Archive

In the News

PSC promotes contest for sustainability innovation
FilterForGood is calling for innovative sustainability ideas from students for its Eco-Challenge 2010 grant program. Five awards of up to $10,000 will be awarded to a implement a novel-yet-feasible eco-program idea from a college student. Proposals, which must be presented with a staff or faculty representative as sponsor, are due Oct. 30, 2009 and will be evaluated under the following criteria: creativity, benefit to the environment, educational impact, efficient/effective use of budget and timing feasibility.

Learn more about the easy submission process
Check out last year’s award-winners

Summer air quality watch
During the hot summers in North Texas, air quality is particularly important for public health and safety. By staying informed and being proactive, we can contribute to cleaner air.

Daily air quality levels
Air Now
North Texas Council of Governments

Turning rush hour into electricity
Dr. Efstathios Meletis, chairman of materials science and engineering, was quoted in a Reuters news service article about an Israeli energy company’s attempting to turn rush hour into a source of electricity. Innowattach, affiliated with Israel’s Technion Institute of Technology, plans to use special generators under roads, railways and runways to harvest energy from passing vehicles to mass produce electricity.

Recyclemania 2009
You are what you wear? See how Brazos Hall residents took the Spring 2009 Recyclemania competition to the red, that is, Green Carpet >

Sustainable Skylines Initiative
In March, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Sustainable Skylines Initiative is hosting the Sustainable Communities Training Conference to address the issues of urban/suburban sustainability planning and management in the U.S. Under the direction of Kurt Ortley, UT Arlington School of Architecture faculty member, design students created key graphic identity elements for the conference.
View poster gallery >

Historic Green
This March, Boback Firoozbakht, Micheal Peguero, Tania Sabillion and Brenda Gonzales, UT Arlington architecture students, were sponsored by US Green Building Council to attend Historic Green in New Orleans to help build the first zero carbon community in the lower 9th ward.

HUB Vendor event goes Green: March 24
Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center
Free product samples, door prizes, refreshments and most important, the opportunity to learn from the experts how your office can be more environmentally conscisous. Sponsored by Summus/Staples.

“Blueprint to Greenprint” call to action: Friday, December 12
Hosted at UT Arlington by President James D. Spaniolo, Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck joins mayors, county executives and other local elected officials across the country for Local Climate Action Week by holding a local event entitled “Blueprint to Greenprint.” Remarks will include a discussion of a “blueprint” for President-Elect Obama and Congress that includes messages about the need for federal support in solving climate and energy challenges. In addition to Mayor Cluck and President Spaniolo, speakers at the event will include Richard Greene, administrator for Environmental Protection Agency- Region 6, Robert Smouse, LEED AP environmental services executive manager for the City of Arlington and Jeff. L. Howard, assistant professor in the School of Urban and Public Affairs and co-chair of the President’s Committee on Sustainability. Additional organizations and individuals will be recognized for their environmental stewardship activities throughout the community.

TXU Energy donates 100 trees to UT Arlington
Watch the video >

Green Roof Recognized
The Greater DFW Recycling Alliance awarded UT Arlington’s Green Roof Project its Environmental Leadership Award as an Outstanding Sustainable Project at a July 11 luncheon. UT Arlington’s experimental “green roof,” believed to be the first of it kind in North Texas, was installed April 11 on 1,000 square feet atop the existing Life Science Building. The project included the installation of the roofing systems, irrigation, sensors monitored by engineering students, plants and about 30,000 pounds of soil. Future UT Arlington buildings will include structures designed and built with green roofs, which have benefits ranging from energy savings to improving air quality. The Green Roof Project also received the state award from the Recycling Alliance of Texas at its Texas Recycling Summit this summer.

President approves sustainability agenda
UT Arlington President James D. Spaniolo has approved the University’s first Sustainability Agenda, a package of 89 preliminary actions that include hiring a sustainability director, exploring ways to green the university’s curriculum, extending energy-conservation measures, improving the recycling program, increasing the use of recycled materials, and promoting student involvement in sustainability initiatives.
Read more >

Past Events

Community Empowerment Along the U.S. Mexico Border
Wednesday November 4 from 12-1:00 p.m.
Featuring Laura Treviño, Associate Regional Director, Lower Rio Grande Valley Colonias Program of the Center for Housing and Urban Development / College of Architecture at Texas A&M University. Sixth Floor Library Parlor. Refreshments immediately following. Presented by the Center for Mexican American Studies at UT Arlington and OneBook.

SUSTAINABILITY SHOCK SHACK
Senior PR students promote environmental “cause and effect”
“Scary” images of the results of human carelessness and displays of the “good” and the “evil” of waste set the tone for the Sustainability Shock Shack, a sustainability awareness event planned for just three days before Halloween. Kristine Behrhorst, Brandi Foy, Gina Garza and Fabiola Salinas planned the Sustainability Shock Shack as part of a project assigned in a campaigns class at UT Arlington. The purpose of the event is to increase awareness of global environmental issues, and to inform students about the University’s commitment to sustainability via the efforts of the President’s Sustainability Committee (PSC). Inside the Sustainability Shock Shack visitors will find information on environmental action, give-aways, candy, door prizes and how to get involved on campus. “We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the President’s Sustainability Committee and its communications work group. Our team is looking forward to promoting this event to increase student awareness,” says Public Relations student Brandi Foy. Visit the Shock Shack tent on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. in the Library Mall.

ONEBOOK
SPOTLIGHT EVENT!
Petroleum Free In One Year: An Afternoon With Doug Fine
Thursday October 22 at 3:30 p.m.
Rosebud Theater, University Center

The Hermanns Lecture Series, a coloquium on Greening English Studies
Friday October 14-17
Hosted by hosted by the Department of English and presented by OneBook.

Sustainability and the Crisis of Expertise
Wednesday October 7, 1–1:30 p.m. reception
Featuring Jeff Howard, School of Urban and Public Affairs. Sixth Floor Library Parlor. Presented by the UT Arlington Library Focus on the Faculty program and OneBook.

Green Screen: Student Films about the Environment
Wednesday September 30 from 12-1:00 p.m.
Sixth Floor Library Parlor. Presented by OneBook.

Global Climate Change and its Impact on North Texas
Friday September 25 from 12-1:00 p.m.
Featuring Arne Winguth, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Sixth Floor Library Parlor. Presented by OneBook.

EcoFest Arlington
Saturday, September 19 from 2:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Hear local bands, get do-it-yourself tips for reducing consumption, visit UT Arlington’s booth, check out the latest green products and watch the humorous documentary called Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home.

Make a Splash
Friday, September 11 at 8:30 a.m.
Take a trip to River Legacy Living Science Center with the UTA Volunteers and participate in different activities and info sessions pertaining to the preservation of water. Transportation will be provided. Sign up now or just meet in front of the Mav Express office in the U.C. at 8:30 am. Contact UTA Volunteers for more information.

Three Keys to Understanding Deep Economy
Wednesday September 9 from 12-1:00 p.m.
Featuring John Garrigus, Department of History. Nedderman Hall 100. Presented by OneBook.

The EPA: Balancing Environmental Interests
Wednesday, September 2 from 7-8:00 a.m.
The Arlington Technology Association will host a talk by Richard Greene, Adjunct Professor, School of Urban and Public Affairs and former regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency in North Texas. Richard Greene will provide a first-hand examination of the operating philosophies of the EPA, plus an update on the progress, or lack thereof, in Washington’s efforts to craft global warming law and regulation. Richard Greene, mayor of Arlington from 1987 until 1997, teaches courses on environmental policy. As the Dallas-based EPA regional administrator, Greene was responsible for the oversight of federal environmental programs in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Food/Fertilizer/Fuel (3F): A Feasibility Study for Distributed Agriculture
Thursday, April 30
Dr. David L. Johnson, Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the State University of New York will lead a talk on 3F distributed agriculture that integrates a high technology greenhouse building and an anaerobic digester (recycling carbon from food wastes) to generate 100% of the energy needed for operating the structure and regenerating the fertilizer nutrients needed for crop growth. Sustainable agriculture is the goal with minimal environmental impact and maximum contribution to carbon neutrality. Hosted by the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department.

UT Arlington participates in PrairieFest
Saturday, April 25
Stop by the UT Arlington booth at PrairieFest, an outdoor festival to celebrate our connection to the natural world through music, art, dance, environmental stewardship and wildflower tours.

Discussion on Parking Lots and Campus Sustainability
Friday, April 24
The Environmental Society will host a forum discussion open to the university community and the general public. Also supported by the Air & Waste Management Association UT Arlington student chapter.

Celebrating People and Planet: UT Arlington’s Earth Day celebration
Wednesday, April 22
Hosted by UT Arlington’s Recycling program and EH&S, environmental activities abounded along the University Center mall as visitors learned about promoting a healthy body and healthy planet. Participants included Moxie Scooters, Smart Car Fort Worth, EV Car Co., NCTCOG’s Environmental Services & Air North Texas, Ft. Worth Vegetarian Society, Trinity River Authority, City of Arlington Environmental Services, President’s Sustainability Committee, UT Arlington Library, UT Arlington/Fort Worth Center, UT Arlington Environmental Society, Waste Management, Whole Foods, Arlington Conservation Council, DFW Wildlife Coalition and Think Green Homes.

*UT Arlington first-time exclusive Environmental Sponsor of MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival
April 16-19
The popular MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival is partnering with UT Arlington to take the already environmentally-conscious event to an even greener level. Also, be sure to visit the UT Arlington exhibitor booth, designed by UT Arlington Interior Design students to incorporate and feature sustainable materials. Learn more >

^{Channel 11 features student-designed festival display >}

Welcome to UT Arlington OFF MAIN! Reception
Friday, April 17 at 5:00 p.m.
Gallery76102
Enjoy complementary refreshments in the UT Arlington/Fort Worth Center’s new art gallery featuring local artists.

It’s Underway in DC: Global Warming Law and Regulation
Friday, April 17 at 6:00 p.m.
Richard Greene, UT Arlington School of Urban and Public Affairs adjunct professor, former Mayor of Arlington, and former Regional Administrator of the U.S. EPA

The Effects of Sustainable Technology on Students
Kurt Ortley, AIA, LEED AP, UT Arlington School of Architecture adjunct professor and architect

Saturday, April 18 at 5:00 p.m.
UT Arlington’s Extensive Green Roof: First Year Results
David Hopman, UT Arlington School of Architecture assistant professor and landscape architect

Environmental history topic at Friends of Library meeting
Friday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Dr. Jeff Crane, co-editor of Natural Protest: Essays in American Environmental History will discuss the book and the broad themes of U.S. environmental history at the Friends of the UT Arlington Library meeting in the sixth floor parlor of the Central Library, 702 Planetarium Place. Crane is an assistant professor of history at Sam Houston State University.

Earth Hour 2009:
March 28 from 8:30 p.m – 9:30 p.m.
Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Coliseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness. Hundreds of cities around the world will switch off their lights for one hour as part of Earth Hour 2009. UT Arlington and the City of Arlington encourage residents to turn off to turn up awareness.

Springfest incorporates sustainable practices and observes Earth Hour:
Saturday, March 28, 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
West Lawn of the Maverick Activities Center
UT Arlington’s annual SpringFest, this year headlined by the band Motion City Soundtrack, will include a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a volleyball tournament, as well as several other competitive activities. It will also provide several green options:
· Biodegradable food service materials, as well as compostable foods
· Power for the stage lights and sound supplied by a bio-diesel generator
· In lieu of the event’s traditional dunk-tank which uses about 500 gallons of water, an Aqua Blaster will be used which only uses a maximum of 15 gallons of water
· Earth Hour will be observed. One of the featured bands will play with only two spot-lights and with all other lights turned off
More >

Sustainable Communities Training Conference
March 9-11, 2009
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Sustainable Skylines Initiative, in partnership with the City of Dallas, the North Central Texas Council of Governments and private sector organizations, presented the Sustainable Communities Training Conference. The meeting addressed the issues of urban/suburban sustainability planning and management in the U.S. The UT Arlington School of Architecture was among the sponsors for this event, and UT Arlington was the first educational institution to partner with the Environmental Protection agency in this way. Under the direction of Kurt Ortley, UT Arlington School of Architecture faculty member, design students created key elements of the graphic identity for the conference. View online poster gallery >

National Teach-In at UT Arlington
February 5, 2009
The public is invited to the National Teach-in, a major annual event that culminates in a single day of focused discussion on the critical decisions and actions necessary to reduce global climate change. On February 5, UT Arlington will engage in a collaborative effort to generate solutions to the global climate crisis. Over the course of the day, participants can attend interactive sessions led by “experts” on issues related to climate change and sustainability. More >

Green Building Seminar on September 26
This seminar provides an intro to “green” building, sustainable design principles & concepts and highlights of the LEED AP accreditation process and testing. Online Registration starts August 4 >

Gray + Green = More Gr$$n:
Public-Private Partnerships Making the Economics of Sustainability Work
A one day symposium bringing together speakers from the public and private sectors to focus on the economic benefits of sustainable design as it relates to site planning and design. Morning speakers will cover both public and private sector approaches to sustainability. The lunch time session will be a panel of four area mayors representing Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Frisco. Afternoon sessions will include networking opportunities. October 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Event Hosts include AECOM Technology Corporation, The University of Texas at Arlington School of Architecture, and the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research. More info >