University of Massachusetts Lowell
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

• Formed and staffed seven Climate Action Plan subcommittees that meet regularly • Reduced carbon emissions by converting from No. 6 fuel oil to natural gas • Required a minimum of LEED Silver for all new construction; The Emerging Technologies and Innovations Center was certified LEED Gold in August 2013 • Implemented design standards with sustainable requirements • Utilized Green Guard certified cleaning chemicals • Maintained a campus wide Zero Sort solid waste recycling program, • Piloted a food waste recycling project in Fox Hall • Created process for energy rebates and other incentives to be reserved for future energy conservation projects • Began incorporating Green Standards into procurement practices, • Hosting a series of events and competitions including Earth Week, Recyclemania, Climate Change Teach -In • Completed awareness campaigns associated with the Bike Share Program, Personal Climate Challenge, One Mug Programs, Electric Challenge, energy savings ideas, sustainable transportation • Developed and is the in the process of implementing and financing a campus-wide accelerated energy program that included energy conservation assessment audits and planning for the implementation of audit findings, • Developed and implemented energy efficiency and renewable energy projects such as the installation of Solar PV on four campus buildings, Sub-Metering project, net metering agreement with third party vendor, chiller replacements, and installation of high efficiency lightings, • Developed a transportation management plan incorporating sustainable transportation concepts including the Shuttle Bus and River Hawk Roadster Bus Program, MassRIDES commuter Travel, and ZipCar • Conducted research in diverse fields including modeling climate change, clean energy, sustainability and education (much of this was from the Center for Electric Car and Energy Conservation, the UMass Lowell Center for Sustainable Energy and Wind Energy Research Group • Offered 70 climate related courses • Developed a comprehensive, sustainability web site

The mission of the Climate Action Plan Steering Committee is to achieve the goals set forth in the Climate Action Plan. Some of the Climate Action Plan Subcommittees also have individual mission statements. The mission statement of the Sustainability subcommittee consists of the following: “The Sustainability Subcommittee supports the UMass Lowell Climate Action Plan by means of fostering environmental stewardship, behavioral changes, and advocating best sustainable practices which embrace and communicate opportunities to reduce one’s carbon footprint. The sustainability programs provide centralized environmental leadership services that support structured approaches with measurable outcomes that enrich the University community and greater world. “

The following lists the members of the Sustainability Subcommittee: Richard Lemoine: Director, Environmental & Emergency Management –Co-Chair (staff); Joanne Yestramski: Vice Chancellor, Finance & Operations - Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet (staff); Mark Hines: Acting Dean, College of Sciences – Co-Chair (faculty); Steve O’Riordan: Associate Vice Chancellor, Financial Services - Administration & Finance Subcommittee Chair (staff); Tom Hoole: Chief Procurement Officer – Member (staff); Bob Barnett: Associate Vice Chancellor, Administrative Services – Member (staff); Paul Piraino: Energy and Sustainability Manager, Facilities Operations & Services- Energy Conservation and Project Subcommittee Chair (staff); Juliette Rooney-Varga: Director & Associate Professor, Climate Change Initiative & Biological Science- Academic Subcommittee Chair (faculty); Jill Gambon: Senior Publications Editor - Communications Subcommittee Chair (staff); Craig Slatin: Professor, Community Health and Sustainability- Member (faculty); Tom Miliano: Director, Administration & Office Services - Transportation and Sustainability Subcommittee Chair (staff); James Kohl: Dean, Student Affairs & Enrichment - Student Life Subcommittee Chair (staff)

The UMass Lowell Office of Sustainability was authorized in 2014 and was formally adopted as of January, 2015. The office provides the university with centralized sustainability services and an increased opportunity for collaboration across all university departments.

The Environmental Sustainability Program Developer is responsible for fostering programs that promote the ideals of the sustainability office to achieve goals such as emission reductions and waste minimization.