Energy Management Plan

The University of Montana uses a considerable amount of electricity and natural gas in the operations of our buildings. The work currently underway with McKinstry to develop an energy management plan includes an assessment of our energy use building-by-building, identification of energy conservation strategies across campus, an assessment of solar feasibility, and projected energy use after conservation measures are implemented in order to appropriately scale new energy projects.

In addition to the main goal of energy conservation, the plan also strives to:

• Reduce energy costs, peak electric/gas loads, and greenhouse gas emissions;
• Improve our communication with campus and the community regarding energy use and ongoing conservation efforts.
• Support UM’s climate action efforts by identifying ways we will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions footprint in the near- and long-term.

Over the next 3-5 years, UM aims to invest in energy conservation across campus, capture those savings, and re-invest realized funds in additional utility conservation work.

As UM moves forward, we will update this site with conservation targets, general strategies for energy conservation, our progress on implemented projects, and an outline of the anticipated phases of this multi-year process.