Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.20
Liaison Josh Lasky
Submission Date May 14, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

George Washington University
OP-1: Building Operations and Maintenance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.63 / 7.00 Nancy Giammatteo
Director, Office of Planning and Design Review
Division of Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total building space that meets "Eligible Buildings Criteria":
7,456,478 Square feet

Building space that is maintained in accordance with sustainable building operations and maintenance guidelines or policies but is NOT certified under LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M:
7,456,478 Square feet

Building space that is LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M Certified :
0 Square feet

Building space that is LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M Silver certified :
0 Square feet

Building space that is LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M Gold certified :
0 Square feet

Building space that is LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M Platinum certified :
0 Square feet

The website URL where a copy of the institution's guidelines or policies for sustainable building operations and maintenance is available :
An electronic copy of the guidelines or policies:
The date(s) the policies or guidelines were adopted:
April 22, 2010

A brief description of how the institution ensures compliance with sustainable building operation and maintenance guidelines and policies:

GW is currently pursuing a campus-wide energy efficiency program for existing buildings called the Eco-Building program. http://www.gwu.edu/~itf/pages/ideaspreview/energy-efficiency-program.pdf

The Eco-Building Program proposes a comprehensive capital improvement plan to strategically implement energy conservation projects in campus buildings. Implementation of this program will result in a reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and will produce short-term and long-term financial savings. Through these projects, GW aims to reduce energy use from the buildings by 15%.

GW has also engaged a number of energy services companies to more closely monitor and manage the real-time energy use of our buildings and to employ demand response more effectively.

In addition, all on-campus buildings are cleaned using green cleaning techniques and are transitioning to blue cleaning techniques. The university has been certified by a third-party organization for its green cleaning techniques used at the Mount Vernon and Foggy Bottom Campuses.


The names and certification levels of all buildings that are certified under LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M:

None at this time.


The names of all buildings operated and maintained in accordance with similar sustainable operations and maintenance guidelines and policies:

All on-campus buildings are cleaned using green or blue cleaning techniques.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Energy use in existing buildings comprises 80 percent of the university's GHG emissions. In the first years of implementing the Climate Action Plan, GW has prioritized improving building energy efficiency and enhancing IT systems that result in energy use reductions.

When managing and retrofitting its buildings for sustainability, GW deals with many complexities due to the diversity of buildings. GW owns and operates more than 150 buildings on its three campuses. Some pre-date the turn of the last century, and most require historic preservation during upgrades. The sizes range from less than 10,000 square feet (historic town houses) to more than 200,000 square feet.


Energy use in existing buildings comprises 80 percent of the university's GHG emissions. In the first years of implementing the Climate Action Plan, GW has prioritized improving building energy efficiency and enhancing IT systems that result in energy use reductions.

When managing and retrofitting its buildings for sustainability, GW deals with many complexities due to the diversity of buildings. GW owns and operates more than 150 buildings on its three campuses. Some pre-date the turn of the last century, and most require historic preservation during upgrades. The sizes range from less than 10,000 square feet (historic town houses) to more than 200,000 square feet.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.