Carbon Neutrality by 2030
To reach carbon neutrality, we need help from our campus community and from our donors.
Leading the Way
The University of Vermont has a history of sustainability leadership in higher education and global recognition. It’s essential that UVM contribute to the growing efforts at colleges and universities to develop sustainable solutions as climate change intensifies.
UVM’s Comprehensive Sustainability Plan will allow UVM to step forward, amplify the work we already do, and announce renewed commitment to healthy people and a thriving planet.
The biggest goal of this plan is for the University to be carbon neutral by 2030.
We have achieved our first goal: reduce our greenhouse gas emissions 60% below our 2007 levels by 2024. You can read more in the 2024 progress report.
Campus Carbon Reduction Plan: Areas of Focus
Energy and Climate
Since 2015, UVM’s electricity is 100% renewable, but there’s more we want to do. Developing renewable energy projects like geothermal and solar, electrifying our buildings and purchasing carbon offsets from local Vermont landowners and optimizing solar energy projects are some examples.
Buildings and Transportation
Campus is full of buildings, new and old. Our goal is to reduce the carbon footprint in all buildings. This ranges from improving efficiency in campus labs, upgrading heating systems, conducting a space utilization study, to mapping current building-level metering infrastructure. Additionally, reducing the transportation fleet, while moving to more electric vehicles are two top priorities.
Operations and Landscape
We love buying local food for our dining halls and the plan is to increase spending on Vermont-grown food by 25% by 2030. Reducing waste by 10% and increasing compost and recycling by 10% will decrease the net-carbon impact of our day-to-day operations.
Next Steps
To reach carbon neutrality, we need help from our campus community and from our donors.
Below is a list of ways you can invest in UVM’s future. There are some really exciting opportunities to go carbon neutral, while also staying true to our educational mission, helping the local Vermont economy, and creating a living laboratory on campus to fuel new sustainable solutions. We hope you’ll join us in getting UVM to carbon neutrality by 2030!
A Vermont Solution to Carbon Emissions
Purchasing carbon offsets is one of the most important ways for UVM to get to carbon neutrality. But rather than purchase offsets in some far-off place, we’re partnering with the Vermont Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy to purchase offsets right here in Vermont.
By doing this, we'll support maple sugar makers and families in Northern Vermont, helping them preserve their land and generate income. Local forest carbon offsets will support UVM's greenhouse gas reduction goals and the State of Vermont’s goals. We'll also be developing student research projects on carbon offsets with our outstanding faculty.
Our goal is to purchase $200,000 in Vermont-based carbon offsets annually, starting in 2024, to get us much further below our current emissions level.
With your investment in carbon offsets, we can take a big step toward reaching our goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.
Geothermal Feasibility
Your investment can help support the development of more geothermal projects on campus. UVM took a big step recently in exploring renewable options by drilling a 510-foot-deep geothermal test well on the Athletic Campus. Thanks to funding from the Sustainable Campus Fund, plans are underway to drill a second test site on the Trinity Campus.
Electric Vehicles
UVM is transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles. Your support could help with the purchase of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, a Ford 150 Lightning or an electric bus to move students around campus.
New Graduate Fellowships
We have incredibly smart graduate students on campus and they are hungry to conduct new research. Your investment can help students across many disciplines apply their skills to our campus.
Sponsor a New Solar Project
Your investment can help diversify UVM’s sustainable energy sources by creating a new solar array.
Sustainable Solutions Lab Internships
We help bridge knowledge from the classroom to our campus operations to create a living laboratory. Your investment in student internships can help address known sustainability gaps on campus. Projects could include mapping and measuring pollinator habitat on campus, analyzing and visualizing data to track on-going progress toward our goals, and creating a plan to be more sustainable and energy efficient in our lab buildings on campus.
Ready to Have a Conversation?
If there's an opportunity above that matches your passion to give and support the University of Vermont's sustainability goals, please be in touch. We'd love to talk with you.
Kevin Morgenstein Fuerst
University of Vermont Foundation
802.656.3227