Topic guides

Green campus initiatives

Definition and scope

This research guides looks at sustainability initiatives on college campuses (and similar locations) from a policy perspective. Some colleges have established sustainability majors and research programs; other universities are implementing programs to improve the sustainability of their day to day operations through recycling, composting, reduced energy consumption, and alternative transportation programs. For specific details related to the implementation of these programs, you should also consult the other sustainability guides (e.g. the Sustainable building and design guide for information on constructing LEED-certified campus buildings).

Addison/ Summon

Use sustain** and campus (with the two asterisks as a wildcard) as a sample keyword search. (green campus leads to books on campus greens and green spaces, which is probably not relevant.)

Use a subject search for a more refined list of results. Use these sample subjects in WorldCat and Summon to search other libraries' collections for similar books, especially when looking for reports produced or published by other colleges and universities, which are not likely to be in the Virginia Tech Libraries' collection. Then use interlibrary loan to request these publications. Some Library of Congress subject headings to try include:

• Campus planning -- environmental aspects
• Education -- environmental aspects
• Education, higher -- environmental aspects
• Local transit -- environmental aspects
• Universities and colleges -- environmental aspects

Databases

Education Research Complete from EBSCOhost

   

    

Education Research Complete from EBSCOhost

Education Research Complete indexes citations, abstracts, and full text from journals, books, book chapters, case studies, essays, interviews, conference proceedings, product reviews, and experiments in all areas of education. You can limit to peer-reviewed journals. 1865-present.  

Full record

ERIC from ProQuest

   

    

ERIC from ProQuest

ERIC indexes citations, abstracts, and full text from journal articles, conference and meeting papers, government documents, theses and dissertations, reports, A/V materials, books, and more on all aspects of education. Many documents are available in full text (HTML and PDF). You can limit to peer-reviewed sources for documents published since 2004. 1966-present.  

Full record

Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management

   

    

Environmental Sciences & Pollution Management from ProQuest

Environmental Sciences & Pollution Management indexes citations and abstracts of journal articles, conference proceedings, government reports, and books in agricultural, natural science, technological, and engineering aspects of environmental sciences and pollution. You can limit to peer-reviewed sources. 1967-present.  

Full record

Websites

An advanced Google search, using the limiting options to restrict results to .edu sites can find reports and web pages on individual college and university efforts towards sustainability.

Virginia Tech Office of Sustainability

Coordinates programs for campus sustainability, oversees the implementation of the VTCAC Resolution and accompanying sustainability plan, monitors energy usage and GHG emissions, and manages a campus wide student internship and undergraduate research program.

Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF)

The Secretariat for signatories of the Talloires Declaration (1990), which has been signed by over 400 college and university presidents and chancellors worldwide. ULSF supports sustainability as a critical focus of teaching, research, operations and outreach in higher education through publications, research, and assessment.

Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums from AASHE

Discussions on topics for creating sustainable campuses.