Resource Center

Sustainability Resources

Quick links to resources from HEASC Member Associations

AACC - American Association of Community Colleges
AASCU - American Association of State Colleges & Universities
AASHE - Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
ACPA - College Student Educators International
ACUHO-I - Association of College and University Housing Officers - International
APPA - Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers
CCCU - Council of Christian Colleges & Universities
NACUBO - National Association of College & University Business Officers
NAEP - National Association of Educational Procurement
NAICU - National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
NIRSA - National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association
SCUP - Society for College & University Planning

Quick links to other Resources

AACC - American Association of Community Colleges

AACC's sustainability web page
Going Green: The Vital Role of Community Colleges in Building a Sustainable Future and a Green Workforce. Report of the National Council on Workforce Development
Sustainable Development Resolution (PDF)
The Community College Times covers sustainability. See list of archived 'green' and sustainability focused stories.
Funding Sustainability at Community Colleges by Jennifer Hayward
Sustainability Mentors at Community Colleges by Jennifer Hayward

AASCU - American Association of State Colleges & Universities

AASCU Names Sustainability One of Top 10 State Policy Issues for Higher Education in 2009 (PDF)
The State College Role in Advancing Environmental Sustainability: Policies, Programs and Practices (PDF)
The American higher education enterprise has the capacity and fortitude to confront many of the country’s most pressing energy and environmental challenges. Many institutions and state college systems are using campus resources to carry out grassroots environmental initiatives. These activities have yielded important environmental, educational, and economic dividends. Continued campus efforts will be most successful to the extent that policymakers provide leadership and support to advance common environmental agendas.
Funding Sustainability Projects - guide prepared by AASCU's Grants Resource Center
The 'greening' of the campus, involving energy efficient and environmentally responsible development, is at the top of every agenda; over time, the importance and ramifications of this movement are going to increase. Colleges and universities have been quick to vocalize their ambition to support sustainable and renewable energy practices, leading to a greatly increased demand for external financial support for such projects.

AASHE - Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

AASHE's sustainability web page
Resource Center
AASHE Bulletin - free weekly e-newsletter that delivers the latest campus sustainability news, resources, opportunities, events and job listings from the U.S. and Canada. Subscribers include campus administrators, faculty, staff, students and professionals interested in campus sustainability.
STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System)
Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums - a great place to post questions about higher education sustainability topics, as well as respond to existing queries in your area of expertise
Publications and "how-to" guides

ACPA - College Student Educators-International

ACPA's sustainability web page
List of change agent skills for sustainability (PDF)
Sustainability flyer for student organizations (PDF)
Campus activities that support and educate on sustainability (PDF)
Sustainability primer (PDF)
Learning outcomes for sustainability (PDF)
Toward a Sustainable Future: Student Affairs Roles in Creating Healthy Environments, Social Justice, and Strong Economies (April 2008, ACPA Sustainability Taskforce)

Events

ACPA Institute on Sustainability
The goal of the institute is to provide individuals and institution teams with a wealth of knowledge about sustainability so that they can return to their campuses prepared to contribute to the development of sustainable policies and practices and the education of campus community members.

ACUHO-I - Assoc. of College & University Housing Officers-International

Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC) - created in 2008, the SAC reports to the President and works closely with the Director of Sustainability to provide the Association with recommendations on sustainable initiatives and to provide the membership with educational, social, and economic sustainability education and information.
Higher Education Sustainability Fellows - two selected in 2008.
21st Century Project - a multi-phased initiative leading to the construction of a new, state-of-the-art residential facility. The project will assist colleges and universities in designing new buildings that reflect the ever-changing roles residences play in the collegiate experience. Innovative solutions in the areas of sustainability, flexibility, community, and technology will make these residence halls of the future a reality.

APPA - leadership in educational facilties

Energy Utilities & Sustainability - special issue, March/April 2009 Facilities Manager magazine
Features Include:
- Campus Climate Neutrality -- Yes We Can! It's a Big Challenge, But Here's How to Do it.
- by Walter Simpson
- Carbon Emissions Trading and Combined Heat and Power Strategies: Unintended Consequences
- by John C. Tysseling; Mary Vosevich; Benjamin R. Boersma; Jefferey A. Zumwalt
- National Trends in Sustainability Performance: Lessons from Facilities Leaders
- by Kristy M. Jones and L. Julian Keniry
- LEDs: DOE Programs Add Credibility to a Developing Technology
- by Susan Conbere
Sustainability and the ACUPCC - by Lander Medlin, Facilities Manager magazine, March/April 2008
Book: The Green Campus: Meeting the Challenge of Environmental Sustainability - by Walter Simpson
Book: Environmental Compliance Assistance Guide for Colleges and Universities - published in partnership with the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA).
Book: The Educational Professional's Practical Guide to Reducing the Campus Carbon Footprint - (January 2009) Provides pragmatic assistance for facilities managers to effectively implement a carbon reduction plan.
Webinar: Reducing Greenhouse Gases and Achieving Climate Neutrality
FREE! Describes organizational ingredients necessary for building a successful campus energy program, emphasizing energy conservation, green building design, green power purchasing, and renewable energy generation -- strategies central to any campus effort designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or achieve climate neutrality. Other topics include energy policies, green computing, energy awareness, working with ESCOs, obtaining top level support, the key role of facilities managers, and developing climate action plans

CCCU - Council of Christian Colleges & Universities

Creation Care Directory (May 2009)
CCCU Awards Creation Care Mini-Grants to Six Institutions (March 2009)

NACUBO - National Association of College & University Business Officers

NACUBO's sustainabilty web page
Sustainability Advisory Panel
Appointed by NACUBO's President. The principal charge is to advise the NACUBO Director of Environmental Leadership on the following issues: financing sustainability projects, operational issues such as energy, dining services, transportation, green buildings and design, leadership and governance, and smart growth and campus planning.
Book: Boldly Sustainable: Hope & Opportunity for Higher Education in the age of Climate Change - by Peter Bardaglio and Andrea Putman
Book: The Business Case for Renewable Energy: A Guide for Colleges and Universities - by Andrea Putman and Michael Philips
Power Potential by Karla Hignite (June 2011)
Pairing local renewable energy resources with smart technologies can ensure reliable, efficient, and cost-effective power supplies.
Conservation Calibration by Carolyn Elfland and Chris Martin (Oct 2011)
Renewables to Spare by Michael Malewicki (Sep 2011)
Network Power by Robert J. Hilgenbrink and Allessandra Cairo (Aug 2011)
Keep Carbon Futures Fluid by Karla Hignite (October 2010)
Go with the flow: Select the best mix of options to turn carbon-related risk into financial opportunity.
Easy Riders by Karla Hignite (April 2010)
In the effort to curb emissions, alternative transit options must address the underlying habits of campus commuters, who are looking for convenience and value.
Low-Carbon Computing by Karla Hignite (October 2009)
Campus IT has a tough mandate: Meet increased demand for computing capacity while decreasing technology’s carbon load. Five institutions share their strategies.
Green Cuisine by Karla Hignite (July-August 2009)
Fresh, local food is the hot entree in campus dining. Behind the scenes, reducing and composting food waste completes a more eco-friendly cycle.
Seeking a Smaller Footprint by Karla Hignite July-August 2008
Forward-thinking campus leaders pair new technologies with adjustments in human behaviors to step away from energy waste toward a carbon-neutral future.
Alternative Energy Economics by Michael Philips & Lee White (Feb 2009).
While the credit crunch has put the squeeze on many campus projects, a variety of financing approaches is available for funding renewable energy initiatives.
Teaming Up for Smart Growth by Karla Hignite (May 2008).
Include neighboring communities in multipurpose capital projects and strengthen town-gown bonds.
Vow to Reverse Global Warming by Apryl Motley (Feb 2008)
Waste Not by Karla Hignite
Student Led Sustainability by Apryl Motley
A Prudent Green Purchase by Andrea Putman and Michael Philips
Will Sustainability Take Root? by Karla Hignite
The Payoffs of Planet-Friendly Initiatives by By Dave Newport and Larry Litten
Webinar: Creating a Greenhouse Gas Inventory – What Does it Take?
Webinar: Commit to Change: Leading Your Campus Towards Climate Neutrality

Events

Smart & Sustainable Campuses Conference (annual)

NAEP - National Association of Educational Procurement

NAEP's Sustainability Webpage (member only)
NAEP's Sustainability Committee 2010-'11 (PDF)
Green Procurement Survey (April 2009) NAEP and SciQuest
Reuse and Recycling C&D Materials by Brian Yeoman, Winter 2007
Talk About an Opportunity by Brian Yeoman, Fall 2007
House Buying Primer by Brian Yeoman, Summer 2007
Green Purchasing by Brian Yeoman, Sping 2007
Totally Unprepared by Brian Yeoman, Winter 2006
Construction and Demolition Waste by Brian Yeoman, Sept 2006
Is Greening on Campus Hard to Do? by Brian Yeoman, July 2006
Another Arrow in the Quiver: Local Green Materials by Brian Yeoman, March 2006
Baby Steps Do Count by Brian Yeoman, December 2005
Environmental Purchasing Ethics by Brian Yeoman, September 2005
Student-Driven Sustainability Effort at Princeton University by Brian Yeoman, June 2005
Out, Out, Brown Spot; or, Ceiling Tile Alternatives by Brian Yeoman & Linda Paisley, March 2005
A Word -- or Two about Technology by Brian Yeoman and George Morrell, from "NAEB Journal", April 2004
Leadership, Stewardship, and Excellence -- Reaching Together for the Stars by Brian Yeoman, from "NAEB Journal", Feb 2004
The Green Alternative to Pest Management , by Brian Yeoman, from "NAEB Journal", August 2004
Leadership in Transformational Times by Brian Yeoman, from "NAEB Journal", October 2004
Fly Ash--Cast in Concrete by Brian Yeoman and Linda Paisley, from "NAEB Journal", Spring 2003
The Most Precious Resource--Water , by Brian Yeoman, Linda Paisley & Marisa Hegyesi, from "NAEB Journal", Fall 2003
Don't Demolish That Building--Deconstruct It , by Marisa Miller Hegyesi and Brian Yeoman, from "College Planning & Management", June 2002
Can We Become Responsible? by Brian Yeoman, from "NAEB Journal", Summer 2002
Broadening the Definition of Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center by Charles Figari and Brian Yeoman, from "College Services", August 2002
Is There Such a Thing as a Zero-Emissions Vehicle? , by Marisa Miller Hegyesi and Brian Yeoman, from "NAEB Journal", Fall 2002
Status of Our Profession panel with Brian Yeoman and others, from "NAEB Journal", Summer 2001
The Failure (and Success) of Recycling by Brian Yeoman and John C. McKee , from "NAEB Journal", Spring 2000
Mythology in our Society by Brian Yeoman, from "NAEB Journal", Winter 1999
Lifetime Product Liability - A Model for a Future by Brian Yeoman, from "NAEB Journal", Nov 1997
Readings to Build a Self Concept of Engagement in Sustainability Solutions compiled by John Omohundro

Sustainable Event Resources

These resources were collected to assist HEASC member associations in making their meetings and conferences greener.

Meeting Planning Support

Other Resources

HEASC Sustainable Meetings and Conferences Report (PDF) (October 2007)
This report was written to help HEASC members understand the trends that are occurring in the green meeting industry and to provide the best resources for helping members implement sustainable practices in their own meetings and conferences.
Sustainable Meetings and Conferences Questionnaire (Doc) (June 2007)
This document was created for ACUHO-I as a list of criteria that could be included in an RFP when seeking venues for meetings and conferences. It was assembled from several sources including the Convention Industry Council's "Green Meetings Report", CERES' "Green Hotels Resource Guide", and the National Recycling Coalition's "Green Meetings Policy." Feel free to download this document and use in your own RFPs. It is divided into functional sections so you can use the portions that are applicable to your event and modify as needed.

Sustainable Conference Products

Enviro-Tote®, Inc. makes environmentally friendly promotional tote bags that can be used for meetings or conferences. They offer various types of bags made from unbleached and colored cotton, certified organic cotton, and The Bottle Bag™, a material made from 100% recycled soda bottles. Bags can be imprinted with your logo and a custom message.
GreatGifts4U.com offers many eco-friendly items for campus and conference events.
MayaWorks offers fairly traded, fabric products hand-made by Guatemalan artisans including conference items.
Rivanna Natural Designs creates environmentally and socially responsible recognition awards and gifts. These include gifts and plaques created from FSC-certified wood and from recycled materials. Rivanna is a small, woman-owned business based in Charlottesville, VA. You can download their catalog (PDF).
Rebadge - recycled badge holder. Rebadge is a clear PLA (poly lactic acid) badge holder made from plants, not plastic, and is certified compostable by ASTM D6400 and DIN EN13432 standards.

Sustainable Purchasing Resources

Whistler 2020 Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines
Developed by the Resort Community of Whistler (BC). "Sustainable purchasing is about including social, environmental, financial and performance factors in a systematic way. It involves thinking about the reasons for using the product (the service) and assessing how these services could be best met. If a product is needed, sustainable purchasing involves considering how products are made, what they are made of, where they come from and how they will be used and disposed of." Offers a glossary, tools, purchasing assessments for key product classes, and worksheets for assessing unique or infrequently purchased items.
AASHE Resources on Sustainable Purchasing
Responsible Purchasing Network
Lead story of ACCED-I's e-Communique on sustainability in the context of on-campus meetings. The Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors-International's (ACCED-I) first installment of a two-part article on campus sustainability as it relates to greening conferences and events held on college and university campuses. Part one of Environmental Sustainability in Conference & Event Services, by Scott D. Doyle, residential and event services at Cornell University, appears in the April/May 2006 of ACCED-I's member publication e-Communique.

The American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)

Support the ACUPCC (checklist) provides examples of how your organization can promote the ACUPCC to your constituents

ACUPCC webcasts sponsored by HEASC Members

Creating a Greenhouse Gas Inventory – What Does it Take? (NACUBO)
This informational webcast explains the general principles of conducting a GHG inventory, while providing contrasting examples from two campuses that have used different methods. Includes experts from Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) and AASHE, and stories from the University of California, Berkeley and Unity College (Maine) on how they conducted their GHG inventories.
Commit to Change: Leading Your Campus Towards Climate Neutrality (NACUBO)
Three CFO’s and a facilities director speak about the strategies they have employed to lead their campus team toward climate neutrality. They also provide an ACUPCC overview and implementation refresher, discuss the far reaching impact of the Commitment, and approaches for financing sustainability on your campus.
Reducing Greenhouse Gases and Achieving Climate Neutrality (APPA)
Describes the organizational ingredients necessary for building a successful campus energy program, emphasizing energy conservation, green building design, green power purchasing, and renewable energy generation -- strategies central to any campus effort designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or achieve climate neutrality. Other topics covered include energy policies, green computing, energy awareness, working with ESCOs, obtaining top level support, the key role of facilities managers, and developing climate action plans.

Professional Development

Journals

Sustainability: The Journal of Record cover higher education sustainability.

Webinars, Conferences, Workshops, Presentatations

These presentations may be useful in making your own presentations about sustainability.

Education for a Sustainable Future: What You Need to Know (PDF)
Learn from national experts Debra Rowe (US Partnership), Judy Walton (AASHE) and Terry Calhoun (SCUP) about sustainability education in curriculum, facilities, purchasing, student life and more. Share this one-hour teleconference with your staff and association members.
Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (PPT) by Brian Yeoman
Sustainability in Higher Education (PPT) by Tony Cortese
HEASC Sustainability Workshop - held for ACUHO-I staff, April 2007. Contains links to resources as well as comprehensive lists created by the ACUHO-I staff as a result of examining ways that their respective functional groups can apply sustainability principles to their practices and operations.
Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard- The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Sustaining God's Creation: The Role of Higher Education (PDF) by Tony Cortese
Sustainability 101 (1-hour) & Sustainability: Step by Natural Step (3-hour)
Fresh and innovative e-learning experiences developed by The Natural Step that provide practical sustainability education to a broad base of business, government, and community organizations that are serious about moving towards more sustainable operations
Greg Craven, high school science teacher from Monmouth, Oregon, has created clever and informative presentations around the complex issue of climate disruption. Check out and share his wisdom by clicking here.

Reports, Articles, Case Studies

A (Recycled, Of Course) Six-Pack of Sustainability Lessons from the Past Year in Higher Education, by Terry Calhoun, director of media relations and publications, SCUP. Reprinted with permission from SCUP.
Case studies, principles, checklists and resources developed by ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) and the Center for Association Leadership to help associations and their members be socially responsible.
Education for a Sustainable Future - Science Magazine, Debra Rowe
A Policy Forum that highlights the formation of HEASC and its mission as well as the national trends toward education for sustainability. Read a Summary.
For Our Future - learn how sustainability is affecting campus operations, curriculum, housing and more.

Listserves and Blogs

Green Schools (GRNSCH-L) - the primary listserve for activities relating to sustainability on higher education campuses. Ask questions, post events, publications, etc.. To subscribe Email: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU with subject heading “SUBscribe GRNSCH-L” also put “SUBscribe GRNSCH-L” in the body of the text (delete all other text from the body, including your signature. Only “SUBscribe GRNSCH-L” should be in the email.
Inside Higher Ed: "Getting to Green" a blog by G. Rendell - an administrator pushes, on a shoestring budget, to move his university and the world toward a more sustainable equilibrium. Sign up for this daily blog
HEASC Website Guidelines for Sustainability Pages (PDF) - A short guide that can help get you started!
News Digests Archives - updates on HEASC activities, 2006-2009

HEASC Legislative Actions

Letter to Boxer and Inhofe, 2009
"We, the undersigned leaders of higher education associations, write to urge you to recognize the vital role of education, at all levels, in preparing the American people to participate fully in a clean energy economy..."

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