UMass Amherst is dedicated to greening our 1,400 acre campus through a collaborative effort of our planners, engineers, students, faculty and staff to transform it into a showcase of environmentally progressive initiatives. This collaborative effort and our dedication to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions has led us to slashing our emissions by 24 percent since fiscal 2004.
Energy and Resources Management
Environmental Performance Advisory Committee (EPAC)
A Committee of staff, faculty, students and administrators who are working together to craft UMass Amherst’s Climate Action Plan, which will lay the ground work for how our campus will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and overall environmental impact in the coming years.
Campus Environmental Initiatives
UMass Amherst has completed numerous large and small projects across campus to both conserve and reduce resource consumption and many more projects are in the planning process. Some of the most notable projects completed to date is the construction of the new Cogeneration Central Heating Plant and the completion of the Energy Services Agreement with Johnson Controls.
Though the many efforts that UMass has taken to reduce its electricity consumption across campus, it has reduced its overall electricity consumption by 9% since 2002. The undergraduate student environmental education program called the Eco-Rep Program also works to educate students about what they can do to reduce their electrical consumption in their dorm rooms.
Over the past few years, numerous water conservation projects have dramatically reduced our campus’ water consumption by 43% since 2002. These projects coupled with the on campus education that students, staff and faculty receive about water conservation continue to drive our water consumption down.
Local food
All across campus there are numerous initiatives with the goal of purchasing local food for the numerous campus dining commons and eateries has made UMass Amherst a leader in purchasing local food. The University Club now purchases most of its meat products from Northeast Family Farms (NEFF) and our Dining Services spends 23% of its annual budget purchasing local foods for out students.
Buildings and Operations
UMass Amherst currently has several buildings in the design stage that are all planned to be built as LEED Silver or higher buildings. These goals exceed the campus’ current policy to have all new buildings meet LEED Plus standards. This exemplifies our commitment to being environmental conscious even as our campus grows.
It is the mission of our Office of Waste Management (OWM) to provide for the timely and efficient removal of any and all solid waste generated at the University and to process and dispose of these wastes in a manner which is the least harmful to the natural environment, the University community and the public. Our campus has nearly reached its goal to recycle or compost 60% of our waste.
Currently, all of UMass Amherst’s Dining Commons and our Campus Center have qualified for the (OS1) Green Certified Cleaning Program, the premier recognition given to organizations dedicated to cleaning for health and reducing environmental harm with more buildings progressing toward the same recognition.
