Sustainability Check-In with Elizabeth Palchak, PhD

In April, Elizabeth Palchak, director of the UVM Office of Sustainability, announced the university’s new comprehensive sustainability plan (CSP). Its cornerstone: a commitment to a carbon-neutral UVM by 2030. Palchak leads the Office of Sustainability, connecting academics, research, operations, and engagement to amplify UVM’s impact and contributions to sustainable solutions. She earned her B.A. from the College of Wooster and her Ph.D. from the Rubenstein School of Natural Resources, with a focus on social science and the clean energy transition. Prior to her return to UVM in 2021, she was a senior energy consultant with VEIC, a sustainable energy company based in Vermont.

Besides the individual goals of the plan, what are the main benefits for a university in actually having a sustainability plan?

PALCHAK: The University of Vermont has a long history of sustainability leadership in higher education. There are many important initiatives occurring all over campus— in our buildings, the curriculum, and on our grounds. This plan gets us all moving in the same direction. It is critical that we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and we now have a roadmap for how to make progress. It’s also important to our students and the entire university community that we continue to lead on these issues!

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, UVM's plan involves three key efforts: more renewables, emission cuts, and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions by investing in Vermont's forests. What's already happening in these areas?

PALCHAK: I’m excited that we’ll be drilling several geothermal test wells on campus this fall to investigate the feasibility of heating and cooling our campus buildings with geothermal energy. Ground source heating is an exciting technology that’s being used all over the country and on a number of university campuses. We’re rapidly increasing the number of electric vehicles in our campus fleet, including the very popular Ford F-150 Lightning (we now have 17 EVs in our fleet!), and we’re installing over 100 charging ports in the next year, representing one of the largest electric vehicle station installations in the state. Between now and 2030, we’ll install renewable heating systems in new buildings, and after we’ve done everything we can to reduce on-campus emissions, we’ll purchase forest carbon offsets from Vermont landowners that will help support rural families and maple sugar producers.

Earlier this year UVM was awarded a “gold” rating by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). What’s the significance of this?

PALCHAK: It’s an enormous accomplishment. This is work that started long before I arrived and is the result of consistent and focused effort of many staff members, leaders within the administration, and visionary faculty who prioritize sustainability in the curriculum and in our operations. Our students care deeply about our work in this area and it’s important that we track, evaluate, and report on our progress.

You’re charged with leading this plan, but it was built by a large group of contributors. Can you talk about that process and those groups?

PALCHAK: I was originally charged with this work by Richard Cate, our VP for finance and administration, who understood the need for this plan and has been a longtime champion of sustainability on campus. The main CSP Work Group was composed of representatives from across campus, including students, faculty, and staff. This was a team of engaged, deeply intelligent, and thoughtful people who contributed their time and expertise to the creation of the entire framework. The group met monthly and more frequently in subcommittees as we refined the topic areas and goals. My staff in the Office of Sustainability took on leadership roles to lead planning, conduct analysis, and draft sections of the plan. The Student Government Association offered important feedback along the way and was a critical partner in keeping students apprised of our work. Our draft plan was presented to all of the major governance groups, leadership groups, and a number of student classes. At each presentation I received valuable feedback that informed the final plan. This was a universitywide effort and we strove to integrate many perspectives and voices. The outcome was much stronger because of it! Our goal was always to create a plan that makes the university community proud—I think we did that!

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Visit go.uvm.edu/cspvideo to watch the Campus Sustainability Plan announcement.