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The Green at College Park Wins ASLA Award
Each year the Texas chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recognizes outstanding examples of recent work and publicizes their contribution to the quality of life for the citizens of Texas. The awards will be presented at the Texas Chapter ASLA Conference in Grapevine on April 5, 2012.
Schrickel, Rollins and Associates, Inc. (SRA) awarded two Awards at the ASLA Texas Chapter Annual Conference for 2012. An Honor Award was given for the design of The Green at College Park at the University of Texas at Arlington. To read the complete article click here
Sustainable Food Management in Action
How can the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency challenge others to reduce as much of their food waste as possible? That’s the goal of the agency’s Food Recovery Challenge (FRC), an initiative piloted in 2010 and fully launched in 2011. Along with reducing waste, the added benefits of the FRC are the potential for saving money, helping communities and protecting the environment — the triple bottom line.
The Challenge raises awareness about the amount of food unnecessarily thrown in the trash and educates about how to divert this food to its best use. In 2010, Americans generated 250 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). Organic materials continue to be the largest component of MSW, a total of 56.3 percent. This includes paper and paperboard (29%), food scraps (13.9%) and yard trimmings (13.4%). The 13.9 percent translates into 34 million tons of food “waste” thrown away by U.S. homes and businesses — 97 percent of the total generated. No significant progress was made in diverting food waste from 2009. Amazingly, food waste is now the number one material sent to landfills and incinerators.
Click here to read the complete article and how UT Arlington is participating in this venture.
UT Arlington Among First to Receive Sustainability Certification for Landscape
The Sustainable Sites Initiative™, a new rating system for sustainable design in landscape and site development, has named UT Arlington’s The Green at College Park one of the first three projects in the world to be certified according to the organization’s rigorous benchmarks.
To read the complete article click here
Also read about it in the LAND E-News from ASLA. Click here to go to the story.
Announcement Faculty Fellowships for 2012-2013 Sustainability in the Curriculum
The University Sustainability Committee announces that Faculty Fellowships on Sustainability in the Curriculum will be awarded for the 2012-2013 Academic Year. The Committee’s Working Group on Curriculum, Research and Community Engagement solicits applications from faculty to support the integration of environmental and sustainability studies content into courses that they teach.
Environmental and sustainability studies traverse the sciences, politics, economics, culture, the arts, humanities, and ethics. Environmental studies examines how individuals, communities, societies, and cultures interact with the non-humans and ecosystems around them, so that we can better understand how these interactions might take place in ways that permit non-humans and ecosystems to thrive. Sustainability studies builds on environmental studies to recognize accelerating environmental destruction and to seek development of practices, ideas, and values that repair past damage, prevent ongoing damage, promote social justice, and enhance human and non-human welfare.
Faculty Fellowships in the amount of $2,000 - $5,000 for one semester will be awarded to support development of modules on sustainability for existing courses, laboratory exercises, service learning exercises, field trips, development of new courses, or development of other curriculum products. The minimum award is $2,000 and the maximum is $5,000. Funds may be used as a salary supplement for the Fellow, to support purchase or production of materials and resources, development of service learning projects, attending relevant conferences or workshops, conducting evaluations or surveys that support the curricular activity, or other relevant expenses. Dissemination of products via scholarly publications or other venues is encouraged but not required. Cost-sharing with other funding sources is encouraged but not required. Tenured and tenure-track faculty as well as Lecturers are encouraged to apply.
All expenditures must comply with relevant University regulations and must be made during the semester of the Fellowship.
Upon completion of the Fellowship, Fellows will be expected to:
- Submit within one semester a 1-page summary and evaluation of the activities undertaken, suitable for communication to the public (e.g. on the University Sustainability web site, http://www.uta.edu/sustainability/ ).
- Submit a 1-page summary of funds expended.
- Make a brief oral presentation about Fellowship activities to the University Sustainability Committee, when a meeting is held at a convenient time.
Applications for Fellowships during the Fall Semester 2012 or Spring Semester 2013 should be submitted by April 15, 2012. (Award of Fellowships will be contingent upon approval of the program budget).
Requests for an application form and any questions should be sent to:
Dr. Christopher Morris, Chair, Working Group on Curriculum, Research and Community Engagement, morris@uta.edu.
Announcement Sustainability Speaker Grants University Sustainability Committee
The University Sustainability Committee announces Sustainability Speaker Grants available to students, faculty and staff at UT Arlington working to enhance environmental and sustainability studies and programs in the curriculum and the University’s affairs.
Environmental and sustainability studies traverse the sciences, politics, economics, culture, the arts, humanities, and ethics. Environmental studies examines how individuals, communities, societies, and cultures interact with the non-humans and ecosystems around them, so that we can better understand how these interactions might take place in ways that permit non-humans and ecosystems to thrive. Sustainability studies builds on environmental studies to recognize accelerating environmental destruction and to seek development of practices, ideas, and values that repair past damage, prevent ongoing damage, promote social justice, and enhance human and non-human welfare.
Sustainability Speaker Grants of up to $500 for one speaker will be awarded to support engagement of speakers addressing sustainability and environmental stewardship. Speakers may address regularly scheduled academic colloquia, meetings of student organizations, or special events associated with the University. Priority will be given to events expected to reach large and diverse audiences. Cost-sharing with other funding sources is strongly encouraged.
All expenditures must comply with relevant University regulations concerning travel and event expenditures. Awardees will be responsible for all travel and event arrangements and logistics. The Working Group on Communications of the University Sustainability Committee will be available to assist with publicity of events for which these awards are made.
Applications will be considered at any time but must be submitted at least 8 weeks prior to the proposed event to allow time for evaluation of the application and award processing. Applications should be submitted on the proper form.
Requests for an application form and any questions should go to:
Dr. Christopher Morris, Chair, Working Group on Curriculum, Research and Community Engagement, morris@uta.edu.
Student-Produced PSAs for Clean Air Action Day in North Texas
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Community Garden at UT Arlington
The Community Garden at UT Arlington Campus will support the University’s commitment to sustainability and preserving green space. The garden offers a place where all people can gain ideas for their own gardens, volunteer, or just sit, relax and enjoy the gardens. The 0.5 acre garden is located at UTA Blvd and Summit (next to the SWEET center).
The garden enriches our learning about the natural world, and educates our community about sustainable choices. The community garden also compliments the UT Arlington compost site and incorporates rainwater harvesting techniques to promote water conservation.
There are many ways to contribute; you can adopt a plot and become a gardener; you can volunteer and help us harvest; and/or you can be a supporter by making a donation to the garden.
Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-Arlington-Beautiful/193449240673806
Application to Adopt-a-plot Click Here
Click Here for WFAA's Critical Mention about the Community Garden
University Receives Silver Sustainability Rating from STARS Report
UT Arlington received a silver rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System report to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to gauge relative progress toward sustainability. STARS was developed by AASHE with broad participation from the higher education community.
As members of AASHE, the University is actively engaged in greening facility operations, promoting innovative research, supporting and encouraging student initiatives, implementing sustainability focused curriculum, and sponsoring public service initiatives.
University Shows Savings by Reducing Energy Usage Through Renovations, Upgrades
UT Arlington has saved nearly $3 million in energy and maintenance costs through a recently completed program aimed at upgrading equipment to make the campus more environmentally friendly. Other changes are expected to net another million dollars annually when completed next year.
UT System officials recently announced that the 15-institution system has cut energy use by 16 percent since 2001, resulting in a savings of $196 million and surpassing a goal to reduce energy consumption by 15 percent by fiscal year 2011. UT Arlington has played a significant role in those efforts.
“The University takes seriously its commitment to reducing energy use on campus,” says John Hall, vice president for administration and campus operations. “Most recently, energy performance contracts with Siemens Building Technologies and TDIndustries will allow the University to further enhance operational efficiencies and create a better living, working, and sustainable environment for students, faculty, and staff.”
Savings over the past year-and-a-half come primarily from improvements made as part of an energy conservation project UT Arlington initiated with Siemens Industry Inc. The project was funded through an $18 million loan from the UT System.
Between 2006 and 2009, Siemens evaluated the campus for energy saving opportunities and then implemented the improvements. Some of those included retrofitting inefficient lighting systems in several campus buildings; transformer upgrades; steam trap replacements; and a recommissioning of the campus’s energy management system.
UT Arlington realized a savings of $2,754,103 million in energy and maintenance costs from May 2009 through April 2010 – the first year that the changes were fully in place. The savings represent a reduction of more than 19 million kilowatt hours and are expected to continue at a similar or greater rate.
"UT Arlington has proven to have the foresight into energy reduction measures to ensure true energy cost savings are realized,” said Kelly Baxley, the UT Arlington account manager for Siemens. “Their commitment to providing energy efficient facilities that do not sacrifice comfort can only enhance the educational experience of students that come from all around the world to study at UTA."
The University also recently embarked on a similar energy conservation project with TDIndustries Inc. The $9.9 million project is being funded through a low-interest loan provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The changes planned as part of that project – including replacing two thermal plant chillers as well as upgrades to heating and air conditioning and other systems – are expected to save the university $1,133,488 annually and decrease energy usage by 9,831,232 kilowatt hours annually. That project is scheduled for completion in December 2011.
NSF Grant to Fund Scholarships in Science, Engineering and Environmental Science Studies
ARLINGTON - The National Science Foundation has awarded The University of Texas at Arlington a five-year, $600,000 grant to encourage undergraduates to earn a degree in science or engineering, complete a master’s degree in Earth and Environmental Science and enter the workforce or pursue doctoral study.
The project will provide scholarships to academically talented undergraduates who are economically disadvantaged and who would like to earn a master’s degree in geology or environmental and earth science. The grant is designed to help 22 students cover tuition and fees their senior year and for two years of graduate study.
“Our goal is to encourage more students to pursue graduate study and a career in the geosciences,” said Andrew Hunt, assistant professor in earth and environmental sciences and principal investigator for the grant. “We hope some of these students also will go on to earn a Ph.D. in our Earth and Environmental Science doctoral program.”
The College of Science’s Earth and Environmental Sciences Department and the Office of Graduate Studies jointly proposed the project and will manage the grant together.
Graduate School Dean Phil Cohen, Joe Jackson, associate dean of the Graduate School; John Wickham, chair and professor of the Earth & Environmental Sciences Department; and John Holbrook, professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department are co-principal investigators for the grant.
Dean Cohen said the scholarships would be both need- and merit-based.
“We’ll be using the grant to prepare talented students in their undergraduate years and provide them with the resources to succeed in graduate school,” Cohen said. “Many of these students will be the first members of their families to attend college.”
UT Arlington plans to draw participants from the University's undergraduate ranks and from the University of Texas-Brownsville and The University of Texas-Pan American.
Students who are interested in applying for the program should contact Michael Saenz at 817-272-2315 or saenz@uta.edu.
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive undergraduate and graduate research institution of nearly 33,000 students in the heart of North Texas.
New program lets you rent a car by the hour or day
No car? No problem! Starting this fall, the UT Arlington community will be able to rent an environmentally friendly car by the hour or day, all for a low price.
Connect by Hertz will be on campus offering drivers ages 18 and older cars to help them get where they need to be, whether it's running errands, shopping, or working. In addition to the convenience that the available cars bring, they'll also help reduce the amount of traffic on our roads—and environmental harm to our area. Each Connect car helps take multiple personally owned cars off the street; similar programs boast a reduction of 15-20 for every shared vehicle. That decrease in gas, oil, and harmful emissions can do a lot to keep the planet healthy.
Connect cars are available by the hour or day, and the low rate includes gas; insurance, including coverage for the Connect car; GPS navigation; an iPod adaptor; Bluetooth technology; 24-hour roadside assistance; support of a 24-hour in-house member care center; and in-car communication, allowing drivers to reach the member care center with the touch of a button.
Rates start at $8 per hour and $62 per day. Grab a few friends or co-workers to share the ride and your individual cost could end up being lower than your morning cup of coffee. Join before Sept. 30, 2010 and use the promotion code MAVERICK, and the first year is free.
To learn more or sign up, visit www.connectbyhertz.com and choose University of Texas at Arlington in the upper right corner or call 877-654-4400.
Ride sharing helps you, the environment
Every day the commuting choices you make have an impact on our air. It is our responsibility to ensure the air is safe for all. That's why UT Arlington is encouraging the community to share a ride to campus. And now, it's easier than ever.
Register on tryparkingit.com to find carpool or vanpool matches near you. On the site, sponsored by the North Central Texas Council of Governments, you can also log your shared commutes and receive an estimate of the miles you've saved and harmful emissions you've helped reduce.
The Office of Sustainability will track the new registration, number of registrants logging rideshare, number of vehicle trips reduced, number of vehicle miles travel reduced, and an emissions breakdown by vehicle type. Those numbers will be used to calculate the amount of air quality emission reduced and the number of miles saved by faculty and staff.
Autocross team building a hybrid formula racing car
The University's autocross team is currently work to convert the Formula 10 race into a hybrid. The new Hybrid 11 will debut in New Hampshire next May for its first race.
UT Arlington Hires Sustainability Director
Meghna Tare has been named the first director of sustainability for The University of Texas at Arlington.
Tare holds a master's degree in environmental studies from San Jose State University and a master's degree in chemistry from the University of San Francisco. She was an environmental manager with the City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality for the past three years and has taught environmental studies at California State University at Hayward and worked at Stanford University with the Institute of Environmental Science and Policy.
Tare administered numerous projects for Dallas but said she looks forward to the University's broader mission. Her duties at the University include initiating and coordinating programs in utility efficiency and management, carbon footprint reduction, recycling and waste reduction, transportation, environmentally preferable purchasing, and more. Read the complete press release.
UT Arlington Announces Faculty Fellows on Sustainability
UT Arlington is pleased to announce a new Faculty Fellows on Sustainability program and its first group of honorees. The fellowships awarded will support the selected faculty members throughout the semester as they develop innovative curriculum for integrating sustainability and environmental stewardship into their courses. This award is presented by the PSC Work Group on Curriculum, Research and Community Engagement. Meet the new Faculty Fellows below:
Dr. Peggy Semingsen, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, on Integrating Topics of Sustainability with Literacy Curriculum for Pre-Service Teachers. This project will show students preparing to be reading teachers how to incorporate content related to sustainability in their lessons, using children's books addressing sutainability issues.
Dr. Dannielle Joy Davis, Department of Educational Leadership, on Environmental Equity & Academic Success: Narrowing the Educational Achievement Gap via Green Practices & Leadership. This project will help graduate students better understand how environmental problems can disproportionately affect low income and minority communities, which may contribute to the achievement gap seen among students from these communities.
Dr. Wendy Casper, Department of Management, on Corporate Social Responsibility or Public Relations Campaign? Walmart's Sustainability Initiative. This project will involve MBA students in examining corporate sustainability policies to evaluate whether these policies reflect a commitment to social responsibility or a public relations effort, and their potential contributions to the business, the surrounding community and the world. This first-time award is presented by the PSC Work Group on Curriculum, Research and Community Engagement.
UT Arlington Charter Member of Air North Texas Initiative
UT Arlington is the first and only university member of a new air quality consortium. Air North Texas is a regional clean air partnership and campaign whose mission is to provide a comprehensive air quality resource; promote a consistent, regional air quality message; leverage existing resources and program strengths in a collaborative effort; increase public awareness of opportunities to reduce emissions; and motivate individuals and businesses to make clean-air choices.
Green Computing Conference Set for Aug. 15-18, 2010
UT Arlington and Washington State University are teaming up to launch a first-ever International Green Computing Conference in Chicago, IL. The conference will address key issues and topics related to energy efficiency in computing and promoting environmentally friendly computer technologies and systems. UT Arlington professor of computer science and engineering Ishfaq Ahmad serves as one of the two co-chairs for this conference. Papers for the conference will be accepted through March 15. For complete conference information and criteria for submitting papers, visit the International Green Computing Conference website.
Lecturer Contributes to Textbook on Climate Change
&quDr. Yvette Weatherton, senior lecturer in the civil engineering department, has contributed a chapter to a textbook ot;>Climate Change and Sustainable Development, which was published in March 2010. W eatherton wrote the chapter, titled "An Examination of Air Temperatures and Soil Temperatures in the United States Gulf Coast and Implications Related to Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Soil," with Edith Womack-Richardson of Southern University The book explores the impact and related policy implications of climate change on our planet. The need for sustainable development is discussed from many perspectives. It is presented at the upper level of undergraduate higher education, with ideas on how to use this book in the classroom and questions to help students to review the material. Weatherton also wrote the review questions for the book. ISBN: 978-0-9817854-5-5; 40 chapters, 453 pages, soft cover: Price: $38
Order from lintonatlanticbooks.com or amazon.com.
UT Arlington Recognized in AASHE National Report
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) released in August 2009 its annual digest of campus sustainability initiatives and developments across the nation, including many at UT Arlington. The green roof project, groundbreaking on the Engineering Research Building and release of the white paper on curriculum and research are examples of the University's accomplishments. The digest is available at: www.aashe.org/files/documents/AASHEdigest2008.pdf.
Library's Sustainability Efforts Recognized
The UT Arlington Library has recently been recognized for putting their sustainable thinking into practice. First, Texas Carpet Recycling recognized UT Arlington for recycling over 7,700 pounds of broadloom carpeting resulting from renovations on the fourth and fifth floors of the Central Library. Not only will the carpet be recycled into alternative fuel, but Texas Carpet Recycling will also plant one tree per ton of recycled carpet. Second, by purchasing six Canon Energy Star copiers, Canon will donate 60 trees—10 per copier—to the Arbor Day Foundation.
National Wildlife Federation Heralds UT Arlington as Exemplary
The National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology program released a report entitled A National Report Card on Sustainability in Higher Education. UT Arlington was one of 334 institutions nationwide and 14 in Texas rated as "exemplary." Highest marks were on energy efficiency/conservation/renewables and on recycling/solid waste/materials.
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