Campus Events and Media Releases

UMF Touts Energy Savings and Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality

FARMINGTON, ME (January 11, 2010)--UMF President Theodora J. Kalikow
recently announced the University's finalization of an ambitious roadmap to
achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Developed in accordance with the
American College and University President's Climate Commitment, of which
Kalikow is an early signatory, the UMF Climate Action Plan is a detailed
proposal to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease energy
usage and minimize energy costs for the University.

Based on an inventory of UMF's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the
plan identifies a number of strategies the University will implement to
achieve its carbon emissions goals. Included among these actions are:
adopting energy efficient behavior and policies; building future campus
structures according to U.S. Green Building Council LEED standards or their
equivalent and upgrading current facilities to be more energy efficient;
pursuing the use of renewable energy sources and, as a last resort,
purchasing carbon offsets.

The UMF Climate Action Plan builds on the momentum of successful green
initiatives in place at UMF that currently provide significant cost and
carbon savings. According to data provided by the U.S. Department of
Energy 's Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, the UMF campus
uses approximately 20 percent fewer BTU's per square foot than the national
average for colleges of similar size in similar climates. "UMF has already
made great strides in reducing energy use and carbon emissions," said
Robert Lamppa, UMF director of facilities management, "and is well
positioned to meet the goal of becoming climate neutral."

Some of UMF's recent green initiative results include:

• A decline of more than 5 percent in campus-wide energy consumption from
heating, cooling, and electricity between 2005 and 2010, despite an 11
percent increase in campus building space

• A saving of about $60,000 and 325 metric tons of carbon emissions per
year, compared to a similar existing campus building, once the UMF
Education Center's geothermal heating and cooling system cost is recouped
in 2012

• The winning of the first ever Power Down for the Planet in 2009--a
national challenge to encourage efficient computer usage campus wide--that
saves close to $17,000 and 63 metric tons of carbon emissions annually

• The saving of approximately $35,000 in heating and electricity costs and
120 metric tons of carbon emissions in student residence halls, over a
three month period in 2008-2009, by students who made small changes in
their everyday behavior

"Being good environmental stewards at UMF has far-reaching benefits for us
all," said Kalikow. "Not only does it help to lower greenhouse gases, but
it also aids in reducing UMF's long-term energy costs; attracts the best
students and faculty; and creates a community of active, engaged learners.
That's a win-win in my book."

UMF's Climate Action Plan was developed at little to no cost to the
University through the work of the UMF Sustainable Campus Coalition. Formed
in 2001, the SCC is a collaboration of students, faculty, staff and
community members that promote environmental sustainability on campus and
in the area community. Under the direction of Drew Barton, UMF professor of
biology; and Valerie Huebner, UMF sustainability coordinator, SCC members
devoted countless hours over the course of two years toward developing
UMF's plan aimed at carbon neutrality. "UMF's sustainability leadership and
dedicated SCC members were key to crafting the right plan for UMF," said
Kalikow.

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Media Contacts: Robert Lamppa, UMF director of facilities management, at
207-778-7009, or robert.lamppa@maine.edu; or Drew Barton, UMF professor of
biology, at 207-778-7397, or barton@maine.edu.


EDITOR'S NOTE: You will find photo at
http://www.umf.maine.edu/campus/docs/RP090-025.jpg

Photo Credit: UMF photo

Photo Caption: UMF's Education Center boasts a geothermal heating and
cooling system that will save $60,000 and 325 metric tons of carbon
emissions per year, compared to a similar existing campus building, once
the cost is recouped in 2012.