University of Texas at Arlington
Contact Information
Education and Research:
UT Arlington offers many environment/sustainability degree programs, options and certificates, including a soon-to-be launched BS degree in environmental science. The interdisciplinary graduate program in environmental and earth sciences provides master’s and doctoral degrees emphasizing science-based solutions to environmental problems. Environmental engineering, transportation engineering and water resources are available focus areas for graduate degrees in civil engineering. The School of Urban and Public Affairs offers an undergraduate minor in urban planning and environment. Environment and sustainability can be focus areas for undergraduate and graduate students in architecture and landscape architecture, including research on the region’s first green roof (on campus). Chemistry and biochemistry graduate students can focus on analytical chemistry for environmental research or work in the Center for Renewable Energy Science and Technology. Biology students can focus on biodiversity and ecology. In the geology master’s program, students can focus on environmental geology and climatology. A new general sustainability studies class is offered to students of all majors. The Center for Community Service Learning provides resources and expertise to faculty wishing to incorporate sustainability into their curriculum.
Funded sustainability research varies widely from detection of atmospheric toxins, waste water treatment, algae blooms, and climate change in the Arctic to environmental history, environment and feminism, environmental policy and landscape planning for energy conservation.
Each academic year, all first-year undergraduates study a common book and attend relevant lectures and events. The 2009-10 OneBook theme is sustainability and the book will be Bill McKibben’s Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future.
Outreach inspires a campus-wide cultural commitment to sustainability. The “Mavericks Go Green” campaign, illustrated comprehensively at uta.edu/sustainability, is supported year-round by social networking and promotion on campus. Community activities in 2009 include participation in events such as the 4-day Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival as the first-ever environmental sponsor.
The newly launched Green Team program guides employees and departments in creating more sustainable business habits. The annual Green Fair educates employees on green purchasing options, and the University and City of Arlington partner in a computer round-up event each Texas Recycles Day.
Students provide leadership and energy year-round for environmental action. Spring events included: Recyclemania; Parking forum; Teach-In; Celebrating People and Planet (Earth Day); workshops; and Alternative Spring Break and The Big Event community service days. Several campus organizations are solely dedicated to environmental activism. In 2009-2010, the PSC will launch a sustainability action award for individuals and organizations.
Campus Operations:
As a part of its commitment to sustainable infrastructure, UT Arlington is building an Engineering Research Building (see also Administration and Finance) to LEED Silver standards. The building, built of recycled content, regional materials and Forest Stewardship Council certified wood, will include rain and condensate water harvesting, installation of native low-water landscaping, natural day lighting, and a partial green roof.
In partnership with Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., the University has implemented 18 energy cost reduction measures, including comprehensive lighting retrofits, occupancy sensors to vary the temperature of a space, transformer upgrades to reduce voltage for building use, replacement of steam traps, installation of window solar film, vending machine sensors to reduce energy consumption during times of inactivity, high efficiency motor upgrades, and cooling system replacements. Siemens projects the simple payback for this project to be a favorable 7.99 years. The implementation cost was $17,989,981.
In addition, UT Arlington has recently completed a campus natural gas meter consolidation project, eliminating five meters. This is estimated to provide an annual utility meter cost savings of $26,875. Over $579,800 has been invested in deferred maintenance projects that will directly affect energy savings, including repairing, replacing and upgrading HVAC equipment in 8 separate buildings. An additional project to replace existing fan coil units in a research building cost $145,773. Electrical savings in the first year alone was $7,299; savings increased 35% in the following year; similar increases are projected for future years. Finally, a condensate chilled water system installed for $67,400 in another research building saves over $9,000 per year in domestic water.
The award-winning Recycling and Composting program continues to set the bar for innovation and achievement. In partnership with Aramark, the campus food service provider, they have helped to implement such measures as integrating pre-consumed food items into the University’s award-winning compost site/program, changing Styrofoam cups to paper where applicable, and adding tin and plastic containers to the list of items they recycle. Further, Aramark purchases food products from local growers and manufacturers. “Trayless” dining, which reduces the amount of food waste and avoids washing extra dishes and trays, was implemented in the Fall.
Other initiatives include: the President’s Sustainability Committee partners with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority to give students, faculty and staff a referral service for carpool or van pool opportunities; Procurement Services proactively directs departmental buyers to Energy Star equipment and vendors of recycled/remanufactured products; the Office of Information Technology provides information on green computing and helps reduce transportation costs by supporting virtual meetings.
Administration and Finance:
The commitment to sustainability at The University of Texas at Arlington runs throughout the University’s campus planning, human resources, student recruitment and development, and community engagement initiatives. President James D. Spaniolo created the President’s Sustainability Committee (PSC) to champion ten critical areas: Building & Development; Purchasing; Communications; Curriculum, Research & Community Engagement; Dining Services; Energy & Water; Landscaping & Habitat; Management Systems; Transportation; and Waste Reduction. Community and agency partners join with faculty, staff and students on this committee, exponentially broadening the opportunities for programmatic integration throughout the north Texas region.
A top priority of the PSC was to create a dedicated Sustainability Director position to advance and deepen the University’s commitment to sustainability. That position, now created and filled, will help further integrate best practices in the curriculum, workplace and campus culture.
Campus culture, an integral component to sustainability, is examined by committees complementary to the PSC such as the Status of Women and Minorities and the First Year Experience. With nearly 50% non-white students, UT Arlington is nationally recognized (most recently by U.S. News and World Report) for building student diversity. Tuition assistance programs like the Maverick Promise – providing free tuition for qualified students from families earning $65,000/year or less – support that commitment. Diversity in faculty recruitment and retention is also critical, and new initiatives such as a doctoral/post-doctoral fellowship and participation in the elite Howard University pre-faculty internship program support the recruitment of underrepresented faculty. See uta.edu/diversity
Sustainability is a guiding principal in UT Arlington’s Campus Master Plan. The plan aggressively supports “greening” the campus and establishes LEED certification as a goal for all new buildings and landscape/streetscape improvements. The Engineering Research Building currently under construction is being built according to LEED Silver standards, and the community-oriented Special Events Center will be built according to LEED Gold standards.
The University and the City of Arlington have a uniquely collaborative relationship, coordinating closely on master planning and downtown development. In a joint press conference held just a few months ago, University and City leaders announced the results of carbon footprint analyses – conducted by UT Arlington faculty and graduate students – and mutual commitment to effecting positive change.
A member of AASHE, UT Arlington is a charter (and only university) member of both Air North Texas and Vision North Texas. The University has been recognized with numerous environmental awards, most recently from the National Wildlife Federation.
AASHE Bulletin
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