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Sustainable Energy Resources

Campus Projects | Curricular Resources | Community Projects | Community Resources

Sustainable Energy

Peak oil, escalating energy demand, price uncertainty and potential supply disruptions are already having an impact on our everyday lives and the way we do business. Facing these challenges, we have the power to devise innovative solutions to build a sustainable energy economy.

An effective transition towards sustainable energy must be based upon today's commitments to energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, clean transport, and alternative fuels. There is abundant potential for energy conservation and renewables just waiting to be untapped. Our economy, transportation systems, land planning, and individual actions are yet to be transformed to build energy resilient communities.

Our campus and the community possess enormous energy and enthusiasm to lead this exciting transformation to a sustainable energy future.

Campus Projects

Campus Energy Savings Campaign

UMass Dartmouth is accelerating efforts to reach its $650,000 energy savings goal. The energy conservation campaign has been a campus-wide effort. The campaign started with outreach to students, staff, and faculty to share ideas on how to make dorms, classrooms, and offices more energy efficient. In the long-term, there are plans for examining a renewable energy mix, including installation of biomass and wind power.

Look for the net results of these savings on the Energy Savings Thermometer at the entrance to the campus and on the university's home page.

Energy Coach Certificate

Our campus has begun developing an Energy Coach Certificate program. The graduate-level certificate will train students and professionals in all aspects of energy management. Participants will learn about efficiency measures, renewable energy mix, regulatory requirements, and tools to perform energy and carbon audits.

The certificate is designed to meet the needs of professionals who are already working in the industry, and those who plan to transition to the clean energy careers.

Click here to learn more about this certificate and for other sustainability-related courses, please click here.

Generating Renewable Energy on Campus

Solar Power Feasibility Study - Senior design engineering students are working to determine the feasibility of solar power on campus. The goals are to determine how much solar power could be utilized for campus use. This comprehensive assessment will be used to present payback figures, and analyze available solar capacity in the total campus energy mix.

Wind Study -The campus has installed the MET tower to gather accurate wind-speed data. The goal of the study is to determine whether or not wind power is viable in terms of wind speed and is cost effective.

Sustainable Energy Research

The UMass Dartmouth is accelerating research in the renewable energy and clean technology fields to address sustainable energy and climate challenges.

Our faculty research spans across engineering, biology, chemistry, and business fields to pioneer innovative solutions in alternative technologies, processes, and products.

For information about energy-related research, click here.

Curricular Resources

Classroom Resources & Activities

• Department of Energy: For Educators - The DOE has created a resource page geared towards instructors. It includes lesson plans, curriculum activities, and related information links.
• Alliance to Save Energy - Offers multidisciplinary, hands-on educational opportunities, as well as free energy-related lesson plans for elementary, middle school, and high school students online.
• National Energy Education Project - Instructional resources are organized by subject matter and grade level (primary, elementary, intermediate, and secondary).
• Energy Science Projects & Activities - Here you will find resources for science projects and activities to help students in grades K-12 learn about energy, particularly energy efficiency and renewable energy.
• Department of Energy: For Students and Kids - This interactive website has fun facts, glossaries, competitions, games, and career resources for K-12 students.
• Energy Information Administration - Easy to read resources about renewable energy, history of clean technologies, facts & figures.
• Department for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - Fun games and activities to help students understand renewable energy sources and energy efficiency concepts.

Energy Audit and Data Tools

• Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit - The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse offers a consumer brief on home energy audits.
• Energy Saving Guide to Carbon Calculators - The Home Energy Saver library provides a directory of Carbon Calculators, which enable you to evaluate your energy use by answering questions about your home, appliances, and travel.
• Building Energy Software Tools Directory - This directory provides information on 372 building software tools for evaluating energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability in buildings.
• Guide to Energy Audit - This guide provides comprehensive information, news, products, and services related to Energy Audis. It outlines the auditing process from identifying ways to reduce energy consumption to recommending cost effective energy sourcing strategy.
• National Energy Audit Tool - This easy-to-use, yet advanced computer audit software, the National Energy Audit Tool (NEAT), was developed for DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program. The program is available for free to weatherization agencies as part of the weatherization assistance.

Community Projects

Energy Working Group

Southeastern Massachusetts Council on Sustainability In July 2009, the Southeastern Massachusetts Council on Sustainability convened five working groups (food & agriculture, economic development, energy, natural resources, and transportation) to encourage a regional transformation towards a more sustainable community.

The Energy Working Group was formed to prepare a regional plan "for a transition from an energy intensive lifestyle to a one that maximizes conservation and alternative energy resources" (based on the "Futures Task Force Report", 2008). The group is a community-based network of regional stakeholders, including officials, representatives from municipalities, utilities, educational institutions, community and environmental organizations, clean energy businesses, developers, regional planners, and citizens.

The working group is open to all public stakeholders. For meeting times, agendas, and membership, please visit the Council's website.

Weatherization Assistance & Training Programs

With rising costs of energy and the increasing evidence of climate change, we need to rethink the way we design, build or retrofit our houses. How we build and insulate our homes and buildings can have a significant impact on our energy consumption and expenses.

• Weatherization Assistance is now available for eligible low-income families. The Department of Energy is providing $48.8 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand weatherization assistance programs in Massachusetts states. The program's goals are to weatherize more than 16,900 homes, lower energy costs for low-income families, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating green job opportunities across the state.
• Southcoast Massachusetts Weatherization Technician Training Program (WTTP) has graduated the first class in January 2009. The program is a collaborative effort of the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (WIB), the UMass Dartmouth Office of Campus and Community Sustainability, the Greater New Bedford Career Center (GNBCC), and Bristol Community College's Center for Business and Industry. The WTTP program provides entry-level weatherization education, skills development, and employment opportunities. The program is part of the region's long-term commitment to providing Green Jobs training and developing paths towards more rewarding careers.

Community Resources

Policy Updates

Massachusetts Green Communities Act 2008 - A comprehensive energy reform bill, enacted in July 2008. The legislation puts Massachusetts in the lead among other states in developing a strategy for expanding alternative and renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts.

• Energy Efficiency: The bill's provisions ensure that energy efficiency programs are able to compete in the marketplace with traditional energy supply. It requires utilities to purchase all available efficiency improvements that cost less than generating new power.
  
• Renewable Energy: The bill promotes renewable energy by requiring utilities to enter into long-term contracts with renewable energy developers. It also makes it possible for owners of wind turbines and solar generated power to sell their excess electricity to the grid at competitive rates.
  
• Green Communities: This landmark legislation helps Massachusetts municipalities create a greener energy future. The Act has created the Green Communities Division within the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER), and severs as a focal point to all Massachusetts cities and towns on all energy matters. The Act includes provisions for technical and financial assistance to municipalities to support commitments to efficiency and renewable energy.

Energy Savings: Act Now

• Energy Savers - Learn ways to save energy and use clean, renewable technologies at home, while driving, and at work.
• Consumer Guide to Energy Savings - This consumer guide provides homeowners with tips on saving energy and money at home and on the road. It brings the latest information on energy-efficient technologies, and gives recommendations for using clean, renewable energy to power your home.
• Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool - Helps fleets, consumers, and business owners create a strategy to reduce conventional fuel use in fleet and personal vehicles.

Community-Scale Energy Programs

• Commonwealth Wind - The Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program (CommWind) provides rebate, grant, and loan funding for the installation of wind projects in Massachusetts.
• Commonwealth Solar - Commonwealth Solar provides rebates through a non-competitive application process for the installation of PV projects at residential, commercial, industrial, and public facilities.

Regional Partnerships

• Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership - NEEP is a non-profit organization committed to maximizing energy efficient solutions through regional partnerships.
• New England Clean Energy Council - The Council's mission is to accelerate New England's clean energy economy to global leadership by building an active community of stakeholders and a world-class cluster of clean energy companies.
• Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust - The Renewable Energy Trust seeks to maximize environmental and economic benefits for the Commonwealth's citizens by pioneering and promoting clean energy technologies and fostering the emergence of sustainable markets for electricity generated from renewable sources.

Green Jobs Networks

• SEA-GREEN Network - An association of employers engaged in the green economy. It was formed under the belief that Massachusetts, and specifically the South Coast, has the potential to lead the nation in the transition to green jobs, alternative energy sources, sustainable production, transportation, food production and resource management.
• Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative - The Marion Institute has recently launched the Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative in collaboration with local organizations, the New Bedford Economic Development Council, and the New Bedford Mayor's Office. One of the initiative's goals is to ensure that green jobs opportunities reach the people who need them most.