Our History

2024

• Groundbreaking in the fall of a new School of Social Work building. The building will include solar panels, geothermal energy, and green space.
• Campuswide rollout of Self-Service Waste Rollout is completed. 

2023

• Power Purchase Agreement is signed for the first on-campus renewable installation on campus garages. 
• Through a USDA grant with Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works, UMB started a community composting dropoff pilot in September 2023. 

2022

• UMB received a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust through the Urban Trees program to plant 65 new trees on campus to increase the urban tree canopy in downtown Baltimore.
• Green Labs program is created on campus for research labs to implement more sustainable practices. 
• UMB’s Sustainability Strategic Plan is launched, outlining the overarching goals and strategies for University sustainability from 2022-2026.  
• In addition to the three power purchase agreements in which UMB participates, UMB purchased Green-e Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to cover the remaining portion of UMB’s electricity usage, bringing us to 100 percent renewable electricity for Calendar Year 2022. We have continued to purchase Green-e RECs to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity each year moving forward.

2021

• UMB Office of Sustainability is created; President Jarrell re-signs Second Nature's Climate Commitment.

2020

• Energy Reduction Team formed, saving over $3 million in utility costs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2017

• UMB President Jay Perman commits to Paris Agreement Climate Goals by signing the “We Are Still In” commitment. 

2015

• President Perman signs on to Second Nature's Climate Commitment, which includes a climate commitment and resilience commitment.

2012

• First 10 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations installed on campus.

2011

• Climate Action Plan revised.

2009

• First Climate Action Plan created.

2008

• President Ramsay signs Second Nature's Carbon Commitment, pledging carbon neutrality by 2050.