University of Massachusetts

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

President Wilson signed the Presidents Climate Commitment, as did the chancellors at the Boston, Lowell, and Dartmouth campuses. The president is also involved with various state agencies to develop leadership in energy efficiency programs. Each campus has an advisory committee to oversee sustainability initiatives, with staff, faculty, and student participation. Furthermore, each campus has designated coordinators to lead sustainability efforts.

A new central heating plant, which will supply almost all needed electricity to the Amherst campus using cogeneration and pollution control technology, is projected to help reduce emissions when completed in 2008. UMass–Lowell purchased renewable energy to cover 13 percent of its energy use and has three wind turbines that collectively generate 2.3 kilowatts, as well as a 2.5-kilowatt solar panel system.

UMass–Amherst is involved with a program that emphasizes the sustainability of local farmers, purchasing 20 percent of its produce locally. The campus hosts the annual “Tastes of the World Chef Culinary Conference,” featuring chefs that emphasize sustainable food. All of the UMass campuses have recycling programs, which accept paper, cans, and cardboard. Furthermore, the Dartmouth and Lowell campuses have established vermiculture composting programs.

Each UMass campus is dedicated to including green building features in its plans for construction and renovations following its own policies. Amherst has a green building design policy and follows green building guidelines based on the LEED system. Specific projects that have green features include a new science building at Amherst that will feature a roof garden and a rainwater collection system, and a facility at Boston that utilizes seawater to cool the campus.

The Rideshare Program at UMass–Amherst has reduced single-occupancy commuting by 13 percent since 1999 through discounted parking permits and preferred parking spaces. Each campus provides access to public transportation and vanpools. Amherst has three hybrid vehicles and 30 electric vehicles in its fleet; the Boston campus has several hybrid buses for local transportation.

The UMass Foundation website offers annual reports that describe endowment performance and total assets, but does not provide detailed information regarding specific endowment holdings or shareholder voting records.

The UMass Foundation aims to optimize investment return and has not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

Students at UMass–Boston have been working to increase student involvement in investment decisions.