UMass Amherst sets goals to become carbon neutral by FY 2032

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst has recently revealed plans to power its complete campus spanning 1,500-acre with 100% renewable energy and a shift to an all-electric vehicle unit within a decade.

To limit the flagship campus' contributions to climate change, the university wishes to invest about $500 million in the plan called ‘UMass Carbon Zero’ which, according to Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, will serve as a model to other institutions globally.

Mr. Subbaswamy, to the guest assembled in the Student Union ballroom, said that the celebration of Earth Day is reinforced due to the threat of climate change. As a scientist and an inveterate optimist, he believes that this can be a significant step toward addressing the current global climate crisis.

At present, the UMass Amherst campus seizes 20% of all carbon emissions coming from Massachusetts state buildings and institutions, making it one of the most significant contributors among state entities, said Subbaswamy.

Officials are further planning to complete the overall transition to an all-electric fleet by 2030; however, the target date for finishing the project is 2032. A behavior change inventiveness is estimated to encourage voluntary conversations further.

The carbon neutrality target date for the state is 2050, placing the timeline for UMass Amherst's almost 20 years ahead of schedule.

Subbaswamy said that the revolutionary work on this composite, large-scale undertaking would have complications far beyond the campus. The success in this shift of energy will be commonwealth's success.

Moreover, the University's steam heating and electricity network based on fossil fuel will be swapped with low-temperature hot water combined with geothermal heating and cooling.

The geothermal wells will be rigged under the athletic fields, and the thermal solar array and additional solar panels will be added all over the campus.

Source Credit - https://www.recorder.com/UMass-Amherst-goal-No-emissions-by-2032-46061333