Skip to main content
Sustainability Grants Get Involved Education and Research Topics Progress About
Sustainability Grants
Sustainability Fund Sustainability Mini-Grant Other Funding Sources
Get Involved
Students Faculty Staff Everyone
Education and Research
Majors, Minors & Graduate Programs Sustainability Advisors Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop Research Centers Living & Learning Programs Student Projects
Topics
Buildings Energy Food Landscape Transportation Waste Water
Progress
Our Commitments Progress Hub: SustainableUMD Data & Stories Reports & Resources
About
Contact Us News Office of Sustainability Sustainability Council SustainableUMD Network
Sustainability Fund Sustainability Mini-Grant Other Funding Sources
Students Faculty Staff Everyone
Majors, Minors & Graduate Programs Sustainability Advisors Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop Research Centers Living & Learning Programs Student Projects
Buildings Energy Food Landscape Transportation Waste Water
Our Commitments Progress Hub: SustainableUMD Data & Stories Reports & Resources
Contact Us News Office of Sustainability Sustainability Council SustainableUMD Network

Campus Sustainability Month

Home Campus Sustainability Month

In October, we celebrate the sustainability achievements of our university, engage the campus community on how they can be positive changemakers, and elevate awareness of campus initiatives. Get involved by attending the Campus Sustainability Month Celebration and learning about Clean and Renewable Energy in Maryland. 

Upcoming Event

Campus Sustainability Month Celebration

October is Campus Sustainability Month, and the Office of Sustainability is hosting the third annual Campus Sustainability Month Celebration! The event will be at Hornbake Plaza on Thursday, October 23rd, from 1-3 pm.

Image of two students writing a pledge as to how they will be a Green Terp

This year, the Office of Sustainability is partnering with the Department of Resident Life and MICA to focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goal, Partnerships for the Goals, to increase campus sustainability among a variety of different student groups. Celebrate campus sustainability with interactive activities, sweet treats, and the chance to take part in the Green Terp Bucket List while connecting with sustainability organizations.

Interested student organizations and departments can register to table at the event by clicking the button below.


Renewable & Clean Energy in Maryland

Higher education institutions like the University of Maryland are critically positioned to further research and implement clean energy technologies. In order to meet the goals of UMD’s Climate Action Plan 3.0, which include maintaining carbon neutrality (met April 2025), transitioning to a fossil fuel‐free energy plant by 2035, and establishing a zero‐emissions fleet by 2035, leveraging renewable energy sources is a crucial part of the equation. Because clean energy is essential for mitigating climate change and advancing a sustainable energy future, the Office of Sustainability is incorporating more clean energy education into its ongoing messaging and outreach to the campus community.

Through social media campaigns, interactive demonstrations, and tabling activities at events like Campus Sustainability Month Celebration,  there will be abundant opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to explore clean energy topics and how they contribute to a sustainable future. 

Supplying Energy for the State and Campus

Maryland has seen substantial growth in solar, including both utility‐scale solar farms and distributed solar on rooftops. On UMD’s campus there are over 9,000 solar panels, many of which are on garage roofs. Because solar is modular, lower‐cost, and increasingly accessible, it helps bring clean power into more communities. 

The state has also approved significant offshore wind development including the Maryland Offshore Wind Project which could generate up to 2,200 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power over 700,000 homes in the Delmarva Peninsula. These wind projects bring new jobs, infrastructure investment, and capacity to supply large-scale clean electricity. 

The nuclear plant in Calvert Cliffs MD provides about 40% of Maryland’s electricity generation, and roughly 80% of the state’s clean power. Calvert Cliffs is currently undergoing upgrades to maintain reliability and possibly increase output. Because nuclear power is stable and continuous, it helps balance intermittent sources like solar and wind.

On the research and innovation front, UMD houses several research hubs dedicated to furthering clean energy tech, including the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (MEIA)Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEI2)Center for Research in Extreme Batteries. Programs training students in engineering, science, public policy, sustainability, environmental science and other fields prepares them for careers in the growing sector of clean energy.

Reg
SustainableUMD
4716 Pontiac St, College Park, MD 20740
sustainability@umd.edu