UVM’s first Comprehensive Sustainability Plan focuses on reducing emissions, increasing efficiency
Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont announced today that it has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 as the cornerstone of a Comprehensive Sustainability Plan (CSP) that lays out strategies for increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions.
“UVM is energized in its drive to create a better world through responsible stewardship of all our resources,” UVM President Suresh Garimella said. “Our Comprehensive Sustainability Plan being unveiled today amplifies the excellent work already underway across campus and sets a number of important new goals – carbon neutrality by 2030 being chief among them – coupled with strategies for achieving them. We’re excited to have this path in front of us.”
The CSP prioritizes decarbonization and features objectives in the areas of operations, governance and planning, and research and learning. The university will develop a program for “greening” campus labs, and reduce waste generated per campus user 10% by 2035.
Over the next six years, UVM will develop a campus energy plan to help prioritize renewable energy investments, increase the percentage of electric vehicles in the fleet, make buildings more efficient, and drill geothermal test wells on campus.
Additional highlights of the plan include:
- Reducing GHG emissions associated with the UVM automotive fleet by reducing fleet size by 10% by 2030 and increasing electric vehicles to 100% of light-duty fleet vehicles by 2040;
- Increasing composting and recycling by a combined 10% or more by 2035 from 2019 baseline;
- Increasing spending on Vermont-grown food to 25% by 2030 from 2020 baseline and prioritize food purchasing from diverse suppliers;
- Creating partnerships with other training and educational institutions to support the development and training of the green workforce in Vermont;
- Investing $30M from cash investments in socially responsible funds;
- Strengthening and support transdisciplinary sustainability research across the University; and
- Educating students to contribute to sustainable communities and supporting UVM’s Academic Success Goals through sustainability research and teaching.
UVM is partnering with Vermont Gas Systems to investigate the feasibility of implementing geothermal energy technology in specific locations on campus, one way to address emissions while maintaining adequate systems for the New England climate.
“VGS is excited to support UVM's efforts to reduce carbon emissions," said Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) President and CEO Neale Lunderville. "Renewable fuels and geothermal energy systems hold promise to provide zero-carbon energy for existing and new buildings on campus."
UVM’s electricity has been 100% renewable since 2015. The university is planning new initiatives with the support of Burlington Electric Department.
“Burlington Electric values and appreciates the University of Vermont’s commitment to sustainability, and efforts to reduce fossil fuel use that line up well with our community’s goal of becoming a Net Zero Energy city by 2030,” said Darren Springer, General Manager of Burlington Electric Department, which has partnered with UVM on projects including energy efficiency, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, city carbon reduction policies, and solar deployment.
The CSP commits the university to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 60% below 2007 levels by next year. To offset Scope III emissions (indirect emissions such as travel) UVM will purchase local forest carbon offsets through the Vermont Land Trust. After reducing existing emissions levels, UVM plans to invest in local offsets in 2030 to address its remaining emissions.
“Buying local carbon credits is meaningful to us – it’s a critical strategy in a suite of solutions that will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” said UVM Sustainability Director Elizabeth Palchak, who led a CSP working group made up of faculty, staff and students which crafted the plan over the past year.
“I am excited to see the continued commitment UVM has to sustainability, and the bold short-term and long-term milestones,” said Eileen Ye ’24, undergraduate representative to UVM’s Socially Responsible Investing Advisory Council.
The full plan is available here.
Source: 4.18.2023. BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont
