Commitments and Goals

Climate Commitments

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.

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

  • Net Zero

    reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions levels by 2050

  • 38

    %
    Decrease in Greenhouse Gas Emission from 2004-2020*

  • 35

    %
    reduction in Energy Use Intensity from 2004–2020

Commonwealth Commitment

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ goals and Salem State’s progress, reflected above, address emissions from operations including:

  • Direct emissions including on-site fossil fuel combustion & fleet fuel consumption​ (Scope 1)
  • Indirect emissions from the generation of electricity (Scope 2)

Salem State reduces these Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) by bringing renewable energy to campus, improving energy efficiency in new buildings, upgrading older buildings, and promoting behavior change.

Campus Decarbonization

2050 Decarbonization Roadmap completed. Salem State was awarded a $100,000 grant to develop a plan to transition North Campus to clean energy by 2050. The 2021 study provided a roadmap for heating and cooling campus buildings without fossil fuels by relying on strategies such as high-performance building standards, geothermal energy, a district energy system that allows for simultaneous heating and cooling, a low-temperature hot water system, and technologies such as air source heat exchange. The study is now being developed into an implementation plan. The fortuitous timing will complement Project Bold, SSU’s plan to renovate Horace Mann and build laboratory additions to Meier Hall. Phase I of the decarbonization project is being developed and funded by MA DCAMM as a state agency demonstration project.

*Note that Salem State operated remotely for 3.5 months in FY20

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