SENATE COMMITTEE
ON
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
To The
REPORT
Report on the Sustainable Campus Sub-committee:
Sustainability
efforts involve implementation of developmental methods which maintain, and if
possible enhance the ability of the environment to support growth. Such methods
involve ecosystem-sustaining procedures, efficient use of natural resources
(especially energy and water), low-impact land use techniques, educational
activities to increase the environmental awareness and research activities for
alternate resources (of energy and water for example).
Current
trends of expansion on UTB/TSC campus and the future goals mentioned in the UTB/TSC
“Master Plan” indicate a rapid rate of campus development during coming ten
years. Projections for the city of
a.
disruption
of the campus-hosted ecosystems and
b.
increase in the
amount of water and energy usage.
An
attempt was made by the subcommittee members to formulate the recommendations
that minimize the environmental impact due to the anticipated campus
development and, to enhance the ability of the local environment to support
continued campus growth. Following is the compilation of recommendations
suggested by the members presented under the following four categories:
A.
Flora and fauna
B.
Water
C.
Energy
D.
Education.
A.
Flora and fauna
UTB/TSC
campus area is a migratory path for birds and other wildlife. Campus also hosts
several native trees and a wet land. Also the campus is blessed with a resaca
system which currently maintains a balance of wonderful animal life, especially
a wide variety of birds. Without a
campus aviary, UTB/TSC has perhaps the longest list of bird species of any
campus in the
Following
is the list of specific suggestions related to flora and fauna:
i.
The creation
of a tree farm on campus to provide the university and the community with
native trees
ii.
Creation of
islands of native trees with in the landscape to provide shelter and food for
birds. Possibility of developing areas near biology department into bird
sanctuaries should be explored.
iii.
Usage of
fungicide bacterium cultured and raised in the laboratory of Biology
Department, UTB/TSC to maintain the lawns and other vegetation on campus (this
method needs to be further studied for the suitable kind of bacterium and get
tested before implementation)
iv.
Develop or
maintain the wetland area; which currently exists on
university property.
v.
city to restore the park as a natural habitat for wildlife, using
grant money.
vi.
Establish a
walking trail or bicycle trail along the wildlife
corridor and
B. Water
i.
Wastewater: PUB maintains a waste water treatment facility
not too far from campus. UTB/TSC should
consider inviting them to divert their clean effluent as feed water for our
resacas. This would provide a stream of
irrigation water for campus needs.
ii.
Gray water: Gray water is effluent from sinks, showers,
and kitchens (sinks only for UTB/TSC campus).
It excludes sewage from toilets.
With appropriately plumbed buildings, grey water could be piped to small
constructed wetlands. Appropriate flora and fauna in the wetlands would convert
the gray water into clean water and plant and animal nutrients.
C. Energy
i.
Transportation: Most, if not all, on-campus vehicles should
be electric. They should be recharged
nightly, or better, should carry on-board chargers which can be plugged in to
available outlets near most buildings, so the batteries can charge while the
driver attends a meeting, delivers mail, etc.
The fuel cost per mile is a fraction of fossil fuel powered
vehicles. Additionally, electric
vehicles are silent and odorless. There
should be small electric vans continually circumnavigating campus, carrying
passengers between the peripheral parking lots and their destinations on
campus. Develop a transportation system
made of trolley or bus and pick up students from parking garages, parking areas
or designated points throughout the city. This concept would decrease the need
for parking with in the university. Similar to what rental car companies at
airports are now doing.
ii.
Architecture: Prevailing wind direction should be
considered during the designing phase of the buildings to exploit the
southeasterly breeze. Also tree shaded buildings with windows that open should
be thought about. Installation of motion
sensors for light switches in all offices and classrooms to conserve the electricity during after hours should be
checked for practicality.
iii.
Energy generation: Solar heated water for campus
restrooms, kitchens and gymnasium is technically feasible and cost effective
now. The southeasterly breeze is a fine
wind energy resource. While the wind
resource on campus is not enough to provide competitively priced electricity
now, it will be as energy costs begin to climb with the awareness of the
depletion of oil and gas. Wind is
competitive in
D.
Education
i.
Freshman-/Sophomore
level course in “Environmental Awareness” as one of the options for
Social/Behavioral Science requirement for students enrolled in all programs at
UTB/TSC
ii.
Increase the
awareness of the following concepts: sustainability, conservation, recycling
and pollution through
·
a mandatory
half-day workshop for UTB/TSC Faculty and Staff once in every two years
·
presentations and
workshops in
iii.
Develop and
offer a Bachelors Program in Interdisciplinary (Geology, Biology, Chemistry and
Engineering Technology) Environmental Science
iv.
Support for
research in the areas of bioremediation, solar and wind energy
The report of the Master Plan Enhancement
Subcommittee recommends the
following list of items to enhance UTB/TSC’s Master Plan to focus on
environmental responsibility:
- Create a
water-efficient landscape
-
Mulch
wherever possible (mulch conserves water by significantly reducing moisture
evaporation from the soil).
-
Efficient
irrigation using gray-water irrigation
-
Use
xeriscaping
- Appropriate
plant selection
-
Utilize
native plants
-
Utilize
plants that attract target species (e.g., butterflies, green parrots, etc.)
-
Reduce
the use of invasive plant species
- Establish a
long-term plan to preserve current habitats
-
Preserve
existing wetlands
-
Initiate
a program to re-plant Washingtonian palms
- Appropriate
maintenance
-
Pruning,
weeding, proper fertilization, pest control, and irrigation system adjustments
all conserve water
-
Increase
plant health and conserve water, add organic matter to the soil of shrub and
flower bed areas
- Incorporate
environmental awareness programs for the community
- Add signage identifying native plants and habitats
- Implement
gradually over several years
Report of the Recycling Committee: Despite
efforts made in the past, there is currently no university-wide effort being
made to recycle waste products at UTB-TSC.
An initiative to recycle would reflect an environmental awareness on the
part of the institution, and should provide an example to students as well as
the community. In addition, certain
recyclable products can generate financial proceeds which could benefit student
clubs and organizations.
There is a recycling effort
history which should be considered before a new recycling plan is
implemented. From reviewing past
attempts at recycling, it is apparent that centralized dumpsters labeled with
products to be deposited in them (such as "cans only," or "paper
products only") do not work well on our campus. Where these receptacles seem to work well at
other universities, UTB-TSC students currently lack the motivation, perhaps due
to a lack of environmental awareness, for a simple plan of this nature to work
on our campus. In fact, a local scrap
merchant in our community lost a considerable amount of money in setting up
recycling bins around our campus, and subsequently having to hire workers to
separate the materials before recycling.
Therefore, local recyclers seem interested in our efforts, but are
currently unwilling to help, other than to pay the going rate for items brought
to their doorstep.
Because of the problematic
nature of collecting, separating, storing, and transporting recyclable
material, considerable effort will be required for success in this
endeavor. The suggestion of this
committee is to encourage individual departments, as well as student clubs and
organizations to prioritize recycling "drives" by providing materials
(recepticals and storage bins), as well as incentives for recycling
efforts. Perhaps a competition between
student clubs/organizations with the incentive of a cash award for the group
who recycles the most, would encourage these groups to adopt individual departments
in their efforts to win the competition.
Please consider this
suggestion as an attempt to encourage environmental responsibility on our
campus. Other suggestions will be
greatly appreciated with the understanding that the ultimate goal is not only
for the university to model environmental responsibility, but also to teach
this concept to our students and the community.