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BusinessWest
CONSTRUCTION
MAY 2, 2022 33
tainability and a carbon-free future. The effort began with a task force that received input from hundreds of staff, faculty, and students to assess what it would take to move the entire campus to using renewable energy for all its heating, cooling, and electrical usage.
UMass officials estimate the project will cost at least $500 million over the 10 years, with funding expected from federal, state, corporate and philanthropic sources.
expand that to 40 buildings,” Mendoza told BusinessWest. “What we learn from the pilot we will roll out to the entire campus.”
This large-scale transformation is not just a capital project. The university offers more than 500 classes on climate science, energy, technology, and other topics related to sus- tainability, so the Carbon Zero project will also be an opportunity to educate and train students.
Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) survey that showed 91% of students agree that their place of study should actively incorporate and pro- mote sustainable development.
“This is a chance to reboot our campus buildings and brand us as a destination for academic and operational interests,” Men- doza said. “I see UMass attracting scholars, planners, engineers, and technicians look- ing to gain experience in the operation and maintenance of these new forward-thinking systems.”
Both Maresca and Mendoza credit the UMass Chancellor as an early champion of the project. In many ways Subbaswamy sees UMass as a local community.
“Given our size, we are responsible for nearly 20% of overall greenhouse gas emis- sions among Massachusetts public facilities,” Subbaswamy said. “This makes us the single largest contributor among state entities. Our success in energy transition means success for the commonwealth.”
With a target date of 2032, it’s time for everyone to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
“Unlike any other capital project we’ve ever taken on, this effort will have to touch all 280-plus buildings,” said Mendoza. “That means new and old; big and small; they are all part of the project to transition our entire campus to 100% renewable energy.” u
“This is a chance to reboot our campus buildings and brand us as a destination for academic and operational interests. I see UMass attracting scholars, planners, engineers, and technicians looking to gain experience in the operation and maintenance of these new forward-thinking systems.”
The main elements in designing a carbon- free system for the university will incor- porate low-temperature hot water heating paired with geothermal heating and cooling. The plan also involves using a combination of battery-stored solar energy collected at UMass and purchasing energy from the green electrical grid.
Ted Mendoza, a capital projects manager for facilities at UMass Amherst noted that certain areas of campus make more sense for geothermal while other areas will incorporate low-temperature hot water heating.
“We have four buildings right now where we can run a pilot for geothermal and will
In addition to the learning piece, students often provide new ideas, said Darci Connor Maresca, assistant director of the School of Earth Sustainability at UMass Amherst.
“There’s a value add in working with stu- dents because they push the envelope,” said Connor Maresca, adding that including stu- dents in major efforts is the way UMass does business.
“For every advancement the university has made, there has always been support at the highest levels to create room for students to take part and learn,” she said.
There’s data to back up the rationale for including students. Mendoza cited a United
FOR SALE +_ 78,378 SF Corporate Conference Center 350 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA
$8,300,000
FOR SALE
±78,378 SF Corporate Conference Center
350 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA | $8,300,000
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Two Interconnected Buildings Totaling 78,378 S.F.
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS
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• Three-story Building Featuring 20 Single Guest Rooms and 20 Guest Suites; Multiple Conference & Training
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o Three Story Building Featuring 20 Single Rooms and 20 Suites; Multiple Conference & Training Rooms;
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David A. Wolos
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David A. Wolos
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O: 413 200 6019
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• Onsite Parking for 200+ Vehicles, including 3 Electric-charging Stations.
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from New York City; 90 minutes from Boston, and 30 minutes from Hartford, CT and Bradley International
• Located at the “Crossroads of New England” between I-91 and the Mass Pike; 3 hours from New York City; 90
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Airport.
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• This versatile property can support a variety of uses including healthcare, education, assisted living, hotel,
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[email protected]
office, or continued use as a conference and training center.
1350 Main Street, Suite 1410 I Springfield, MA 01103 I 413-781-8000 I NAIPlotkin.com Springfield, MA 01103
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