Doc. T16-055, Passed by the Board of Trustees on December 9, 2016, Purpose, The Sustainability Policy exemplifies the long-term commitment of the five campuses of UMass to be good stewards of fiscal and environmental resources. Our environmental responsibility is rooted in the University’s founding as a land-grant institution, designed to bolster good stewardship of land and industry as well as to serve the greater public good. With stewardship in mind, the efforts and…, I. Introduction, The University of Massachusetts which includes five campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and the Medical School in Worcester has made a collective commitment to be “good stewards of resources”. This includes responsibly managing our fiscal resources, investing in our capital assets, continuing our commitment to being environmentally responsible, and, in direct alignment with UMass’ core…, II. Policy Statement, Overarching Principles, The University of Massachusetts is committed to responsible stewardship of resources and to demonstrating leadership in sustainable business practices. The University’s five campuses should be continuously improving our practices for sustainability consistent with available funding. The guiding principles for the University of Massachusetts Sustainability Policy include: Sustainability Strategic…, Principles with Goals, Sustainability Strategic Planning, - Integration of sustainability planning, practices, and strategies into the University’s strategic planning processes. Goal 1.1 – Complete a sustainability plan with a focus on energy projects at each campus, or update any existing plans, to align with the principles and goals outlined in this policy in order to adequately and efficiently understand the energy needs and potential sustainability…, Clean Energy, - Supports the development and use of clean and renewable energy sources. Goal 2.1 – Achieve UMass’ commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 or as specified through the sustainability planning process occurring through the development of campus-specific action plans, as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and meet sustainability objectives, and UMass…, Climate Resilience and Preparedness, - Implementation of strategies to mitigate or reduce environmental impact. Goal 3.1 – Build climate resilience and preparedness standards into the University’s capital planning process, emergency management and business continuity planning., Green Building Design and Sustainable Campus Operations, - Strategies to address emissions associated with designing, building, maintaining, and operating campus buildings and grounds. Goal 4.1 – Any new construction must meet the MA Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Plus green building standards, (LEED most current version) or other standards as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and…, Sustainable Transportation, - Integrating sustainable best practices for the use and maintenance of campus fleets, student/employee commuters, and public transportation options. Goal 5.1 – Reduce vehicle fuel consumption of the University vehicle fleet through promoting the use of public transportation, reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles and increasing the use of other alternative fuel transportation for…, Waste Reduction and Recycling, - Promote strategies to encourage waste reduction and re-use and acknowledge the importance of preventative measures. Goal 6.1 – Employ strategies around preventative measures in waste diversion to promote source reduction, re-use and recycling of used materials., Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, - Implement a procurement approach to access environmentally-conscious products whenever applicable and available. Goal 7.1 – Establish Environmentally-Preferable Products Procurement Program (EPP) and continue to implement annual procurement goals to move toward alignment with the standards of the Environmental Purchasing Advisory Council wherever appropriate and consistent with available…, Sustainable Food Services, - Supporting sustainable food systems through food and beverage purchases. Goal 8.1 – Strive for each campus food service operation to procure sustainable food products while maintaining accessibility and affordability for all students and campus patrons., Sustainable Water Systems, - Reducing campus water withdrawals can reduce pressures on local aquifers, streams, rivers, lakes, and aquatic wildlife. Goal 9.1 – Reduce potable water usage and determine goals consistent with capital investments and annual programs implemented in support of reducing potable water., Academic and Research Programming and Community Engagement, - Ensuring Sustainability is part of Academic and Research programming and part of community engagement efforts. Goal 10.1 – The UMass Sustainability Council will work with their respective campus curriculum governance units to identify where Academic and Research Programming and Community Engagement involving Sustainability already exists, and to explore more formal incorporation into core…, III. Reporting, The University will measure and track progress on achieving defined goals through the current reporting requirements of the ACUPCC and Leading by Example. With accountability and transparency in mind, the University commits to provide an annual report regarding each campus’ sustainability activities to University Board of Trustees. The University is committed to transparent and consistent…, IV. Delegation, The President and Chancellors may delegate all or any part of their authority set forth in this Policy in accordance with the University’s delegation policy., V. Standards, The President, in consultation with the Vice President(s) and Chancellors, will issue administrative standards to implement this policy.
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(Doc. T16-055), I. Introduction, Sustainability Standards are intended to assist in the implementation of the University’s Sustainability Policy. The policy provides a framework within which the University reviews its progress toward meeting its sustainability goals. The University’s commitment to sustainability practices are not strictly limited to the topics outlined. The University endeavors to demonstrate leadership in…, II. Standards Statement, Principles – Goals – For each of the Principles, goals were established to determine how the principle would be evaluated over time. For background, each of the goals was evaluated to address the following questions: Define the goal issue and provide background information to understand the goal in layperson terms. Why is this goal important to highlight? Where do the University/campuses…, III. Related Procedures, Forms and Other Resources, Follow the links for each principle/goal below:
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Item Description Principle 1 Sustainability Strategic Planning – Integration of sustainability planning and strategies into the University’s strategic planning processes. Goal 1.1 Complete a sustainability plan with a focus on energy projects at each campus, or update any existing plans, to align with the principles and goals outlined in this policy in order to adequately and efficiently…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., The purpose of an energy master plan and/or sustainability plan centers on the need to evaluate where each campus stands as it relates to energy projects and show how university commitments for carbon emissions reduction, green building designs, and other sustainability objectives will be met, with approximate timelines and costs for meeting those commitments and objectives. To date, each campus…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, When undertaking substantial initiatives or new policies it is important to evaluate the current situation to assist in determining the proper course moving forward. Sustainability planning/energy master planning allows each campus to map out options and prioritize projects dependent on funding sources and their general impact on University operations., Where do the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, Currently, the Amherst campus has completed an Energy Master Plan and is in the process of implementing the plan. However, the other four campuses have not undergone a formal evaluation and planning session., Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, While sustainability/energy master plans transcend all areas of the campuses and potentially spark priority conversations, the crucial departments involved in this process are sustainability and facilities/operations., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, As previously stated, the Amherst campus has recently completed an Energy Master Plan and are utilizing it to determine projects and priorities. The other campuses have not undergone this type of comprehensive planning., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, The University must support these planning processes across all of the campuses for a consistent picture of where campuses currently stand and what can be done in the future to meet their energy needs in a sustainable and affordable manner. Each campus must engage their constituencies to engage in this planning as a way to accomplish many of the goals contained in this policy.
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Item Description Principle 2 Clean Energy – Supports the development and use of clean and renewable energy sources. Goal 2.1 Achieve UMass commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 or as specified through the sustainability planning process occurring through the development of campus-specific action plans, as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and meet…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., In 2007, the President of the University of Massachusetts signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate commitment (ACUPCC). In doing so the University committed to developing plans to achieve climate neutrality. In the context of this commitment climate neutral is the elimination of net greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations. The University under the commitment is…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, The ACUPCC outlines the importance of this goal as it relates to climate change. Climate change is defined as a change in the global or regional climate patterns. The scientific consensus is that climate change is real and attributed to increases in greenhouse gas emissions largely caused by humans. The speed and scale of climate change has the potential for large scale adverse health, social,…, Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, All five campuses have completed climate action plans and report on greenhouse gas emissions and progress to the ACUPCC. It is important to note that the interim goals and climate neutrality are not consistently normalized. Even if they were being normalized they are still not being met because the goals do not compensate for growing energy use intensities (Ex. Labs). Therefore, with the campuses…, Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, Several departments are integral in moving forward to meet this goal, including Facilities, Engineering and Construction, Planning, Transportation, Purchasing, Sustainability & Energy Management, Power Plant Operations, Administration & Finance, and faculty, staff, and students., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, The campuses have made significant gains in reducing greenhouse gas emissions despite aggressive growth and the addition of new buildings. These reductions come principally from energy efficiency measures, retrofits, fuel switching, and in part from LEED building design., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, High level support and funding is required to develop more extensive carbon reduction plans and to make investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Item Item No. Description Principle 2 Clean Energy – Supports the development and use of clean and renewable energy sources. Goal 2.2 Procure a defined amount of annual electricity consumption through renewable and clean energy sources as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and meet sustainability objectives. Metric Total GHG Emissions Reduced Since…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., When the Leading By Example Executive Order was written and signed into law in 2007, the Governor and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acknowledged their buildings consumed over 1 billion kwh of electricity, 22 million gallons of heating oil, and 46 million therms of natural gas, resulting in over a million tons of GHG emissions a year contributing to “environmental and health issues…such as…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, As campuses expand and our energy consumption grows, the University must be seeking electricity from renewable energy sources to alleviate the greenhouse gas emissions impacts. The University is the largest energy consumer in the state and therefore can have a tremendous impact on the overall GHG emissions of Massachusetts. The environmental and human health impacts would be positively affected…, Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, The campuses have experienced progress in expanding renewable energy sources particularly around solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. The campuses are a part of solar net-metering projects across the state and exploring other renewable energy options. Additionally, there has been an overall reduction of GHG emissions by 14.7% based on the FY 2004 baseline. Some of the campuses have developed interim…, Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, The University will have to engage with our energy planners and facility staff in determining the most cost-effective and consistent renewable energy sources. The campus may have an opportunity to engage in conversations with their local electricity utility companies to discuss available resources in the region and ways to work together. The System Office will need to continue to play an…, What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, The University is currently a part of solar net-metering projects which allows for the credits to offset their electricity costs through large-scale solar PV projects which are not required to be in close geographical location. Despite rapid physical growth of most campuses within the UMass System and new development of very high energy intensive facilities that help serve the academic mission of…, What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, The campuses must work to identify the renewable energy sources available to them and how much electricity consumption should be sourced by renewable energy. Carbon emission reduction efforts must be ramped up and prioritized through energy master planning, updates to carbon plan goals and GHG inventories, etc. as well as utilize innovative funding mechanisms such as green revolving funds which…
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Item Description Principle 3 Climate Resilience and Preparedness - Implementation of strategies to mitigate or reduce environmental impact. Goal 3.1 Build climate resilience and preparedness standards into the University’s capital planning process and emergency management and business continuity planning. Metric Published plans including measurable objective with corresponding strategies., Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., Climate resilience is the ability for a system, institution, or operation to withstand the impacts of climate change and related events and to modify assets and adjust operations based on changing circumstances. Climate resilience planning is a critical process for all major institutions to be mindful of when considering other types of planning., Why is this goal important to highlight?, Climate resilience planning for the campuses will assist the long-term planning at the campus level in order to be proactive about potential weather/climate related events impacting University assets and operations. Including but not limited to specific topic areas, such as tropical storms/hurricanes, snow storms, extreme heat, or sea level rise., Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, The University has included aspects of climate resilience planning into the University Hazard Mitigation Plan., Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, The stakeholders involved in this goal are: facilities, administration & finance, design & construction, operations heads, academic heads, student affairs personnel, student government, IT, emergency management staff and campus communications., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, The University has included aspects of climate resilience planning into the University Hazard Mitigation Plan., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, Continued participation and discussion at a local level; funding that can help both resilience and sustainability efforts.
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Item Description Principle 4 Green Building Design and Sustainable Campus Operations – Strategies to address emissions associated with designing, building, maintaining, and operating campus buildings and grounds. Goal 4.1 Any new construction must meet the MA LEED Plus green building standards (LEED most current version) or other standards as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., In 2006, the Massachusetts Sustainable Design Roundtable was assembled consisting of a public-private collaboration of 54 state agencies, private firms and non-profit organizations to create An Action Plan for Green Building in Massachusetts State Construction Project.The Roundtable has recommended adoption of a new “Massachusetts LEED Plus” standard that specifically mandates certain LEED points…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, The Roundtable’s report found that in studying 33 green buildings that were already built, by spending an additional $3-5 per SF in building costs, a savings of $15 per SF in operational costs from lower energy, water and maintenance was observed., Where do the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, The University of Massachusetts Building Authority has established the Massachusetts LEED Plus and LEED Silver minimum standard for all new construction. Where applicable the campuses have been designing to the LEED Gold standard or higher., Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, There are numerous stakeholders associated with the success of this goal: DCAMM and UMBA, Campus Leadership, University’s Facility Management (Planning, Project Management, Operations & Maintenance), Sustainability and Energy Management, and EH&S., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, The establishment of an energy and sustainability standard of LEED Plus & LEED Silver for the Facilities departments to use when considering the renovations and designs for new buildings., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, The design of new construction and renovations provides the opportunity to evaluate the impact of energy infrastructure from a financial and energy efficiency perspective. The diligent application of these standards on all projects, no matter how large or small, will continue to demonstrate progress towards our goal. The University must also examine opportunities to design beyond LEED standards…
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Item Description Principle 4 Green Building Design and Sustainable Campus Operations – Strategies to address emissions associated with designing, building, maintaining, and operating campus buildings and grounds. Goal 4.2 Reduce energy consumption and determine goals consistent with capital investments and annual programs implemented in support of energy consumption reduction, as identified in…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., Energy reduction goals need to be met in a variety to ways that include green procurement, enhanced recycling, IT, enhanced tree planting, increasing recycled paper, transit and clean energy options, residential dorms, building complete streets or smart/livable/walkable cities, food sourcing, green construction etc. and thus involves system-level planning over and above physical plant…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, The importance of this goal stems from the need to identify strategies that reduce the energy consumption of existing campus infrastructure and align the planned capital investments with the goal of minimizing future energy usage. Progress in this goal area has the starkest impact on overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions., Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, Most campuses provide annual tracking data to Department of Energy Resources and also to ACUPCC & STARS - and should continue to do so., Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, Students are the most critical group on each campus when considering sustainability issues. Outreach to students through more effective, campus-wide education such as on campus social media. University communications should be engaged to reflect these sustainability priorities for the campus and use their expertise in emerging media techniques., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, Since 2013, The System has created the annual sustainability report which has become an annual feature for the Board and the public to learn about the efforts taking place at each campus., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, Most campuses are moving in this direction, however, a greater transparency, and integration with A&F goals and budgeting is needed. Accomplishing significant savings associated with energy consumption is achievable through undergoing master planning exercises. Management of energy systems with a focus on conservation is a crucial part of reaching this benchmark.
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Item Description Principle 5 Sustainable Transportation - Integrating sustainable best practice for the use and maintenance of campus fleets, student/employee commuters, and public transportation options. Goal 5.1 Reduce vehicle fuel consumption of the University vehicle fleet through promoting the use of public transportation, reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles, and increasing the…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., Transportation is a topic which impacts every individual at the University and there are various opportunities to be more environmentally friendly. This goal recognizes the move towards purchasing and utilizing fuel efficient vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles will assist in the need to reduce overall vehicle fuel consumption. It also encourages the implementation of strategies to encourage…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, This goal is crucial due to the fact that everyone has transportation needs on a college campus and the strategies used to get people to where they need to go should be considering the environmental impacts. Adjusting transit habits within the campus community can have significant environmental impacts as well as addressing other regional transportation priorities., Where do the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, The campuses are undertaking projects that align to the outlined goal. Many of the initiatives are highlighted in the annual Sustainability Report. For example, Lowell has instituted a “Park Once Policy”, a carpool program, bike share program, and offers Zipcars. The campus has drawn attention to local public transit options and organized educational campaigns on transit issues. The highlighted…, Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, The campuses will have to continue to engage their campus communities in this process. The involvement of regional transit authorities and local government could provide an arena to align goals with regional planning efforts around transportation., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, The University has demonstrated a commitment to providing alternative methods of transportation, such as shuttle services, to students, faculty, and staff at each campus., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, Each of the campuses will have to evaluate what programs and initiatives are on-going that seek to move forward in this goal area and develop plans for the areas where programs do not exist. The planning process should include transportation alternatives as a priority and consider guidance from complete streets, climate resilience strategies, clean fuels, EV charging stations, and green parking…
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Item Description Principle 6 Waste Reduction and Recycling – Promote strategies to encourage waste reduction and re-use and acknowledges the importance of preventative measures. Goal 6.1 Employ strategies around preventative measures in waste diversion to promote source reduction, re-use and recycling of used materials. Metric Annually report on materials recycled, reused, composted, and disposed, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., This STARS reporting standards recognizes institutions that are diverting materials from landfills and incinerators and conserving resources by recycling and composting. Further, the University must be focused on minimizing the production of waste. While the benefits of recycling and composting cannot be overstated, the importance of preventative measures to avoid the waste should be a primary…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, The reduction of waste disposed and enhanced recycling efforts can dramatically impact the carbon footprint of the University. These efforts are highly visible and require some educational context. In order to be successful, people must adjust their habits to help produce the desired results., Where does the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, Each campus has been consistently involved in notable recycling and waste reduction efforts helping to involve students, faculty, and staff while educating the entire campus community about the benefits to recycling and reducing waste. The campuses track their progress and achievements in this area in their own ways., Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, The University will need to be actively engaging students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the general public in this goal. Additionally, the University should evaluate if there are current vendors or other parties that could assist with programs or other infrastructure to assist in accomplishing this goal., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, The campuses can point to marked progress in this area through the substantial programing taking place around this issue. The University’s annual Sustainability Report highlights many of the initiatives underway across UMass., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, UMass must sustain the progress achieved by the campuses and capitalize on the enthusiasm for this issue, thereby generating more programs and strategies such as: the University’s total annual waste generation (materials diverted and disposed).
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