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

Student Services Building

  • The University of Texas at Dallas (TX)
  • Perkins+Will (NY)

The new LEED Platinum certified Student Services Building (SSB) serves as a "one-stop-shop" destination for all student service activities offering 14 departments under one roof. The building design improves the ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The Campus Sustainability Fund at the University of Washington

  • University of Washington, Seattle (WA)

The Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) is a student-funded and student-led initiative which launched in the fall of 2010 at the University of Washington (UW) with the mission of fostering campus ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

EcoDorm

  • Warren Wilson College (NC)

EcoDorm is a living laboratory of sustainability. It was designed by a committee of students, staff, and faculty- with guidance from an outside architect- who researched and evaluated environmental, social ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

A Comprehensive Strategic Communications Plan for NYU's Office of Sustainability

  • New York University (NY)

Crowdsourcing the collective wisdom of the NYU Sustainability Task Force's all-volunteer Outreach and Engagement working group, with assistance from the Office of Sustainability, team members were able to develop ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Deliberation on Campus Sustainability (DoCS)

  • University of Alberta (AB)

The Deliberation on Campus Sustainability (DoCS) project was a campus-wide, student-initiated series of events that engaged hundreds of students, staff and faculty in creating recommendations for sustainability across the University ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

A New Educational Landscape- Transforming Campus Grounds through Non-Traditional Collaboration

  • James Madison University (VA)

During the 2010-11 academic year, faculty, students, campus facilities staff, a dean, the campus environmental stewardship director, and community representatives collaborated with a Scholar-In-Residence to develop a naturalized landscape on ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Comprehensive Operational Analysis of Green Granting Programs in US Higher Education

  • New York University (NY)

After three years and 52 funded projects awarded more than $250,000 NYU's Green Grants program took a year off from calling for new project proposals, and instead conducted ...

  • Posted June 24, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The Bagley Classroom: Supporting environmental and outdoor learning at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

  • University of Minnesota, Duluth (MN)
  • Salmela Architect (MN)

The Bagley Classroom supports learning in a 55-acre natural preserve within the University of Minnesota Duluth campus. The Bagley Nature Area has taught and inspired students about the natural environment ...

  • Posted June 23, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Antioch Commuter Transportation Initiative: Tackling AUNE's Transportation Challenge by Supporting Money-Saving, Fun, and Healthy Commuter Alternatives

  • Antioch University, New England (NH)

Antioch University New England (AUNE) is committed to achieving climate neutrality by the year 2020. Because 73% of its total carbon dioxide emissions come from students and employees commuting to ...

  • Posted June 23, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

University Recycling at work! Case study in Puerto Rico

  • Ana G. Méndez University System (PR)

In 2006, Undergraduate Environmental Science students sparked the Recycling Program at the Universidad Metropolitana, Puerto Rico with a simple question "Why we do not recycle at the University?

Since then ...

  • Posted June 23, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Applied Research and Development Building

  • Northern Arizona University (AZ)

Northern Arizona University's Applied Research and Development building is a LEED Platinum building that is home to a wide range of research organizations and stakeholders both from NAU and ...

  • Posted June 23, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The College of William and Mary Carbon Offset Program

  • College of William & Mary (VA)

William and Mary has developed an in-house carbon offset program that provides full transparency. Energy-reducing capital projects, such as HVAC upgrades, were identified and offset prices were determined by calculating ...

  • Posted June 21, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

1702 - green dorm project

  • Pratt Institute (NY)

The Living Lab 1702 project began in Spring 2009 as an interdisciplinary studio course focused on sustainability. The goal: to challenge the students understanding of green design in order to ...

  • Posted June 21, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The Green Line Park-n-Ride: A Community Transportation Collaborative

  • Delta College (MI)

When it comes to public transportation, Delta College is challenged by its location which serves three main counties functioning under three separate transit authorities. To reduce commuting emissions and to ...

  • Posted June 21, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Embedding Sustainability into Institutional Governance and Planning

  • University of Calgary (AB)

This brief describes a process for embedding sustainability as a core value and accountability within institutional governance and planning. The context is the University of Calgary, a research intensive institution ...

  • Posted June 17, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Biomass at Colorado State University: the Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

  • Colorado State University (CO)

In 2009, Colorado State University and the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) partnered to build a biomass heating plant on the University's Foothills Campus. This facility burns wood chips ...

  • Posted June 16, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Berndt Hall Reconstruction for Biology

  • Fort Lewis College (CO)

Berndt Hall Reconstruction for Biology removed the middle of an existing 1-story section of the Berndt Hall building and replaced it with a basement, main level, and second floor with ...

  • Posted June 15, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Behavior Matters—A Business Case for Behavior-Based Conservation Programs

  • Stanford University (CA)

The link between energy retrofits and cost savings is well established, but occupants are often unaware of "behind the scenes" improvements. How can universities educate building occupants to optimize efficiency ...

  • Posted June 14, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Growing a Local and Sustainable Food System at Appalachian State University

  • Appalachian State University (NC)

Appalachian Food Services is working with the Office of Sustainability to incorporate local and sustainably produced food products into our campus dining with an overall goal of improving the campus ...

  • Posted June 10, 2011
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Sustainable Cities Initiative at the University of Oregon

  • University of Oregon (OR)

Sustainable Cities Initiative (SCI) is a cross-disciplinary organization at the University of Oregon that seeks to promote education, service, public outreach and research on the development and design of sustainable ...


The Living Demonstration: A student demonstration home to create a culture for sustainability

  • University of Montana (MT)

The UM FLAT is a University-owned residence occupied by students who embody and promote sustainable living practices. The UM FLAT provides hands-on opportunity for students to work with each other ...


The University of California Santa Cruz's Campus Sustainability Plan 1.0: a Case Study in Transformative Action for Change

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (CA)

UCSC's first comprehensive Campus Sustainability Plan (the Plan), drafted during the 2009-10 academic year, used a consultative leadership approach, a focus on building strong relationships, and an effective outreach ...


Harvard Green Office Program

  • Harvard University (MA)

The Green Office Program's offers staff practical solutions needed to meet Harvard's GHG reduction goal and fulfill our Sustainability Principles, and a fun, competitive way for offices to ...


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 ...


Transforming the Higher Education Landscape: Researching, Planting and Seed-saving Native Grasses and Wildflowers at Warren Wilson College

  • 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 ...


The Environmental Caucus: Breaking Down Silos to Promote Sustainability at Northern Arizona University

  • Northern Arizona University (AZ)

The Environmental Caucus (EC), a voluntary campus association, formed in 2008 as a grassroots approach to engage students, faculty, staff, and administrators in strengthening a culture of sustainability at NAU ...


Testing Single Stream Versus Dual Stream Recycling at CU

  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)

A new single stream recycling program was tested in CU's residence halls and family housing courts during 2009. CU hoped that the added convenience would invigorate participation among the ...


DukeEngage Carbon Offsets Pilot Project at Duke University

  • Duke University (NC)

In May 2010, DukeEngage collaborated with Sustainable Duke and the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative to offer the students, faculty and staff of DukeEngage the opportunity to go "carbon neutral" with ...


Pulling it all together: a comprehensive approach to climate neutrality

  • University at Buffalo (NY)

The University at Buffalo has charted a course toward climate neutrality that - however trite the terms might have become - is both strategic and holistic. It is designed to vest the ...


Harvard Facility Maintenance Operations Organic Landscaping

  • Harvard University (MA)

Harvard University's Facilities Maintenance Operations (FMO) group has developed a highly successful Organic Landscaping Program. It is currently implemented across more than 25 acres of University landscape. The program ...


Student and Staff Cooperative Implementation of a Residential Recycling Program at Iowa State University

  • Iowa State University (IA)

The Department of Resdidence (DoR) and student leaders teamed up together to implement a residence hall wide recycling program. The program is intended to reduce waste of recyclables in residence ...


Just Tap It: Reducing Bottled Water Consumption at Muhlenberg College

  • Muhlenberg College (PA)

The Just Tap It project at Muhlenberg College successfully reduced bottled water purchases on campus by 95%, by limiting the availability of bottled water at Muhlenberg and encouraging the college ...


EcoMug at Western Michigan University: The First Decade

  • Western Michigan University (MI)

In 2009, Western Michigan University created a novel, and as far as we know unprecedented, waste reduction initiative. During the first few weeks of school, each incoming student is given ...


OneBook

  • University of Texas at Arlington (TX)

OneBook is a program for all UT Arlington first year students, who each year study a different book in their first semester English composition classes and first year seminars. Besides ...


Grounds Services Green Waste Re-Use Program at Arizona State University

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

The Grounds Services department initiated a pair of programs that convert ASU's Tempe campus landscape green waste into valuable assets. One program collects green "waste" and sends it to ...


Development of a Budget Neutral Comprehensive Green and Deferred Maintenance Program at the University of Central Missouri

  • University of Central Missouri (MO)
  • Trane (TX)

In 2007, Dr. Betty Roberts, VP for Administration and Finance, began seeking opportunities to save money on rising energy bills while addressing much-needed building and infrastructure improvements. After extensive research ...


Achieving GHG Reductions of 30% or More Through Facilities Asset Management At the Harvard School of Public Health

  • Harvard University (MA)

Harvard School of Public Health (HPSH) has an innovative approach to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and sustainability based on integrated facilities asset management. This program enables HSPH to holistically manage ...


Safely Achievable Reductions in Exhaust Fan Energy for Laboratory Buildings at UC Irvine

  • University of California, Irvine (CA)

Generally accepted engineering practices use 3500 fpm flow rates for laboratory exhaust stack design. Due to the variable nature of exhaust flow from laboratories, and the need for constant air ...


Establishing the new College of the Environment at the University of Washington

  • University of Washington, Seattle (WA)

The overarching objective in establishing the College of the Environment was to create an organization with the necessary scale and diversity of educational programs, research, and intellectual capacity to positively ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Harvard Green Carpet Awards

  • Harvard University (MA)

The Harvard Green Carpet Awards were held for the first time this year to honor and recognize Harvard faculty, students, and staff who have made significant contributions to greenhouse gas ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

The University of Minnesota's Power Police Project: Philosophy, Psychology and Power Strips

  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
  • Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MN)

Power Police student volunteers help campus office workers save power - especially the "vampire" power that electronic devices draw even when they're turned off. Volunteers make simple changes to offices ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Building a Green Data Center at Syracuse University

  • Syracuse University (NY)

Syracuse University, in partnership with IBM and New York State, built a Green Data Center (GDC) last year which is designed to use about 50 percent less energy than a ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Implementing pre and post consumer composting, local food, recycling and trayless programs within ISU dining at Iowa State University

  • Iowa State University (IA)

ISU Dining has been actively expanding efforts in waste reduction, recycling, and encouraging local businesses. Farm to ISU, our local food program, works with local farmers to increase the amount ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Iowa State University Recycling and Sustainability Program

  • Iowa State University (IA)

The purpose of our project was to create a more sustainable living environment for students living on campus. The effort included creating a convenient, easy to use department wide recycling ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Harvard Medical School Reusable Sharps Container Pilot

  • Harvard University (MA)

In collaboration with Harvard Medical School (HMS) Campus Operations, Environmental Health & Safety, and the Office for Sustainability, two large research buildings constituting HMS' 'North Campus' have fully transitioned from ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Phillips Brooks House Student Weatherization Project

  • Harvard University (MA)

On May 2nd, more than 50 Harvard students took a break from studying for finals and picked up caulk guns to help improve the energy efficiency of the Phillips Brooks ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Building Institutional Capacity for Sustainability Teaching, Research and Engagement at Portland State University

  • Portland State University (OR)

The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation challenge grant of $25 million, awarded to Portland State University in September 2008, was the largest gift in Portland State University's ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Institutionalizing Sustainability in Community Colleges: The Role of the College President

  • Spokane Community College (WA)

The purpose of this completed doctoral research study was to describe and improve understanding of the meaning of institutionalized sustainability and the role that a college president plays in institutionalizing ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Implementing Vermicomposting in Luther College Residence Halls

  • Luther College (IA)

Luther students have started disposing of fruit and vegetable waste in worm composting bins installed in seven of Luther's residence halls by students from the Luther Sustainability program.

Students ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more

Centralized Recycling Pilot at NYU Stern

  • New York University (NY)

The NYU Stern Campus Greening Initiative, Facilities, Recycling, Sustainability Office and Green Grants teams partnered to run a pilot project aimed at increasing the volume of recycled material at the ...

  • Posted June 30, 2010
  • Case Studies
  • View more