MILESTONES
PRESIDENT’S ENERGY INITIATIVES
Climate Action Progress
On Earth Day 2014, university President Wallace Loh announced the President’s Energy Conservation Initiatives, an ambitious set of goals aimed at propelling the university toward its next major Climate Action Plan benchmark: cutting carbon emissions in half by 2020. Three specific initiatives make up the new energy goals:
UMD is committed to becoming carbonneutral—having zero net carbon emissions—by 2050. The university is asking Terps to double down on their efforts to conserve energy and fuel and reduce waste in order to meet increasingly aggressive emissions goals. The next Climate Action Plan target is a 25 percent reduction in emissions by 2015. President Loh’s new energy initiatives will help UMD reach the following goal of 50 percent reductions by 2020.
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Energy Conservation Initiative: Reduce electricity use on campus by 20 percent by 2020.
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Carbon-Neutral New Development Initiative: Negate added greenhouse gas emissions from new construction and major renovations through energy-efficient design and renewable power.
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Initiative on Purchased Power: Eliminate carbon emissions from purchased electricity by 2020 through the purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources.
Maryland is already taking steps in these areas. Since 2009, the university has saved more than 9,600,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity (about as much as the annual electricity use of 885 American homes!) through energy conservation projects. In 2013, 25 percent of UMD’s purchased electricity was generated from renewable energy sources, primarily wind. And while new construction on campus may not be carbon-neutral yet, it is certainly energy-efficient: Maryland requires new campus buildings to reach a minimum of LEED Silver certification, a designation that requires energy efficiency in the building design and operations. Even while introducing these university-wide changes, Loh emphasized the need for continued individual efforts. “Ultimately, group success relies on individual participation. If we are to meet our promises, each of us must do what we can to reduce our environmental footprints.”
PLANNED EMISSIONS TRAJECTORY
2012
2015
2020
PHOTO CREDIT: ORI GUTIN
2025
President Loh with members of UMD Student Government Association’s Sustainability Committee.
2050
CARBON REDUCTION TARGET REMAINING EMISSIONS
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