
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and has published the FY23 full scope (1-3) emissions report available below.