American University
PAE-3: Physical Campus Plan

From AU's 2011-2020 Campus Plan "American University long-standing commitment to preserve our environment was reinforced by a Strategic Plan goal. A Climate Action Plan solidifies this commitment and targets carbon neutrality by 2020 – an ambitious goal that AU embraces. The university will employ four strategies to achieve neutrality: reduce consumption, produce renewable energy, buy green power, and buy/develop offsets for unavoidable emissions. Additionally, the university has : • Cut its carbon emissions in half by purchasing renewable energy credits for 100% of its electricity, making AU the sixth largest buyer of renewable energy in higher education, • Adopted a Green Building Policy that mandates that new construction, major renovations, and operations and maintenance conform to LEED Silver standards or better; • Instituted a Sustainable Purchasing Policy which mandates the creation of sustainable purchasing guidelines for a wide range of products, including emissions-reducing products, such as those rated to ENERGY STAR standards, • Adopted a Zero Waste Policy, establishing waste reduction and diversion benchmarks, with a long-term goal of achieving zero waste, • Completed a new School of International Service building which is a LEED Gold candidate, • Installed four green roofs, with plans for two more in 2011, • Installed solar hot water and photovoltaic solar panels on one building, with six more planned in 2011, and • Continued its commitment to reducing vehicle trips to the campus by providing excellent bus service, car share, ride share, and bike share programs, and launched a staff benefit for bicycle commuters."