Archive for the 'Purchasing' Category

Office Green Team Program wins award

topham. Published on June 16, 2010 in Purchasing and Waste reduction. 0 Comments

The Greater DFW Recycling Alliance, a council under the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR), is recognizing The University of Texas at Arlington’s Maverick Office Green Team Program through their Greater DFW 2010 Recycling Leadership Awards.   These annual awards are given to recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals, communities, universities, and businesses in developing or maintaining programs involving recycling, composting, integrated solid waste management, environmental education, partnerships, special events and “closing the loop”.

The University of Texas at Arlington received their award for Outstanding “Closing the Loop” Program for their Maverick Office Green Team Program.

The Maverick Office Green Team program was recognized for promoting “Buy Recycled” principles and establishing waste conscious goals at the grass-roots level.  Additionally, the success of reducing carbon emissions from office supply vendor trucks that as of Fall 2009 deliver only twice per week to the University.   The Green Team program encourages volunteerism and continuing education to all members.  The program incites the membership to encourage other University staff and faculty to participate.  The University saved 132 trees, 48,000 gallons of water, and reduced CO2 equivalents by 11,564 lbs from purchasing post-consumer recycled paper Off

This effort could not have been successful without your individual commitment and support to sustainability initiatives across campus.  This award acknowledges your time, leadership, and stewardship which benefits the University community.

Update on carbon footprint reduction

Jeff Howard. Published on January 20, 2010 in Assessment, Building & Development, Curriculum & Research, Dining services, Energy, General, Landscaping & Habitat, Management Systems, Purchasing, Transportation, Waste reduction and Water. 0 Comments

Yesterday I updated the PSC Steering Committee on the carbon footprint reduction initiative. The committee requested that Sustainability Director Meghna Tare prepare a proposal on how to formally get footprint reduction planning underway.

Presentation

Special Events Center is expected to meet LEED Silver standard

Jeff Howard. Published on November 16, 2009 in Building & Development, Energy, Landscaping & Habitat, Purchasing, Waste reduction and Water. 0 Comments

The university has announced that the design for the $78 million Special Events Center is expected to qualify for a “silver” rating from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. It incorporates numerous features to conserve energy and water, use native plants, and minimize waste. The building, to be completed in 2012, is expected to be the campus’ second LEED Silver building, following completion of the Engineering Research Building in 2011.

Star-Telegram story, Nov. 15

Press release, Nov. 12

North Central Texas Campus Climate Summit

bes8430. Published on November 12, 2009 in Air & Waste Mgt. Assoc. student chapter, Assessment, Building & Development, Communications, Composting, Curriculum & Research, Dining services, Energy, Environmental Society (student organization), General, Landscaping & Habitat, Management Systems, Purchasing, Student Planning Association (student organization), Transportation, Waste reduction and Water. 0 Comments

On October 28th UTA hosted the North Central Texas Campus Climate Summit. The event was co-sponsored by the University of Texas at Arlington, the National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program and the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability. The student groups involved with bringing this event to campus were:

Air & Waste Management Association at UTA

Environmental Society at UTA

International Business Society at UTA

Student Planning Association at UTA

UTA Volunteers

The first-ever North Central Texas Campus Climate Summit brought together over 50 participants from 15 different universities and colleges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The summit provided opportunities for faculty, students, staff and administrators from the region to get together to share ideas, best practices and resources to accelerate climate change and sustainability solutions. The main themes explored were 1) Transforming the Curriculum to Address Eco-literacy 2) Green Workforce Development and 3) Comprehensive Greening of Campus Operations.

NCTCCS Website

Program and Agenda

Mission Statement

Presentation Files

Workshop Descriptions

Sponsors and Organizers

AASHE overview for 2008

Jeff Howard. Published on June 29, 2009 in Assessment, Building & Development, Communications, Composting, Curriculum & Research, Dining services, Energy, General, Landscaping & Habitat, Management Systems, Natural gas wells, Purchasing, Transportation, Waste reduction and Water. 0 Comments

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, of which UT Arlington is a member, has issued its annual compendium of developments in campus sustainability. The 356-page volume provides an overview of sustainability efforts on hundreds of campuses, including UT Arlington.

AASHE Digest 2008 (pdf)

Summer course — Carbon footprint reduction planning

Jeff Howard. Published on April 16, 2009 in Assessment, Building & Development, Communications, Composting, Curriculum & Research, Dining services, Energy, Landscaping & Habitat, Management Systems, Natural gas wells, Purchasing, Transportation, Waste reduction and Water. 0 Comments

 Project Planning:

Campus Carbon Footprint Reduction

CIRP 5332 (course no. 51241)

Summer 2009

Wednesdays, 6:00-9:50 p.m., June 3 – August 13

Instructor: Dr. Jeff Howard, School of Urban & Public Affairs, howardj@uta.edu

This graduate course will be devoted to assisting the University of Texas at Arlington with planning reductions in its “carbon footprint” – that is, reductions in its direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. During a parallel course in summer 2008, students and the instructor developed a report on the university’s carbon footprint, which now serves as the starting point for the President’s Sustainability Committee’s effort to plan effective means to reduce the footprint.

In collaboration with the instructor, students will examine preliminary recommendations included in the 2008 report, assess these in light of initial responses from the sustainability committee, and use tools such as the guide produced by the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education to develop further analysis and recommendations for formal presentation to the committee and the campus community.

Because climate change is increasingly prominent in public policy nationally and internationally, the course will provide students an opportunity to develop a skill set, conceptual base, and practical experience that can be applied in municipalities and institutions across the world. It also provides concrete assistance to a large university devoted to making improvements in its environmental impacts.

The course is expected to be of particular interest to students in Urban & Public Affairs, Environmental & Earth Science, Environmental Engineering, Architecture, and Business but is open to graduate students from across the campus (and conceivably to senior undergrads). Students interested in taking the course are invited to contact the instructor.

Syllabus

Committee begins carbon footprint reduction planning

Jeff Howard. Published on January 14, 2009 in Assessment, Building & Development, Composting, Dining services, Energy, Landscaping & Habitat, Management Systems, Natural gas wells, Purchasing, Transportation, Waste reduction and Water. 0 Comments

At its December 16 meeting, the PSC voted to begin planning reductions in the university’s emissions of greenhouse gases.

A report released in 2008 described the “carbon footprint” for the baseline year of 2005, projected emissions in 2010 and 2020, proposed emission targets for “responsible growth,” and offered a series of emission reduction scenarios for several sectors (e.g., buildings, landscaping). Under the process initiated in December:

  • >>Several of the committee’s work groups will formally evaluate the 2008 report and develop recommendations on suitable emissions reduction targets. They will present summaries of their evaluations and recommendations at the PSC’s general meeting on February 10.
  • >>At the March 10 meeting of the steering committee, the soon-to-be-hired Sustainability Director will propose emissions reduction goals for each sector and for the university as a whole. The steering committee, in turn, will submit recommended goals to Pres. Spaniolo.
  • >>At the June 9 general meeting, the PSC will send Pres. Spaniolo a set of recommended amendments to bring the Sustainability Agenda into line with the emissions reduction goals.
  • >>At the June 9 meeting The PSC will request that the Sustainability Director report annually on the university’s progress toward meeting these goals and request that university-wide carbon footprint analyses be conducted in (or based on emissions in) 2010 and 2015.

Presentation and proposal, Dec. 16, 2009

Carbon footprint report (released in 2008)

Purchasing Work Group needs help

Jeff Howard. Published on December 2, 2008 in Purchasing. 0 Comments

The PSC’s Purchasing Work Group is shorthanded. The group has been doing important work on sustainable purchasing policy and related questions and needs an additional member or two. If you have an interest in this effort (and especially if you have knowledge of university or departmental purchasing practices), the group’s chair, Megan Topham, would like to hear from you.

PSC budget for 2009 announced

Jeff Howard. Published on October 21, 2008 in Assessment, Building & Development, Communications, Curriculum & Research, Dining services, Energy, Landscaping & Habitat, Management Systems, Purchasing, Transportation, Waste reduction and Water. 0 Comments

A PSC budget of $138,750 for fiscal year 2009 has been approved by President Spaniolo and was announced at the Oct.14 meeting. These funds are to cover the expense of implementing some of the Sustainability Agenda items approved in the spring.

It is important to note that this budget does not include numerous Sustainability Agenda items that are being funded under the regular budget of various administrative units.

Building & Development                        $ 0  (0.0%)

Communications                              16,250 (11.7)

Curriculum & Research                    5,000 (3.6)

Dining Services                                          0 (0.0)

Energy & Water                              10,000 (7.2)

Landscaping & Habitat                   12,500 (9.0)

Management Systems                   60,000 (43.2)

Purchasing                                                  0 (0.0)

Transportation                                     TBA

Waste Reduction                             35,000 (25.2)
Total                              $138,750 ( 100.0%)

Detailed budget (if you have difficulty downloading, contact me)

Sustainability Agenda

Got a green idea? Want to offer constructive criticism?

Jeff Howard. Published on October 14, 2008 in Assessment, Composting, Curriculum & Research, Dining services, Energy, General, Landscaping & Habitat, Management Systems, Natural gas wells, Purchasing, Transportation, Waste reduction and Water. 0 Comments

If you’ve got a suggestion or constructive criticism to offer, who you gonna call?

The President’s Sustainability Committee has 10 work groups. They function rather like subcommittees, each focusing on a single aspect of the university’s sustainability program. Feel free to contact the chair of the appropriate group.

Building & Development — John Hall

Communications — Amy Schultz

Curriculum, Research, & Community Engagement — Jim Grover

Dining Services — Sharon Carey

Energy & Water — Larry Harrison

Landscaping & Habitat — David Hopman

Management Systems –

Purchasing — Megan Topham

Transportation — Jeff Johnson

Waste Reduction — Becky Valentich