KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has awarded the University of Tennessee, Knoxville three Green Schools Awards of Excellence for its efforts in energy reduction and product reuse on campus.
Energy reduction successes at UT Knoxville were created through the Make Orange Green challenge in which 12 participating dormitories reduced power consumption from January through March 2005 by more than 500,000 kilowatts over the previous year.
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Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke presents the awards to UT Knoxville Chancellor Loren Crabtree
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Major reuse achievements included the annual comprehensive Spring Cleaning program, which included UT Recycles and UT Cares events in coordination with UT Housing and the Goodwill Industries. During one week in May, this partnership found a second home for more than 12,600 pounds of material ranging from clothing and household goods to unused food.
UT Knoxville also received an honorable mention in the recycling category for its “Good Sports Always Recycle” activities, including participation in Cash for Cans: City Recycling Challenge and a university community pledge campaign in which more than 1,000 people pledged to increase their own personal recycling rates and purchase more products with recycled content.
Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke presented the awards on June 15 to UT Knoxville Chancellor Loren Crabtree and representatives from UT Facilities Services.
“We are pleased to recognize the conservation achievements of the University of Tennessee and the many partners who were instrumental in these successes,” said Fyke.
“Congratulations to the university-s administration, faculty, staff and, most importantly, its students for the team effort that produced positive results for their community,” he said.
The Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership sponsors the Green Schools program. TP3 is a statewide network of households, schools, government agencies, organizations, businesses and industries working together to prevent pollution.
For more information on the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership or the Green Schools program, please visit http://www.state.tn.us/environment/bac/tp3/.