American University has been recognized as a Top Performer in multiple categories in the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) 2025 Sustainable Campus Index.

The Index features top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 13 impact areas, as measured through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS®). AU secured the #2 position in Top Performers in the Energy and Climate category, and the #3 position in both the Transportation and Doctoral Research Institution categories. AU earned a STARS® Gold rating for achieving 76.02 out of a possible 100 points for integrating sustainability into the university’s operations, academics, engagement, and administration. AU was also one of the first schools to use the new STARS version 3.0.

"AU first used STARS to measure sustainability progress in 2011 and this Index provides a strong reminder that the American University community is critical to ensuring that our work to constantly expand our sustainability efforts continue,” said director of sustainability, Megan Litke.

Earning the Top Performer distinction is the result of AU’s long-standing priority to promote sustainability in energy, transportation, and other aspects of the university’s daily functions.  

Energy

• In 2012, solar photovoltaic panels were installed atop seven roofs on campus, including:
  • School of International Service
  • 3201 New Mexico Avenue 
  • 4200 Wisconsin Ave.
  • Spring Valley Building
  • Katzen Art Museum
  • Bender Library
  • Mary Graydon Student Center

With more than 2,150 solar photovoltaic panels producing energy on campus, AU had the largest solar power system in the District of Columbia at the time.

• In 2016, AU partnered with George Washington University and George Washington University Hospital to build solar farms in North Carolina that produce enough electricity to meet about half of each partners’ electricity demand. At the time of construction, this was the largest installation of renewable energy by a non-utility company in the country.

• Since late 2019, AU has been using a Low-Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) system for campus heating that improves energy efficiency. This system – which replaced the old steam system – generates hot water at around 150°F, and significantly decreases heat loss during distribution, reducing natural gas use.

Transportation

• In 2023, 88 percent of students and 65 percent of employees used sustainable commuting options such as biking, walking, bussing, and riding the Metro to and from campus. 
• AU hosts 19 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across campus.

Research and Outreach

• American University houses eight research centers that address sustainability challenges and produce sustainability-related research, including the Center for Responsible Carbon Removal and the Center on Health, Risk, and Safety.

• Throughout the 2024 fiscal year, approximately 79 percent of the AU campus community was reached through sustainability-related social media, tabling, and events. 

“American University’s recognition as a Top Performer in the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index underscores not only the university’s dedication to advancing sustainability, but also the resilience of higher education at a time of significant global and societal challenges,” praised AASHE’s Executive Director, Meghan Fay Zahniser.  

STARS® is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. It was developed by AASHE with broad participation from the higher education community. The credits included in STARS span the breadth of higher education sustainability and are organized into four categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations, and Planning & Administration. For more information, visit stars.aashe.org. 

AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff, and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. For more information, visit www.aashe.org.