Dining hall at UMass Lowell certified ‘green’

The newly renovated South Campus Dining Commons at UMass Lowell in Lowell, Mass., recently received a “3 Star green restaurant” certification, joining a select group of certified restaurants throughout the state and country.

The certification took approximatley two months to achieve and is a result of sustainability efforts by the campus’ dining services, which is managed by Aramark. These efforts include using LED lamps and energy-efficient appliances as well as reducing food waste by pre- and post-consumer composting that is reused on campus grounds.

“This is a great result from a collaborative approach between the Office of Sustainability and Dining Services, and one that we will continue to build on,” Ruairi O’Mahony, associate director of sustainability at UMass Lowell, said in a statement.

O'Mahony says increasing the amount of sustainable food used in dining halls at South Campus is a main contributor to the green certification. Dining services source milk, dairy products and greens from local farmers and only use Marine Stewardship Council — certified sustainable tuna. In addition, the university offers a a selection of local food products in campus convenience stores. 

The Green Restaurant Association, a non-profit organization that offers criteria for restaurants and foodservice establishments to become more sustainable, awards “GreenPoints” based on completion of environmentally friendly steps.

UMass Lowell’s South Campus Dining Commons received 253.32 points for its sustainable initiatives, surpassing the 3-star benchmark of 175 points and earning it the high ranking.

Just 16 university or college restaurants in Massachusetts have obtained a “3 Star” green rating.  

O’Mahony said this certification provides a “clear pathway” to further build on sustainable efforts at dining facilities across UMass Lowell’s campus. "The goal would be to have all of our dining halls certified, but this is the first step."