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
Game Day Recycling at UTK
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
UT Recycling is working in partnership with UT Athletics, Aramark, Office of Sustainability, and Good Sports Always Recycle to eliminate at least 90% of waste created during athletic events through …
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Incorporating Life Cycle Analysis into Campus Dining
- University of Missouri (MO)
This study provides the greenhouse gas (GHG) estimates for thirty-nine meals using menu items served at the University of Missouri's Campus Dining Services. Meal size was normalized to 400 grams …
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Creative Renewable Energy Solutions
- Skidmore College (NY)
Skidmore College completed two complementary, innovative renewable energy projects in 2015. With encouragement from the campus community, along with favorable remote net metering regulations and New York State incentives, the …
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Capital Partners Solar Project
- American University (DC)
- George Washington University (DC)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
Capital Partners Solar Project (CPSP) is a solar energy project contracted by the George Washington University (GW), American University (AU), and the George Washington University Hospital (GWUH). Comprised of 52 …
- Posted June 11, 2015
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Beyond Campus Roofs: Solar for the Community
- University of Utah (UT)
U Community Solar is an innovative program to give the University of Utah a local, tangible way to offset its carbon footprint over the next 20 years. The one-time program …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Powerz - Garden Your Campus @ NTU
- Nanyang Technological University
- ENGIE (TX)
The Energy Research Institute (ERI@N) and ENGIE (formerly GDF Suez), a leader in energy services and solutions, launched a large-scale pilot project, called POWERZ, on the NTU Campus.
NTU's aim …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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STARS "Path to Platinum" Collaborative Plan Implementation at Colorado State University
- Colorado State University (CO)
As Colorado State University completed STARS 1.2 in late 2013, our score was near the Platinum threshold. We reviewed the 2.0 criteria and identified several initiatives that would further campus …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Developing Sustainability Literacy Among the Next Generation of Educators
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The Sustainability Science Education Project at Arizona State University aims to develop sustainability literacy among future educators. An innovative course, Sustainability Science for Teachers (SSFT), leverages the power of digital …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Duke University Carbon Offsets Initiative - Working with students, staff, and faculty to reduce GHG emissions through rooftop solar
- Duke University (NC)
In Spring 2015, Duke University launched a pioneering, renewable energy discount program for University employees. This program, developed by the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCOI) and its partners, helps reduce …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Going Above and Beyond Niagara College's Waste Diversion Target
- Niagara College Canada (ON)
Niagara College's goal of achieving a 65% diversion rate has taken many years to find the best combination of strategies to work towards this sustainability target. Integrating waste management horizontally …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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AC Climate Aware
- Algonquin College (ON)
AC Climate Aware is a collaborative grassroots effort designed to promote sustainability and internationalization. Under the leadership of SEATS, the campaign encourages dialogue within the Algonquin College community about these …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Collaborations for growing the Virginia Tech Farm to Campus Program
- Virginia Tech (VA)
The Virginia Tech Dining Services Farm at Kentland began as a small 1/2 acre herb garden in 2009. Since, the garden has expanded steadily to include more than 6 acres …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Planting a Colossal Monarch Waystation
- Raritan Valley Community College (NJ)
To support dwindling Monarch Butterfly populations, 83 volunteer faculty, staff, administrators, students, and preschoolers (from the Campus Childcare Center) planted 345 Milkweed and nectaring plants at 8 locations around campus. …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Campus Salvage Move-Out Collection and Donation Program
- Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Campus Salvage is Coastal Carolina University's collection and donation program designed to divert unwanted items from the landfill when students move-out at the end of the year. The project is …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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The WaterHub at Emory University
- Emory University (GA)
The WaterHub on Emory's campus is an on-site water recycling system, utilizing natural ecological systems to reclaim wastewater for heating, cooling and toilet flushing. It is the first system of …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Starting a Food Recovery Network chapter at Colorado Mountain College-- Steamboat Springs
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
This is an action oriented research and case study project that originated from the Capstone course of the Sustainability program at Colorado Mountain College (CMC). The study examines the process …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Nova Bike Share Program
- Villanova University (PA)
Villanova University launched Nova Bike Share in the fall of 2014. Both undergraduate and graduate students can rent a bike for a semester or academic year. Nova Bike Share is …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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The University of Arizona Pac-12 Zero Waste Event
- University of Arizona (AZ)
With inspiration and participation from the Green Sports Alliance, all Pac-12 universities participated in a friendly competition to see who could achieve a zero-waste home basketball game during the 2014-15 …
- Posted June 10, 2015
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Instituting a sustainability general education requirement at San Francisco State University
- San Francisco State University (CA)
A group of San Francisco State faculty believed all SF State graduates in the 21st century should have a basic understanding of sustainability. We campaigned for a sustainability requirement to …
- Posted June 9, 2015
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Rad Dish Food Co-op: Food for Thought Leadership
- Temple University (PA)
The Rad Dish Cooperative Cafe is the first and only student-run food co-op in the Philadelphia region. Located on Temple University's campus, Rad Dish provides local, fair trade, organic, and …
- Posted June 8, 2015
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Learning by Living: The Berea College Deep Green Student Residence
- Berea College (KY)
- Hellmuth + Bicknese Architects (MO)
The Berea College Deep Green Student Residence was envisioned from the very beginning to be a special building yet in keeping with the college's commitment to "Simple Living" meant small …
- Posted June 8, 2015
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4th Avenue Parklet
- Portland State University (OR)
The 4th Avenue Parklet was researched, designed and built by students from Portland State University's School of Architecture to creatively addresses sustainability based place-making issues in Portland's South of Market …
- Posted June 8, 2015
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An Integrated Approach to Energy and Climate Planning
- Sheridan College (Ontario) (ON)
In 2010, Sheridan's Office for Sustainability recommended that the institution undertake strategic planning to examine the long-term economic and environmental risks surrounding energy use at Sheridan. Sheridan's executive quickly grasped …
- Posted June 8, 2015
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Climate Quest
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Climate Quest is a team-based challenge to design practical, high-impact solutions to mitigate or adapt to climate change. After launching in April 2014, 25 teams were selected from a pool …
- Posted June 8, 2015
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Solar Hot Air Heaters
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
The project outfitted Property Surplus building at the NAU Flagstaff campus with six solar heating panels. These six panels provide over 40,000 BTUs/hr. (or 12 kWh) of renewable energy to …
- Posted June 5, 2015
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Innovations in Sustainability Curriculum: Teaching Full Cost Analysis through Student-Produced Documentaries
- Furman University (SC)
The David E. Shi Center for Sustainability at Furman University sought to increase teaching of full cost analysis as a suite of tools that can be used as a framework …
- Posted June 4, 2015
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Vanderbilt University Power Plant Conversion
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
Vanderbilt University's on-campus co-generation, dual fuel power plant was recently converted from using coal and natural gas to exclusively natural gas. The plant produces 23% of the University's electricity and …
- Posted June 4, 2015
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Building Green Communities: The UA Undergraduate Off-Campus Housing Sustainability Coordinator
- University of Arizona (AZ)
The Undergraduate Off-Campus Housing Sustainability Coordinator (OCHSC) position was created at the University of Arizona (UA) two years ago. The OCHSC serves as a sustainability consultant to 28 apartment complexes …
- Posted June 4, 2015
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Tribe Truck Farm
- College of William & Mary (VA)
Tribe Truck Farm is a micro-farm in the bed of a pickup truck. The main goal of this project is to initiate a dialogue within the William and Mary community …
- Posted June 4, 2015
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Watershed UGA
- University of Georgia (GA)
With funding from the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, the University of Georgia (UGA) is leveraging a current town/gown campus stream restoration initiative to create a transformative experience in sustainability for …
- Posted May 18, 2015
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Clean Energy Campus Campaign Pilot Testing and Development
- Ball State University (IN)
- Climate Neutral Business Network (OR)
For the past 4 years, Ball State University has worked with partner organizations to pilot the development and use of a Clean Energy Campus Campaign methodology whereby colleges and universities …
- Posted May 11, 2015
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A mathematical decision-making procedure to assist in the development of sustainability plans based on the STARS framework
- Dominican University of California (CA)
This study proposed an approach that consists of two criteria; number of possible points available and overall priority, and two linear mathematical models, which selected credits for short, medium and …
- Posted May 1, 2015
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Translating Perceptions into Action: Advancing Zero Waste in ASU Housing
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Report examines current solid waste management operational practices, infrastructure, stakeholder perceptions, and behavior pertaining to student housing on Arizona State University's (ASU) Tempe academic campus in order to inform strategies …
- Posted March 3, 2015
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Green Living Certification: Rewarding Residents for Environmentally Friendly Lifestyles
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
The Green Living Certification certifies and rewards residents living in on-campus residential buildings for making day-to-day choices that reduce their environmental footprint. Residents fill out an online survey that calculates …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2014
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UA Compost Cats: Students Creating Community Partnerships to Turn Garbage into Gardens and Foster Local Food Security
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Located 60 miles from the largest, landlocked port for food in North America, the student-run Compost Cats program has now forged partnerships with the City of Tucson, San Xavier Co-op …
- Posted April 12, 2014
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Turning Trash Into Cash- Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship
- University of San Diego (CA)
In April 2011, the University of San Diego (USD) opened the Electronics Recycling Center (ERC), San Diego's first full-time e-waste collection facility for the public, with the intention of making …
- Posted April 12, 2014
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Earn-A-Bike Program
- University of Louisville (KY)
Changing commuting habits has been one of the thorniest sustainability issues for the University of Louisville, but we have finally begun to crack that nut through a popular, innovative program …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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The 4th Annual Student Sustainability Survey and Town Hall Meeting
- Western Michigan University (MI)
We designed the 4th Annual Student Sustainability Survey for Western Michigan University this semester. We implemented the online survey and got a total of 1356 respondents over a 3 week …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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Aquaponic food production as an integrating context for campus sustainability
- Allegheny College (PA)
The Food for Sustainability project at Allegheny College utilizes aquaponic systems for indoor, year round tilapia and lettuce production. The products are sold to Parkhurst Dining Services and are incorporated …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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Collaborative thermal heating conservation project at the College of the Holy Cross
- College of the Holy Cross (MA)
- GreenerU (MA)
The College of the Holy Cross's Student Government Association (SGA), Environmental Liaison program, and Physical Plant department developed a comprehensive program to reduce the common practice of opening windows in …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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Massachusetts Green High Performing Computing Center
- Harvard University (MA)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts along with 5 research institutions in the Greater Boston area built a state of the art 377 square feet data center dedicated to research computing on …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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Change Your State: Sustainability Awareness Campaign
- North Carolina State University (NC)
Change Your State is NC State University's sustainability awareness campaign. Initiated and coordinated by the University Sustainability Office, the campaign involves over a dozen campus partners, including departments and student …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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Green Impact Goes International
- MacEwan University (AB)
- National Union of Students
Recognizing that staff and student engagement is vital to successfully creating a sustainable campus, MacEwan University sought innovative ways to enable, encourage and empower people to achieve practical, tangible behavioural …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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Sustainability Now and Powerful (SNAP!) International Program to Restore Landscapes, Recharge Educators, and Replenish Learning Systems
- Prescott College (AZ)
Students in Prescott College's Doctoral Program in Sustainability Education developed a program to honor and share the stories of outstanding programs across the planet in sustainability education. The program has …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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How to Start a Comprehensive Composting and Recycling Program at a Commuter College
- Austin Community College (TX)
The Austin Community College is committed to promote and practice responsible environmental behavior. ACC has been rolling out numerous green initiatives designed to shrink its environmental footprint and increase the …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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Solar E-Charging Station
- Camosun College (BC)
With funding from President's Funds 2013 grants and the Camosun College Student Society, Camosun College has installed a 4 KW Solar Photovoltaic (PV) array to offset the charging of electric …
- Posted April 11, 2014
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Neutral Gator
- University of Florida (FL)
Neutral Gator provides UF with high-impact, local carbon offsets by performing energy efficiency upgrades of low-income families' homes and planting indigenous trees on conservation land in Gainesville, FL. Through this …
- Posted April 10, 2014
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Envisioning Sustainability: Implementing a Campus Community Food System at Virginia Tech
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Virginia Tech, founded in 1872 as a land grant institution, has not lost its local roots. With a nationally recognized college of Agriculture & Life Sciences, the campus has its …
- Posted April 10, 2014
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Building a Campus Culture of Sustainability
- Western Michigan University (MI)
Western Michigan University and its Office for Sustainability apply social learning to leverage behavior change and bridge the "gap" between people's stated aspirations for a sustainable world and their generally …
- Posted April 10, 2014
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Sustainability in Higher Education: A Case Study of Policy and Practice at Vancouver Island University
- Vancouver Island University (BC)
In 2009, Vancouver Island University formally adopted a Sustainability Policy designed to guide environmental practices on campus. I envisaged that this would extend to more detailed strategies for dealing with …
- Posted April 9, 2014
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