UMD College Park Campus Climate Action

CIER has conducted the first campus Greenhouse Gas Inventory for UMD College Park for the period FY 2002 through FY 2007. The results provide critical input on the major sources of emissions for the campus to the Campus Climate Action Committee.  This diverse committee of faculty, staff and students will review strategies this fall based on their emissions reduction potential and implementation cost.  Their resulting plan, due in 2009, will provide a road map and target dates for the campus to achieve carbon neutrality.

These are the first two steps required in a major pledge signed by University President Dan Mote, along with more than 500 other signatories, as part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. CIER is working closely with the  Office of Sustainability to provide research support for these important campus efforts. Their UMD sustainability website provides information on a lunchtime speaker series, campus sustainability activities and collaborations.

The next campus inventory, expected in early 2009, will cover emissions
for fiscal year 2008.  The campus will report on a biennial basis starting
in 2009.

Inventory Approach

To ensure the most useful inventory data and analysis, the team's approach included:

• Use of Clean Air Cool Planet calculator for standardization and comparability
• Learn from other university experiences
• Direct involvement of key stakeholders through GHG Inventory Taskforce
• Gather Accurate Data (Student Research Assistants)
• Analysis, development of recommendations and report
• Briefings to key leaders and stakeholders

Key Elements of the Study

• Institutional Data (Budget, Population, Physical Size)
• Electricity, Purchased Steam, and Chilled Water
• On-campus Cogeneration Plan
• On-campus Stationary Sources
• Transportation (University Fleet, Air Travel)
• Commuter Habits (Students, Summer School Students, Faculty, Staff)
• Agriculture (Fertilizer Application, Animal Agriculture)
• Solid Waste
• Refrigeration and Other Chemicals
• Offsets ('Green' Electric Certificates, Composting, Forest Preservation, Other

Last updated July 1, 2008