University of New England pledges to become carbon neutral

Demonstrating its commitment to environmental responsibility, the University of New England's President, Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D., has signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). 

President Ripich joins other higher education leaders across America who have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their campuses, raise awareness of the issue of global warming, and strive for climate neutrality.

Signing the ACUPCC is an affirmation of UNE’s sustainability efforts already under way. UNE formally committed itself to reducing its carbon footprint last spring by hiring its first sustainability coordinator, Alethea Cariddi, and conducting a university-wide greenhouse gas inventory.

Under ACUPCC, UNE agrees to take certain actions, including the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality, initiating specific actions to reduce greenhouse gases, and making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.

The University of New England has already undertaken significant measures to reduce its carbon footprint, including:

• UNE has committed to use biofuel for both its Portland and Biddeford campuses. Biofuel is a greener fuel, resulting in a 78.5 percent reduction in regulated carbon dioxide emissions compared to #2 fuel oil. UNE has also negotiated a reduced price for employees who choose to use biofuel to heat their own homes, as well.
• The new College of Pharmacy under construction on Stevens Avenue in Portland will be the University‚Äôs first building to be registered for LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) with the U.S. Green Building Council. The building‚Äôs water use will be minimized by highly efficient plumbing systems and appropriate landscaping; the exterior envelope and innovative mechanical systems ‚Äì including chilled beams and heat recovery units ‚Äì will optimize energy performance; construction waste will be recycled, reused, or otherwise diverted from landfills; building materials will have a high recycled content and be locally sourced; and to maintain a healthy indoor environment, building finishes will be low (or no) VOC (volatile organic compound) and contain no urea formaldehyde.
• UNE has launched a nationally recognized "Big Blue Goes Green" program, a comprehensive effort to reduce cars on campus, providing free bicycles or free Zipcar (an on-campus car-sharing service) usage to freshmen who promise to leave their cars at home; in addition, expanded free shuttle bus service and low-cost access to Zipcars are available to all students, faculty and staff.
• In the spring of 2008 the UNE Grounds Department switched to using organic compost from a local supplier to mulch flower beds on both campuses. The change not only provided environmental benefits, but also resulted in cost savings to the university.
• UNE has expanded recycling efforts on both campuses, and moved to single-sort recycling on the Portland campus, with a goal of implementing single-sort on the Biddeford campus in 2009.

The ACUPCC initiative is an important component of the University of New England’s commitment to environmental stewardship. UNE has established a leadership team that will meet regularly to outline policies and action plans to monitor progress and assure success, for both the University and for the planet.