2027 Campus Energy Transition Academy
About the Academy
A six-month cohort-based program helping higher education leaders navigate the energy transition by improving campus buildings and energy systems for a more reliable, efficient, resilient, and financially sustainable future.
The AASHE Campus Energy Transition Academy equips higher education leaders with the knowledge, tools, strategies, and peer network needed to understand changing building and energy systems, assess campus opportunities, reduce operating costs and long-term risk, and make informed infrastructure investments.
Through expert guidance from higher education, business, and civil society, real-world case studies, practical tools, and peer collaboration, participants explore the technical, financial, organizational, and strategic dimensions of the energy transition to help their institutions prepare for the future. Using a holistic approach to evolving energy technologies, markets, and opportunities, the program explores electrification, utility engagement, financing, emerging technologies, and implementation.
The program is supported by Siemens (Platinum Sponsor), Johnson Controls, Affiliated Engineers, Inc, MD Energy Advisors, Brailsford & Dunlavey, Trust, Sasaki (Gold Sponsors) and Ever-Green Energy (Silver Sponsor) and offered in partnership with NACUBO – National Association of College and University Business Officers, SCUP – Society for College and University Planning, Second Nature, Sustainable Endowments Institute, Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC) and U.S. Green Building Council. We thank them for their support and contributions!
Why Now?
Higher education campuses are facing aging infrastructure, significant deferred maintenance, rising utility costs, increasing demands for energy reliability, and growing expectations for financial stewardship. Many institutions are also navigating changing energy markets, emerging technologies, and the need to make major infrastructure investments while managing constrained budgets.
The energy transition provides an opportunity to address these challenges together. Strategic investments in campus buildings, central plants, district energy systems, and other energy infrastructure can improve building performance, reduce operating and lifecycle costs, strengthen energy reliability and resilience, and position institutions for long-term success.
For campuses with a central plant and significant deferred maintenance, these investments can provide an opportunity to address aging infrastructure while improving energy performance and managing long-term costs and risk. The Academy provides practical tools, expert guidance, and peer examples to help higher education leaders evaluate these opportunities and develop strategies aligned with their institution’s financial, operational, and sustainability priorities.
Campus Project Examples
Throughout the Academy, participants will learn from colleges and universities that have undertaken major energy and infrastructure initiatives. The Academy also draws on AASHE’s Higher Education Decarbonization Projects Database and other campus project resources to provide examples of strategies and implementation approaches. AASHE, in collaboration with the Barron Lab at Smith College, have developed and are maintaining this resource. Please contact education@aashe.org with suggestions or updates.
Who Should Attend and Why?
The Academy is designed for campus teams responsible for energy, facilities, infrastructure, capital investment, financial planning, and sustainability. Participants will receive not only a common understanding of the energy-transition pathways and options but also dive deeper into the topics relevant to multiple roles. By participating with a cross functional team that brings complementary expertise the institution builds shared skills, knowledge and capacity needed to move complex implementation forward.
| Campus Role | Academy topics/deep dives |
| Facilities, energy and operations leaders | Technical pathways, energy systems, electrification and operations strategy |
| Business and finance officers | Financing, lifecycle economic, ROI, making the business case |
| Campus planners | Long-term planning and infrastructure strategy |
| Capital planning and deferred maintenance teams | Capital projects, renewal and deferred maintenance opportunities |
| Sustainability professionals | Strategy, climate goals, stakeholder engagement, organizational change |
| Engineers and architects | Technical solutions and design |
| IT and data staff | Digital tools and AI |
| Senior administrators and leadership | Governance, board engagement, institutional strategy and alignment |
To encourage team participation, special discounts are available for group registrations (see rates below). Even if you don’t have a team, individual participation is welcome, though the full benefits are best realized with a collaborative approach. The content will be particularly suited for institutions with a central plant and/or significant deferred maintenance.
What You’ll Gain
- Understand the energy transition and the technologies, markets, policies, and risks shaping campus energy decisions.
- Build campus alignment and engage stakeholders in advancing complex energy initiatives.
- Assess opportunities and develop strategies using campus data, baselines, and insights.
- Make the business case by evaluating costs, savings, risks, funding, and financing options.
- Evaluate energy solutions including electrification, emerging technologies, digitalization, and utility partnerships.
- Move from strategy to implementation by prioritizing projects, building institutional support, and sustaining momentum through action.
Learn from experts, practitioners, and peers through real-world case studies, practical tools, and collaborative problem-solving.
Key Dates
- Applications open: August 27, 2026
- Free introductory webinar: December 3, 2026
- Free info session: January 14, 2027
- Scholarship deadline: Jan 29, 2027
- Application deadline: Jan 29, 2027
- Decision notifications: rolling, no later than Feb. 2, 2027
- Payment due: no later than Feb. 5, 2027
- Program start date: Thursday, February 11, 2027
- Cadence: Bi‑weekly virtual meetings, Thursdays, 3–5 p.m. ET; Duration: 10–14 sessions (~6 months)
- Optional: In‑person component at AASHE 2027 Conference & Expo (location TBD)
Application & Registration
- An application is required for both individuals and teams (one team member applies for the group).
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and spots are limited.
- A limited number of scholarships are available, apply below.
- If the event reaches capacity, we may close the application process earlier than the deadline.
- Upon acceptance, you will receive a payment request, with payment due within two weeks of notification and no later than Friday, January 29, 2027.
Apply Today Apply for Scholarship
Registration Fees*
| Type | Fee – 1 participant | Fee – 2 participants | Fee – 3+ participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| AASHE member institutions, non-profits, and government agencies | $995 | $1700 | each additional team member is $500 (i.e 3 participants $2200, 4 participants $2700) |
| Non-member institutions, nonprofits and government agencies | $1250 | $2125 | each additional team member is $625 (i.e 3 participants $2750, 4 participants $3375) |
| AASHE member businesses | $2900 | $4900 | each additional team member is $1000 |
| Non-member businesses | $3500 | $5900 | each additional team member is $1500 |
Sponsorship & Partners
We are confirming sponsors and partners for 2027. A variety of sponsorship levels are available. Nonprofit organizations are also invited to support the program. Contact Daita Serghi, education@aashe.org for more information.
Testimonials from previous participants
“The Academy has inspired us to keep moving on solving this enormous problem. It has greatly expanded our peer networking field on this effort.”
“The AASHE academy taught me so much about how meaningful change in campus energy systems gets done in practice. The leaders, speakers, consultants, and peers provided insights, advice, case studies, and a supportive community. Highly recommend!”
“I really thought the program was extremely good, it will be hard to improve.”