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Sustainability Newsletter
May 2024
Have a Green Summer!
Sustainability Service Honors Graduates
Each semester, hundreds of UT Dallas students serve our community through volunteering. Students who log 250 hours or more of service before the time they graduate receive Sustainability Service Honors and get to leave their legacy on campus.
This semester’s recipients of Sustainability Service Honors participated in a range of activities, including volunteering at the Comet Cupboard and Eco hub, participating in Alternative Spring Break, conducting research, and assisting children and seniors. This year’s garden is located at the McDermott Library and will be planted on May 3. If you are interested in logging your hours to receive this award in future semesters, please visit the Sustainability Service Honors webpage.
Intermodal Hub Update & Campus Transportation Feedback
UT Dallas was awarded a congressional earmark to fund a new intermodal hub at the DART Silver Line station near Northside Apartments. Intermodal hubs are centers for sustainable transportation that help cover the “last mile” between long-distance transit modes like trains and buses to a user’s final destination, like a class or campus office. Associated infrastructure will also ease transportation burden and increase safety for campus pedestrians and other active commuters. We want to hear from you about what you want to see at the intermodal hub. Fill out the survey before May 3, or come give your feedback in person at our annual Earth Fair Thursday, April 25 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Visitor Center.
Eco Rep Excellence Honored
Every year, UTD honors students for their excellence through awards such as the Student Employee of the Year and Student Leadership Awards.
This year, three Eco Reps received recognition for their dedication and service to campus. In the Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year category, Anna, Eco Hub Eco Rep, won the Community Service award and Ida was awarded for Campus Initiative. Alisa, our Sustainable Service Eco Rep, was awarded the Patty Atchley Service to Student Life for her service to UTD departments, committees, and student organizations. Congratulations Anna, Ida, and Alisa!
Spending Spring Break in Service
This past spring break, three members of the Office of Sustainability spent the week serving others! Alternative Spring Break is an immersive week of hands-on service, leadership-building and relationship building supplemented with education and reflections. Staff member Avery McKitrick and Eco Rep Alisa hosted a trip to Galveston, Texas to aid in coastal restoration Eco Rep Carolina joined a trip on Park Maintenance and Preservation in Orcas Island, Washington. Read more about how members of the Office of Sustainability served communities across the U.S.
The Greenhouse
Updates to the UT Dallas Eco Rep Blog
From Plant to Pad
Seher shares about the future of sustainable menstrual products.
Sustainability in Operations Highlight
Each month, we highlight sustainable features of campus operations
including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management,
and green building practices.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability in building design and operation, is now globally recognized as a framework for environmentally conscious construction projects. UT Dallas has pursued LEED certification on multiple buildings across campus with more on the way.
Projects are evaluated for different aspects of their construction and operation including proximity to public transit and bicycle storage, availability of electric vehicle charging stations, rainwater management strategies, and dedicating outdoor space to at least 30% of the total site area. Additionally, points are earned for incorporating water-efficiency, installation of energy meters, as well as utilizing renewable energy sources for building operation. Once a project undergoes review, it receives a point-based score ranking building as LEED Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
On our campus, several buildings have achieved LEED certification, including SSB, JSOM Addition, PS1, ATC, RHA, BSB, DGA, ECSW, and SCI. Looking ahead, upcoming LEED-certified buildings include the Student Services Center/Student Union, Athenaeum, Performance Hall, JSOM Addition II, and the E-Sports Center, highlighting our ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship in campus development.
Important Dates
Good Luck With Finals: McDermott Library
May 2
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
May 3
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
2024 General and Special Election
May 4
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Late Night Final Exam Breakfast
May 6
10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Office of Sustainability
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The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080-3021
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