Lot 44 solar

A Path Toward 100% Renewable Energy

UMass is committed to a campus-wide energy transition away from harmful fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy.  This ambitious, large scale, and complex goal will have ramifications far beyond campus and will serve as a model for carbon mitigation while educating the next generation of leaders in sustainability.

Crotty Hall

Net Zero Buildings

Crotty Hall is the first net-zero energy building on the UMass Amherst campus which means it is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes. Energy to heat, cool, and power Crotty Hall comes entirely from renewable energy sources, including a geothermal heat pump system and rooftop photovoltaic array.

FAC Bridge Solar Array

Harnessing the Sun

The university now has installed 10 MW of solar capacity across campus on 5 rooftops and over 5 parking lots with 2 electric battery storage systems to support resiliency and utility savings.

South Deerfield Solar Arrays

Agrivoltaics

Since 2010, the UMass Amherst Crop and Animal Research and Education Farm in South Deerfield, MA, has been home to a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic array (agrivoltaics). The 106-panel, 25-kilowatt PV is mounted high enough off the ground to allow sunlight penetration for farming and animal grazing.

CHP Solar Thermal

Solar Hot Water

In 2016, the Central Heating Plant (CHP) added a solar hot water system, which reduces fossil fuel usage by preheating condensate water used in the steam making process.

emissions graph

Tracking Emissions

Since 2002 UMass Amherst has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% and the campus continues to explore ways to reduce energy consumption and building energy intensity, continue to transition to clean renewable energy systems, and support the clean energy economy. 

UMass now uses the SIMAP carbon and nitrogen-accounting platform to track, analyze, and improve campus-wide sustainability.

 

2023 GHG Inventory

Download the FY2023 UMass Amherst GHG Report

37%
reduction in emissions 37% from 2004-2022
877
Number of homes in MA that could be powered by UMass solar energy
$2.7 MILLION
in state clean energy grant funding since 2012