Abstract
As population expands and resource consumption grows, interest in sustainable practices continues to intensify. Universities and colleges in the U.S. have been leading the trend toward building certification and green initiatives to reduce energy consumption, lower water consumption, and recycle solid waste. This study investigates the extent to which green practices are implemented on new construction and the renovation of existing building stock on university campuses across the United States. The study also examines the financial analysis techniques institutions use to assess and prioritize green initiatives on new and existing facilities. The population selected for this study was two hundred facility managers at universities and colleges in the United States. The findings are that universities are committed to green building certification and practices that reduce energy and water consumption, but seldom support solar or geothermal initiatives which could provide onsite renewable energy sources for the university. Most institutions have sufficient funding for green initiatives when constructing new facilities, but funding shortfalls are common for the renovation of existing buildings. Universities typically evaluate the long-term financial impact of green initiatives utilizing life-cycle analysis to calculate a payback period and they prioritize green initiatives based upon operational savings.
Recommended Citation
Bausman, Dennis C. and Mueller, Ben
(2015)
"Analysis of Green Building Initiatives on U.S. University Campuse,"
The Professional Constructor: Vol. 39:
No.
1, Article 9.
Available at:
https://open.clemson.edu/aic-journal/vol39/iss1/9
