3 Emissions at CSUN – A Commitment to Comprehensive GHG Reporting
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
California State University, Northridge (CSUN) has taken strides in addressing Scope 3 transportation emissions as part of its sustainability and climate action initiatives over the past seven years. This encompasses …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
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Case Study Title: Drexel University Organic Land Care
- Drexel University (PA)
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
In 2022, students at Drexel launched a bold campaign advocating for organic land care on their campus. After countless meetings with campus staff, their hard work paid off. In 2023, …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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University of Wisconsin- Madison Organic Land Management Pilot Project
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- Re:wild Your Campus (TX)
In the fall of 2022, students at UW-Madison were selected to participate in the Re:wild Your Campus Fellowship, and began advocating for an end to the use of synthetic pesticides …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Holistic Inclusive Education On Climate Change
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
The American College of Greece (ACG) is committed to advancing climate action and sustainability through an inclusive, multi-faceted approach to education. Under the umbrella of Holistic Inclusive Education on Climate …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Sparking Student Engagement with Sustainability
- McGill University (QC)
The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) Ambassador Program is an academic year-long volunteering opportunity for students to promote the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) and encourage the development of new sustainability projects …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Resilient Climate Leaders: Redefining Sustainability Programming to Meet the Needs of Students Today
- Tufts University (MA)
In the early 2020’s with the onset of the pandemic and accelerating impacts of the climate emergency, students in Tufts University’s sustainability programs began asking for ways to more effectively …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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The Seafood Shift: Making Tufts Dining More Sustainable
- Tufts University (MA)
Saskia Zimmerman, a Sustainable Solutions Fellow at Tufts University helped Tufts Dining find new ways to quantify their sustainable impact and further integrate sustainable food sourcing into their work. This …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Design for Vulnerables
- Tecnológico de Monterrey – Campus Monterrey (Nuevo Leon)
- Tecnológico de Monterrey – Campus Chihuahua (Chihuahua)
Design for “Vulnerables – Technology Challenge” is a project idealized and created in Tecnológico de Monterrey, Chihuahua Campus, it aims to understand how design processes can facilitate the introduction …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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ACG’s Commitment to Reducing Food Waste On Campus and the Broader Community
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
ACG is dedicated to reducing food waste both on campus and in the broader community through ongoing volunteer initiatives, awareness-raising events, and relevant research.
Since November 2018, The American College …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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The ACG Sustainability Leaders Student Organization
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
The ACG Sustainability Leaders student organization is consistently making an impact both on and off the ACG campus through a variety of sustainability-related activities, including community contribution initiatives.
Established in …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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“Up-cycling”: Amherst College’s Tread Shed - Our Campus Spoke Easy
The Tread Shed is a bike co-op on the Amherst College campus that is designed to collect and repair abandoned bikes from around campus and return them to students, staff, …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Leading the Fight Against Food Waste and Insecurity: Food Recovery Heroes at the University of Pittsburgh
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
The University of Pittsburgh’s Food Recovery Heroes student organization has been recovering and donating surplus food from campus dining facilities and local restaurants since 2014. Over the years, the organization …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Leading the way: Developing a new approach to sustainability education for the college sector
- Mohawk College (ON)
- Students Organising For Sustainability (SOS-UK)
Mohawk College has a track record of innovation and leadership in the college sector in Canada and globally. Over the past two years they have led the way in developing …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Zero Waste Football
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
When the gates opened for the 2019 football season, Chanticleer fans were introduced to a brand-new game day experience inside Brooks Stadium at Coastal Carolina University. In addition to 11,000 …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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