An Analysis of Sustainability Strategic Planning at Duke University

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to inform the sustainability planning process at Duke University and similar institutions of higher education. Through interviews of Duke University Campus Sustainability Committee members and a cost-benefit analysis of Duke’s Climate Action Plan, we evaluated the effectiveness of Duke’s sustainability planning and implementation process. Additionally, we investigated the widely varying sustainability approaches and metrics used by fifteen peer institutions to evaluate their relative merits. In depth interviews were also conducted with Brown University and Yale University staff members for comparison to Duke. Our work resulted in (1) a generic roadmap for universities seeking to develop their own sustainability plan and (2) a list of recommendations to improve upon Duke's already successful model.