| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.39 |
| Liaison | Weston Dripps |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Amherst College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.50 / 4.00 |
Laura
Draucker Director of Sustainability Office of Environmental Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Published Plans That Address Sustainability
Strategic Plan
Yes
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Amherst embraces environmental sustainability as a bedrock principle for our future development. In its recent statement, Amherst's Board of Trustees commits the College to a path that will make sustainability a key consideration in both our daily operations and our investment process. Our goal is to get every member of the community engaged in addressing the dangers of climate change and to make Amherst a meaningful contributor to local, regional, national, and international efforts to develop solutions. The College has put sustainable environmental practices in place to conserve resources, reduce waste, and use facilities and resources efficiently across the campus. In keeping with the commitments articulated in the trustees' plan, we will: develop a strategy to achieve a carbon-neutral footprint within a stipulated period of time; decrease our carbon footprint by building a second co-generation plant and exploring the options for alternative forms of energy; set aside a portion of the endowment to create a pool for investment in major on-campus capital projects that would enhance cleanenergy and energy-conservation efforts; create a revolving fund to support smaller projects suggested by members of the community; support the investment required to make sustainability a defining feature of Amherst's educational and community life; develop a framework for understanding the extent to which endowment managers incorporate environmental factors, as they do many other factors, into the investment process; invest with managers who thoughtfully and consistently incorporate environmental considerations into the investment process; and stay abreast of best practices in the field.
A copy of the strategic plan:
The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Sustainability Plan
No
A copy of the sustainability plan:
---
The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
---
Climate Action Plan
Yes
A copy of the climate action plan:
The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
Other Published Plans
Yes
A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
The Amherst College Framework Plan addresses sustainability in our campus footprint moving forward, and how we can create more sustainable buildings and landscapes.
https://www.amherst.edu/system/files/media/Amherst_Framework_Plan_Report_Final_Proof_for_viewing%2520%25281%2529_0.pdf
Measurable Sustainability Objectives
Curriculum
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The Climate Action Plan includes curricular engagement of the decarbonization of the campus as a key outcome, helping to engage students who will be leaders after graduation. We will build curricular tie-ins through the implementation of the plan. Implementation of the plan will include regular updates on progress towards this goal.
Research
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
With the curricular engagement of the Climate Action Plan we will include research opportunities to use data extracted from our decarbonization approach to support faculty and student research projects. Implementation of the plan will include regular updates on progress towards this goal.
Campus Engagement
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Campus engagement is a key goal of the Climate Action Plan, with ways to engage faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Implementation of the plan will include regular updates on progress towards this goal.
Public Engagement
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Air & Climate
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The Climate Action Plan includes specific goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. Implementation of the plan will include regular updates on progress towards this goal.
Buildings
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Building energy use will be addressed as part of the climate neutrality goals, including new buildings and retrofits that will be done in accordance with the planned energy system transformation. Buildings will be retrofitted to operate using low-temperature hot water heating systems. Implementation of the plan will include regular updates on progress towards this goal.
Energy
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The Climate Action Plan calls for the transformation of our campus energy system away from fossil fuel combustion to ground-source heat pumps. Implementation of the plan will include regular updates on progress towards this goal.
Food & Dining
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Grounds
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Purchasing
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Transportation
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Waste
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Water
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Diversity & Affordability
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Investment & Finance
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Wellbeing & Work
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Other Impact Areas
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
---
Optional Fields
---
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
---
The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
---
Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | --- |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | --- |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | --- |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | --- |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | --- |
| UN Global Compact | --- |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
---
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
---
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.