Commitments and Goals

Climate Commitments

Carbon Neutral Goal and Net Zero Goals 

Salem State signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2007, pledging the university to carbon neutrality by 2050. Salem State is also guided by the state’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, adopted in 2021.

Greenhouse Gas Goals and Progress

  • 49

    %
    Decrease in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from 2004-2024

  • 39

    %
    Reduction in Energy Use Intensity from 2004–2024, State goal of 20% reduction by 2025 has been met

  • 100

    New trees planted by June 2025 Avoiding emissions equivalent to those from 40 barrels of oil over the next ten years

Commonwealth Commitment

Campus Decarbonization

North Campus Decarbonization Project Underway
To meet our goals of breaking free of fossil fuels by 2050, we are initiating our Phase I North Campus decarbonization effort by establishing a geothermal wellfield in the parking lot behind Meier Hall. We will use heat pumps to deliver fossil fuel-free heating and cooling to Horace Mann which is undergoing a total renovation and to the Meier Lab Addition. Future phases will extend this clean energy loop to additional North Campus buildings. 

The state chose to fully fund Salem State’s Phase I decarbonization initiative as a state agency demonstration project focusing on strategies such as geothermal energy, a shared heating and cooling energy loop, and technologies such as air source heat exchange. The fortuitous timing will complement Project Bold, SSU’s plan to renovate Horace Mann and build laboratory additions to Meier Hall, allowing those buildings to access the new fossil-free energy loop for heating and cooling when they open in 2027. 

Additional decarbonization plans are being developed for the Harrington Campus and the O’Keefe Athletic Complex.

Divested in 2018

Divested in 2018

Students advocating for fossil fuel divestments hold painted signs on campus

In May 2018, the university announced it had divested its holdings in the Carbon 200 (fossil fuel) companies and added investments in solar and renewable energy companies. This followed a vigorous campaign by students and faculty and a 2016 Board of Trustees vote to move the university toward full divestment from companies in the Carbon Underground 200 list. In 2019, Salem State University received $57,000 as the only institution from 30 participating schools in the Multi-School Fossil-Free Divestment Fund (MSFFDF) to fully divest from fossil fuels by the December 2018 deadline.