Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 75.29
Liaison Ezra Small
Submission Date Feb. 17, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of Massachusetts Amherst
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Ezra Small
Sustainability Manager
Physical Plant
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Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Yes

Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:

There is a Sustainable UMass Facebook page where we post information about upcoming events and sustainability related UMass Amherst news (https://www.facebook.com/UMassSustainability/).

We also have a Sustainable UMass Instagram account where campus notifications and events are posted (https://www.instagram.com/umass_sustain/).

The Energy Transition Institute has a weekly newsletter as well called "Every Tuesday Info ETI NEWS which is an email sent via a google group list.


Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:

Although the campus does not require the purchase of LEED plaques for building entrances, many new buildings have them. Additionally, any new construction is required to build to LEED Silver minimum standards and have dashboards in lobbies which highlight sustainable features of the building. There are also solar production dashboards in 5 of the buildings on campus: Computer Sciences, Integrated Learning Center, and Recreation Center.

In 2016, the Integrated Learning Center had a number of LEED Feature signs installed in hallways around the building interior explaining to building occupants the LEED certification system and the associated features inside the building that helped the building achieve LEED certification. In 2017, these signs were extended to the Campus Center Blue Wall LEED certified (Interiors) renovation project and they are installed in buildings as they are built or renovated, most recently in the Physical Sciences Building (PSB).


Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

The Sustainable UMass Sustainability Explorer Interactive Map tool is available to the public and is constantly updated by Campus Planning and the Green Building Researcher student team (https://umass-amherst.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=ae3b9a89ba924ef981426c1e1af4e384).

Additionally, the student tour guides who provide tours for all campus visitors highlight sustainability efforts and buildings as part of the tour. The Campus Sustainability Manager Ezra Small has a 1.5 hour Sustainability Walking or Biking Tour that he gives to visitors of the campus including perspective students, Family Weekend visitor, and conference attendees.

Campus Planning offers an array of Green Building Self-Guided tour resources including an interactive online GIS Map as well as a Green Building Self Guided Walking Tour Brochure located here: https://www.umass.edu/cp/green-buildings-self-guided-walking-tour

There is also an interactive map of the Campus Arboretum located here: https://umass-amherst.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6b6bab7d2726462694bafbcc337cd981&query=Tree_Sites_Public%2Csite_id%2C6191&level=18.


Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

Residential Life launched a "Living Sustainably at UMass" Moodle course in 2019 that residents of student housing are encouraged to complete. The course highlights the impacts of everyday choices have on the world, establishes sustainable living behaviors as a social norm and expectation of the UMass campus community, and expose participants to sustainable living resources on campus and beyond. The course is open to all students at UMass, not just residents or first year.


A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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