External Resources
Colleges and Universities
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) maintains a list of institutions with sustainability websites, along with many other sustainability resources. The following institutions are just a few of the many with sustainability offices or websites. To view all of AASHE’s resources, visit http://www.aashe.org/resources/resource_center.php. Some pages are password protected but since the University of Maryland is a member of AASHE, you can request a password by using your University email address.
- American University - AU Sustainability
- Brown University - Brown is Green
- Columbia University - Environmental Stewardship
- Cornell University - Cornell Sustainable Campus
- Duke University - Environmental Sustainability
- Georgia Institute of Technology - Institute for Sustainable Technology and Development
- Harvard University - Harvard Green Campus Initiative
- Johns Hopkins University - Sustainability Initiative
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - The Environment at MIT
- Universities at Shady Grove - Green Committee
- University of California, Berkeley - Sustainability
- University of California, Los Angeles - UCLA Sustainability
- University of Florida - Office of Sustainability
- University of Michigan - Sustainability
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Sustainability
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Building a Sustainable Campus
- Yale University - Office of Sustainability
Higher Education & Environmental Education Associations
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is the leading higher education association for sustainability. Visit their website at www.aashe.org.
The American College and University President’s Climate Commitment is the organization supports the national effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the college and university sector.
The Campus Environmental Resource Center is dedicated to informing campuses about regulatory compliance and sustainability. It is created and managed by four higher ed associations (C2E2, NACUBO, APPA, and CSHEMA).
Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) an informal network of higher education associations (HEAs) with a commitment to advancing sustainability within their constituencies and within the system of higher education.
National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology promotes climate leadership and sustainability among colleges and universities by providing resources and technical support, creating networking opportunities and organizing education events.
National Association of College and University Business Officers is a national association interested in a wide array of campus operations including sustainability, environmental compliance and safety.
Society of College and University Planners is a community of planners who serve higher education and supports all campus areas involved in planning — from academics to facilities, from administrative and financial operations to student life, and from the campus architects to those hired to support the institution’s many planning projects.
State Initiatives
EmPower Maryland – An iniative by the Maryland Governor to reduce energy consumption through educational outreach and conservation goals for state agencies.
Maryland Commission on Climate Change- On April 20, 2007, Governor Martin O’Malley signed Executive Order 01.01.2007.07 establishing the Maryland Climate Change Commission (MCCC) charged with collectively developing an action plan to address the causes of climate change, prepare for the likely consequences and impacts of climate change to Maryland, and establish firm benchmarks and timetables for implementing the Commission’s recommendations. The Commission’s Climate Action Plan for Maryland was issued on August 27, 2008.
Maryland Department of the Environment: Statewide Recycling Information – Provides information about state and county contacts, publications and special events.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Waters, Parks and Trees – The Maryland DNR supports the preservation and conservation of Maryland’s waters, state park facilities and forests.
Maryland Green Registry - a voluntary, self-certification program offering tips and resources to help organizations set and meet their own sustainability goals.
The University System of Maryland (USM) maintains a resource for sustainability efforts among its member institutions. The USM sustainability website is available by clicking here.
Other Sustainability-Related Organizations
- Green Building Institute
- US Energy Star
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- US Green Building Council- The University of Maryland is a member organization of the USGBC. As such, fulltime employees of the University can register as individual members. For more information, please send all inquiries to sustainability@umd.edu
State and Federal Incentives for Renewable Energy and Efficiency
Click here to see the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE).