The UMD Office of Sustainability is currently calculating a greenhouse gas inventory for our campus, which will help us understand where our carbon emissions are coming from.  But why wait until we know exactly how much carbon we emit to start trying to reduce it?

UMD was recently accepted as a charter member of the Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon Program. The focus is to support student-led carbon-cutting projects.  Through the Program, our campus will receive a $500 grant in March-April 2009 for student activities. Then, we will be eligible to apply for a competitive $20,000 grant in November 2009 to use on future carbon cutting efforts.

We know that our electricity use, our commuting and traveling, our waste, and the fossil fuels we burn on campus all contribute to UMD's carbon footprint.  How do we reduce carbon emissions?  In spring of 2009, UMD students will lead the effort.  Stay tuned...