Energy Management
Energy costs in the Memphis area have soared over the past years. These costs directly affect the University's operating budget. The Office of Facilities is responsible for the containment of these costs. This is achieved through investigation, testing, monitoring, upgrading, and replacing of the many components of UT's energy systems.
Strategies currently employed by the Office of Facilities include the following:
- Reduce incandescent lighting
- Install high efficient fluorescent fixtures
- Install automation to control lighting and air conditioning
- Maximize equipment efficiency through preventive maintenance
- Modify building envelope for energy efficiency
- Utilize energy efficient and water conserving products
- Design new building with energy efficiency in mind
- Research various energy providers for the most advantageous rates
While reducing costs is one thing, providing an environment conducive to learning is another. This department is always aware that its primary objective is to provide a safe, efficient, and comfortable learning environment and work place for the UTHSC Community.
The Office of Facilities has been given the responsibility to "lead the charge" in energy reducing strategies, yet ultimate success will be dependent on how we as individuals use energy. Turning off lights when not in use or having the thermostat adjusted, not just for comfort, but also for energy reduction, makes a big difference. Human involvement is much more effective than financial investment. It is important to remember as global citizens that we, in the past, have used a larger portion of energy resources than our neighbors. At UTHSC we are now shrinking that difference responsibly.
If you have any comments or suggestions please send an email to energy@uthsc.edu.
Energy Saving Tips for Around the Workplace
- Turn lights out when leaving a room. If you are gone for more than two minutes, turn out the lights.
- Wherever practical, use a task light instead of the overhead lighting.
- Use day lighting when available by turning off lights near windows.
- Have maintenance staff de-lamp fixtures that produce a harsh glare or in areas that are over lit.
- Avoid using incandescent lights when possible. Compact fluorescents use less than one third of the energy and last up to ten times longer.
- Turn off computer monitors when not in use. Computers come with a sleep mode that is activated through the screen saver control feature.
- Only turn on computer peripherals (scanners, printers, speakers, etc.) when in use.
- Unless you are running update programs at night, turn off the computer and monitor at the end of the day.
- Make sure the office copier is turned off at night. New copiers with ENERGY STAR features of low power standby are the best choice when replacing machines. Be sure the ENERGY STAR features are activated. Fax machines come with power saver modes as well.
- Move desks and cubicles away from the windows. Windows are a source of drafts and draw heat from people in winter, making them feel colder.
- During cool weather, open blinds for light and warmth and close drapes at the end of the day to reduce heat loss at night. In warm weather, close blinds to reduce cooling load.
- Turn off power on “optional” equipment / spaces after hours (display cases, personal computers, coffee makers, etc.)
- Report HVAC / energy related problems to the building manager.
- Report any leaks or other water problems (leaky faucets, toilets running, sprinklers that water sidewalks, etc.) to the building manager.
Recycling
Recycling is a three-step process. The first step is collection – that’s when you put your recyclables into the bin. The second step is manufacturing – when the recyclables are processed into raw materials that are manufactured into new products. The third step is buying recycling content products.
You have all seen the recycling symbol. The three arrows represent the three steps that complete the recycling loop.
Recycling keeps valuable materials out of the landfills. Recycling turns materials that otherwise would become waste into valuable resources. The recyclables you place in the bins or take to the drop-off center end up on the market as commodities that are bought and sold.
At the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the following items are currently collected to be recycled:
- Aluminum Cans
- Paper
- Plastic Bottles
- Cardboard
- Lead
- Construction site Metal & Iron
- Cooper and Brass
- Aluminum
Please put the above items in designated recycling bins and not the trash.
Campus recycling days are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week (except holidays). If recycle day falls on a holiday, it will be items will be recycled the next business day.
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Can be recycled:
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Cannot be recycled:
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- Hyman Administration Building 62 S. Dunlap
- Wittenborg Anatomy Building 875 Monroe
- Crowe Research Building 874 Union
- Nash Research Building 894 Union
- Nash Addition 894 Union
- Johnson Building 847 Monroe
- Dunn Dental Building 875 Union
- Coleman Building 956 Court
- Cancer Research Building 19 S. Manassas
- Molecular Science Building 858 Madison
- Student Alumni Center 800 Madison
- General Education Building 8 S. Dunlap
- Pauline / Doctor’s Office Building 66 N. Pauline
- Pauline Annex 70 N. Pauline
- Lamar Alexander Building 877 Madison
- Link Building 855 Monroe
- Physical Plant Building 201 East
- Physical Plant Shop Building 201 East
- 910 Madison Building
- 920 Madison Building
- 930 Madison Building
- Dudley Building 208 Dudley
- Pharmacy Building 881 Madison
- Guard Station 845 Beale
- CDD Boling Center Building 711 Jefferson
- Van Vleet Building 3 N. Dunlap
- Mooney Building 875 Monroe
- Variety Building 45 N. Manassas
- West Tenn. Forensic Center 637 Poplar
- Le Bonheur Hospital 3rd 4th 5th floods 50 N. Dunlap 848 Adams
- Campus Police Building 740 Court
- Regional One Health (The MED) 877 Jefferson
- The average person generated 2.7 pounds of waste each day in 1960. In 2000, the rate was 4.5 pounds-per-person-per-day. ---EPA Web Site
- 99 percent of all beer cans and 97 percent of all soda cans are made of aluminum. ---EPA Web Site
- Paper and paperboard constituted the largest portion of the United States municipal solid waste stream in 1994, representing 38.9 percent of the total waste by weight. ---EPA Web Site
- Manufacturing a can from recycled aluminum requires only 5 percent as much energy as making the same can from virgin ore. ---EPA Web Site
- Recycling one tons of aluminum saves 37 barrels of oil. ---"Outline of Talking Points for NRDC Leadership Briefing." White House Council on Environmental Quality. May 19-21, 1998. Pg. 2.
- Recycling paper uses 60 percent less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin timber. ---EPA Web Site
- The lifespan of a can is six weeks on average. This includes the time it takes for a beverage can to be manufactured, filled, sold, recycled, and remanufactured. ---EPA Web Site
- Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change by decreasing the energy needed to make products from virgin materials, reducing emissions from incinerators and landfills, and slowing the harvest of trees, thereby maintaining carbon dioxide storage provided by the forests. ---"Puzzled About Recycling's Value? Look Beyond the Bin." Environmental Protection Agency. January, 1998. Pg. 8-9.
- Nine jobs are created for every 15,000 tons recycled vs. one job for every 15,000 tons landfilled. ---"Outline of Talking Points for NRDC Leadership Briefing. White House Council on Environmental Quality. May 19-21, 1998. Pg. 2.
In one year, the average American:
Uses 100 pounds of plastic
Uses 37,000 gallons of water
Uses 800 gallons of gas
Produces 3,285 pounds of hazardous waste
Together, Americans discard:
30 billion foam cups
1.6 million pens
2 billion plastic razors and blades
220 million tires
1.8 billion disposable diapers
---MD Attorney General Consumer Paper
If you have any comments or suggestions please send an email to recycle@uthsc.edu.