UT RECYCLES, UT CARES

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Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3) 

The University of Tennessee has achieved Partner status in the TP3 program. To achieve this status a five-point plan was developed to prevention air, land, and water pollution while conserving natural resources. One project was completed and written up as a “success story. ”

The University of Tennessee ’s TP3 Plan:

Energy Conservation

Green Energy Purchase

Beginning in the fall of 2005 The University of Tennessee has committed to purchasing $144,000 of green power from the TVA Green Power Switch program each year. This purchase increases the university’s green power purchase from 375 blocks to 3,375 blocks or by 6,075,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.  With this new commitment, green power now accounts for 2.5% of the university’s annual electrical usage allowing the university to become an EPA Green Power Partner.  This purchase is equivalent to planting over 1,000 acres of trees or recycling more than 700,000 pounds of aluminum each year.  Green power purchased by The University of Tennessee offsets approximately 6,000 tons of emissions each year from production of this same quantity of electricity from fossil fuels. Publicity and education surrounding the purchase will be initiated through the University in the spring of 2006. 

Project Status: Complete

Success Story

Sarah Surak (recycling coordinator) and George Kesterson (TDEC) with the UT Success Story poster

Energy Conservation

Light Bulb Exchange

The Facilities Services Department will work together with the Department of University Housing to provide $10,000 worth of compact fluorescent light bulbs for personal use in residence halls (approximately 2,500 light bulbs). The program will focus on both energy savings and student education. Students will be given the opportunity to exchange regular light bulbs used in personal lamps with compact fluorescent light bulbs at no charge. At exchange events students will also be given information as to why compact fluorescent light bulbs are more environmentally friendly along with basic conservation tips. If each of the compact fluorescent light bulbs replaces a regular light bulb that is used for ten hours each day, approximately 250 Megawatts a year of electricity will be conserved.

Project Status: Complete

Boiler Firing Controls

Funds will be used to improve the firing controls on seven heating water boilers used for building heating. In boilers with older controls, as temperature falls below a set point, the boiler begins a firing sequence triggering the use of natural gas. Improvement will be made to the controls to allow for periodic sensing of small cool “slugs” of water that can cycle through the system even though the temperature has not decreased. These controls will introduce a time delay in the firing sequence that will ensure the boiler needs to adjust temperature before actually starting to burn gas.  These improvements are expected to result in a 10% to 20% savings in natural gas. Savings seen from the installation will be evident in the natural gas usage for each boiler. A reduction of natural gas use in one boiler by 10% is equivalent to 130 million BTUs each year. Project completion date is 4/1/06 .

Project Status: In progress

Hazardous Materials Management/Reduction

Increasing recycling of rechargeable batteries and lead acid batteries on the UT Agricultural Campus:

Each year the Agricultural Campus disposes of a large number of rechargeable and lead-acid batteries. Although a central disposal location is available on the Main campus to collect rechargeable batteries, there is no system in place on the Agricultural Campus to capture and recycle this waste stream. To prevent disposal of rechargeable batteries in the regular trash, a battery recycling location with 24 hour a day access will be established on the Agricultural Campus. A campaign to educate faculty and staff on the proper disposal of the batteries will include educational emails and posters in high traffic areas around the Agricultural Campus. Project completion date is March 2006.

Project Status: Complete

Land and Water Conservation

Low Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Restrooms contribute greatly to campus water use. To reduce water use, The University of Tennessee will replace older plumbing fixtures in Claxton Addition, Music Building , and McCord Hall with fixtures that require less water. Old toilets can use 5 gallons or more per flush, newer models that will be installed will use only 1.6 gallons per flush.  Older urinals use 3 or more gallons per flush while newer ones use 0.8 gallons per flush. Lavatory faucets use in excess of 1 gallon per minute, newer ones will use 0.5 gallons per minute, and be automatically control will lessen the likelihood of faucets being left open. Signage will be installed in each restroom to inform and educate on the benefits of low flow plumbing fixtures. These improvements will likely save in excess of 350,000 gallons of water each year. Project completion date is 8/15/06 .

Project status: In progress

Solid Waste Reduction

Reduce

The UT Recycles, UT Cares program will design and implement a junk mail reduction program targeting residence halls and off campus apartments. The program will provide information on the how’s and why’s of reducing junk mail through informational displays, brochures, and educational events. Once in place, the program will run continually, with information presented at the beginning of each semester. Individually, an average of 41 pounds of junk mail is sent to every adult each year. Project completion date is August 2006 and will remain ongoing.

Project status: In progress

Reuse

The UT Recycles, UT Cares program will institute a Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE) program to decrease the disposal of reusable office supplies on The University of Tennessee campus. A central room on campus will be set up to collect supplies typically discarded by offices such as binders, file folders, calculators, pens, and various types of paper. Student volunteers will sort items and at specified times during the week, staff members will be able to visit the facility to take any needed supplies. Project completion date is August 2006.

Project status: In progress

Recycle

The Facilities Services Department will begin diverting green waste from the campus waste stream. Currently campus green waste collected by the Grounds Shop including tree trimmings, plant material, and collected pallets is disposed of in a Class A landfill. This material will be collected in a separate container and composted at a Knox County composting facility. Project completion date is February 2006.

Project status: Complete

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