The Green Building Committee, a sub-committee of the Environmental Performance Advisory Committee at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is pleased to announce the launch of the Campus Sustainability Explorer, an interactive mapping tool for exploring the various campus efforts on sustainability.
Over two years of research and collaboration have led to this achievement, the University’s first comprehensive explorer representing all aspects of sustainability. Created by an in-house team of Green Building Researchers, the Explorer’s primary purpose is communicating to and educating the greater UMass community, higher education institutions everywhere, and the general public about the diverse projects, programs, and initiatives being taken on at UMass Amherst.
“A powerful and unique tool like this is intended to serve as a vehicle for educational outreach.” says Bill Stanton, lead designer and developer of the Explorer. “However, it’s also a strong platform for decision support, providing resources for students, faculty, staff, administrators and other campus decision makers engaged in a range of sustainability work.”
The Green Building Committee’s first explorer represented only Capital Construction and Green Building Initiatives, but did identify the potential to aggregate sustainability across the many areas of campus. In collaboration with the Campus Sustainability Initiative, a student driven and University supported movement, researchers created a comprehensive collection of what UMass Amherst is doing to improve and advance sustainability. "The Explorer will be a one-stop-shop for viewing, sharing, and learning about sustainability at the UMass Amherst campus," Stanton adds. Projects focusing on food systems and energy conservation, campus infrastructure like bike racks and bus stops, and human dimensions such as advocacy groups and research centers are just some of the efforts now included in Campus Sustainability Explorer.
The list of sustainability projects, programs, and initiatives presented in the Explorer is not exhaustive and is always growing. If you know of a something on campus that should be highlighted, or seek additional information regarding the Campus Sustainability Explorer, please contact the Green Building Researchers in Facilities Planning.
The Green Building Committee would like to extend a special thanks to Campus Planning, Facilities Planning, and the Campus Sustainability Initiative for all of their support through the development of this tool.
Contact: Bill Stanton, 413/577-1787, stanton@admin.umass.edu
