Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face today. At UMass Lowell, we are committed to minimizing our impact on the environment by actively reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving air quality on campus. This not only helps combat climate change but also enhances the health of our community and surrounding ecosystems.
This page explains how we measure and track GHG emissions, our carbon inventory, and the steps we are taking to create a more sustainable future.
Why We Measure and Track GHG Emissions?
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxides trap solar heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, maintaining a stable surface temperature essential for life. However, since the Industrial Revolution, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture, and deforestation have dramatically increased GHG emissions, raising the Earth’s temperature and disrupting natural climate patterns.
To address these issues, we aim for net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, meaning our emissions sources will balance with natural or engineered sinks that absorb GHGs. We monitor all campus operations, converting our emissions into a common measurement—metric tons of CO2 equivalent—to effectively track progress.
Our Approach
At UMass Lowell, we focus on reducing emissions from key sources like transportation, electricity, and heating. Some of our initiatives include:
- Implementing energy-efficient technologies in buildings
- Expanding sustainable transportation options through programs like FreeWheelers
- Supporting local, sustainable farms to reduce emissions from food purchases
- Enhancing natural GHG sinks by creating urban agricultural sites and protecting natural habitats on campus
By tracking and managing GHG emissions, we can identify the most impactful areas to prioritize and reduce our overall carbon footprint.
Carbon Inventory: How We Track Emissions
Our carbon inventory is a critical tool in achieving our sustainability goals. It helps us measure the effectiveness of our emission reduction strategies and provides a clear picture of where improvements are needed. We categorize emissions into three scopes:
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from on-campus sources like heating systems, transportation, refrigerants, and chemicals
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from the energy we purchase, such as electricity, steam, and chilled water
- Scope 3: Emissions from activities like commuting, student travel, waste management, food purchases, and more
By tracking emissions across these scopes, we can pinpoint the largest sources of GHGs and prioritize our reduction efforts. In addition, we account for carbon sinks—such as trees on campus—which help absorb CO2 and offset some of our emissions.
One of our standout initiatives is the UMass Lowell Arboretum, which contains over 1,000 trees and plays a vital role in carbon sequestration. To date, the arboretum has removed 400 pounds of air pollutants and sequestered 9.2 tons of carbon, contributing to our overall goal of achieving net carbon neutrality by 2050.
Working Together for a Sustainable Future
We are committed to reducing our impact on climate change, but we can’t do it alone. Our sustainability efforts are fueled by collaboration and innovation, both on campus and beyond. We invite the entire UMass Lowell community to participate by sharing ideas, joining sustainability initiatives, or supporting the S.E.E.D. Fund.
If you have suggestions on how we can continue improving our sustainability efforts, please reach out to us by email: sustainability@uml.edu.
Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future for UMass Lowell and beyond.