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
Organizations
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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.
New Resources
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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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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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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FRESH to Table: A Homegrown Dining Initiative
- Boston College (MA)
Boston College (BC) seeks to foster the ethical and personal formation of its students to prepare them for citizenship, service, and leadership in a global society. In addition, as a …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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USC’s Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy
- University of Southern California (CA)
The University of Southern California (USC) established the Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy in July 2022, prohibiting the purchase or use of single-use plastic beverage products across the …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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USC Trojan Shop Local Initiative
- University of Southern California (CA)
Certainly, since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and the pandemic years through recent months, the focus upon opportunities to close racial economic wealth gaps has heightened throughout Los …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Supplier Diversification program: Increasing procurement spending with diverse businesses
- Seattle University (WA)
Seattle University wants to lead a paradigm shift in how local, large institutions do business. The university specifically intends to address the gap between businesses in the local Black community …
- Posted May 31, 2023
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Air Travel Offset Program
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
In July 2021, the University of Pennsylvania enacted a University-wide travel sustainability policy that created the Climate Impact Offset (CLIO) charge to pay for projects that offset the carbon impacts …
- Posted May 23, 2023
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The Working Farms Fund: Partnership to Build a Sustainable Local Food System and Support a Diverse New Generation of Farmers
- Emory University (GA)
- The Conservation Fund (GA)
Emory University has partnering with the national non-profit The Conservation Fund (TCF) to support a diverse new generation of farmers in rural Georgia and help build the local food supply …
- Posted May 16, 2023
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Climate Impact Offset Charge (CLIO) for University of Pennsylvania Air Travel
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
As of July, 2021, the University of Pennsylvania enacted a University-wide travel sustainability policy that created the Climate Impact Offset (CLIO) charge to pay for projects that offset the carbon …
- Posted May 19, 2022
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20 MW Solar Energy Purchase
- University of Utah (UT)
The University of Utah has made a PPA of 20 MW of off-site solar energy in Huntington, UT, set to begin delivery in early 2022. The University of Utah’s 25-year …
- Posted May 25, 2021
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20MW Geothermal Power Purchase
- University of Utah (UT)
The University of Utah, through a partnership with Cyrq Energy and Rocky Mountain Power, has made a groundbreaking geothermal energy purchase. This contract will supply the University of …
- Posted May 25, 2021
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Durham Tech Break Free From Plastics
- Durham Technical Community College (NC)
- The Student PIRGs (OR)
Student leaders at Durham Tech Community College, worked with the Student PIRGs in NC to run and win a campus campaign to Break Free From Plastics in order to protect …
- Posted May 21, 2021
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How Brandeis reduced our food carbon footprint over 20% in its first sustainable dining program
- Brandeis University (MA)
This case study reviews how Brandeis harnessed the RFP and contracting process for a new dining vendor in 2019-2021 to make huge and first-ever strides in sustainability in our dining …
- Posted May 18, 2021
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SUNY New Paltz Pivots from Plastic Bottles to Aluminum Cans to Move Beyond Plastics
- State University of New York at New Paltz (NY)
In the fall of 2020, Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), which contracts on behalf of SUNY New Paltz for beverages to be distributed through vending machines and the dining services contractor, …
- Posted Feb. 24, 2021
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Committing UC Berkeley to the Strongest Plastic Ban in the Country
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- CALPIRG Students (CA)
CALPIRG Students, a student-run public interest nonprofit, ran and won their campaign to commit UC Berkeley to eliminate all non-essential single-use plastic by 2030. This is the strongest plastic ban …
- Posted May 18, 2020
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The Free Store: A centre for re-use & recycling at the University of Ottawa
- University of Ottawa (ON)
The University of Ottawa’s Residences had a problem with waste. Large dumpsters would fill with valuable and reusable items every spring and fall when students moved out. These items would …
- Posted May 18, 2020
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Diversity Food Services: Leading the Way on Socially and Environmentally responsible Campus Dining in Canada
- University of Winnipeg (MB)
The University of Winnipeg Campus Sustainability Office would like to nominate Diversity Food Services for an AASHE Campus Sustainability Achievement Award.
Diversity Food Services is a joint venture of the …
- Posted May 15, 2020
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The Working Farms Fund: Partnership to Build a Sustainable Local Food System
- Emory University (GA)
Emory University and The Conservation Fund have formed a new partnership to support next-generation farmers in Georgia and help build the local food supply across metro Atlanta with a first-of-its-kind …
- Posted May 11, 2020
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“Box to Farm to Compost”: A Paradigm Shift from an Extractive Culture to Regenerative Culture
- Iowa State University (IA)
As a land grant university with a student population of over 30,000 students and about 6000 faculty and staff, there are enormous packaging items that make its way to campus …
- Posted May 1, 2020
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UC Sustainable Procurement Program and Policy Overhaul
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
Purchasing departments, such as those of the University of California campuses, have embraced the responsibility and opportunity to leverage their purchasing power as a force for good. But assessing and …
- Posted May 20, 2019
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A New Zero Waste Goal for Division 1 Football Games
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Lauren Lichterman, the Operations and Sustainability Coordinator for Intercollegiate Athletics at The University of Texas at Austin, is not one to stop and rest on her laurels. She used a …
- Posted May 17, 2019
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The Good Store
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
- Prince George Public Interest Research Group (BC)
The Good Store is a low waste shop established on the UNBC campus to provide all members of the community with access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food options. The …
- Posted May 17, 2019
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Fostering a Straw-Conscious University
- Boston University (MA)
Our initiative worked to make Boston University a straw-conscious environment.
Since most recycling facilities are not equipped with the proper machinery to recycle plastic straws, we focused our campaign on …
- Posted May 17, 2019
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Harvard's Challenge: Institutional Green Power
- Harvard University (MA)
This case study examines the options that Harvard University has for complying with one aspect of its Climate Action Plan, which was announced in February 2018. It specifically focuses on …
- Posted March 1, 2019
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Stanford R&DE Student Housing Innovation in Cleaning
- Stanford University (CA)
Stanford’s R&DE Student Housing Operations (SHO) adopted a green cleaning standard that has reduced chemical usage in residences by over 90%. The system engineer's water by infusing it with ozone …
- Posted May 21, 2018
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University of Vermont Eco-Reps "Curb Your Consumerism" Campaign
- University of Vermont (VT)
While the consumption of goods and services is a crucial component of modern economic systems, the culture of consumerism contributes to waste, resource depletion, pollution, and social and economic inequities. …
- Posted April 23, 2018
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Putting “Reduce” to Work: Getting Rid of Plastic Bags on Michigan State University’s Campus
- Michigan State University (MI)
In order to mitigate the effects of plastic bags on the environment and to fulfill Michigan State University's commitment to sustainability, we pioneered a two part initiative to reduce both …
- Posted March 19, 2018
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University of Regina's Print Optimization Program
- University of Regina (SK)
The Print Optimization Program originally started as the University's attempt to manage the number of print devices that we had on campus. Almost every faculty and staff member had their …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point Designated as the 40th Fair Trade University in the U.S.
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, part of a national initiative by Fair Trade Campaigns to engage college/university students in issues of global poverty, officially received designation as a …
- Posted May 22, 2017
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McGill University’s Fairtrade Campus Commitment: Roddick Roast Coffee
- McGill University (QC)
- Fairtrade Canada (ON)
- The Canadian Fair Trade Network (BC)
In June 2013, McGill University was given the designation of Fair Trade Campus by the Canadian Fair Trade Network (CFTN). This means that 100% of coffee sold on campus is …
- Posted May 22, 2017
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Making Local, Healthy, Sustainable Delicious: The How-To Guide for Foodservice Operators
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
The How-To Guide for Foodservice Operators is a manual for restoring real food and regional food systems to the right place in our society. The guide documents UMass Dining’s journey …
- Posted May 22, 2017
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Rescued Food Feast
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Aramark (PA)
The Rescued Food Feast was an event held at Arizona State University and was a collaboration between the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Aramark Higher Education, Sprouts Farmers …
- Posted June 11, 2016
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UCLA is the Largest Public University in the U.S. to achieve Fair Trade Status
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- Fair Trade Colleges & Universities
University of California, Los Angeles, part of a national initiative by Fair Trade Campaigns to engage college/university students in issues of global poverty, officially received designation as a Fair Trade …
- Posted June 11, 2016
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Emory University's Pollinator Protection Program
- Emory University (GA)
Concerned about the plight of bees and other pollinators, essential for two-thirds of the food crops we eat every day, Emory University developed a comprehensive Pollinator Protection Commitment, which includes …
- Posted June 10, 2016
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Avoiding Chemical Flame Retardants on Campus
- Harvard University (MA)
Harvard University’s Sustainability Plan, created in partnership with faculty, students, and staff, is rooted in a sustainable development vision focused on enhancing community and individual well-being within and across generations. …
- Posted June 6, 2016
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The Real Food Challenge at Lehigh University
- Lehigh University (PA)
The Real Food Challenge (RFC) is a national student run campaign to encourage campuses to increase the ratio of food purchased from “conventional” to “real food”. At Lehigh, the Office …
- Posted June 2, 2016
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The Sustainable Bookstore: Giving New Life to Discarded University Library Books
- Appalachian State University (NC)
When the Appalachian State University library culled its stacks, close to 80,000 books were slated to be recycled. Many of these books, some dating back to the late 1800s, contain …
- Posted June 1, 2016
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NC State University Students Leverage Partnerships To Eliminate Plastic Bags on Campus
- North Carolina State University (NC)
Over a three-year period, the NC State Stewards collaborated with the university’s Campus Enterprises division to move toward the elimination of single-use plastic bags in the most wasteful locations on …
- Posted May 31, 2016
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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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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 Resources …
- Posted June 22, 2012
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Aggieware - Moving to Zero Waste Events within UC Davis Student Housing
- University of California, Davis (CA)
Aggieware, the reusable tableware program, was created by UC Davis Student Housing for use with all student programs in the residence halls to reach the University of California's goal of …
- Posted July 1, 2010
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Reducing Printing Costs with Century Gothic at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (WI)
The University of Wisconsin - Green Bay researched typefaces and discovered that the Century Gothic font used the least amount of ink/toner based on a study done by printer.com. In …
- Posted June 30, 2010
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Implementing Large Scale Solar in the Land of Cheap Coal
- Colorado State University (CO)
Colorado State University is home to one of the largest solar plants on a U.S. university campus. The fact that Colorado State has been able to expand renewable energy sources …
- Posted June 23, 2010
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