Our History

UMB’s History with Sustainability

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) leaders understand the importance of reducing our impact on the environment in a holistic way. Sustainability at UMB has come a long way — from the creation of the first Sustainability Committee on campus in 2008 established by former President David Ramsay, to the creation of UMB’s Office of Sustainability established by President Bruce Jarrell in 2021.

The Office of Sustainability works with University and community partners and brings stakeholders together to collaborate on initiatives such as energy reduction, waste minimization, resilience planning, community building, and education and outreach.

UMB Sustainability Milestones

2019 - Present 

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.

2013 - 2018 

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.

2008 - 2012 

2012

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.