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Sustainability Newsletter

September 2024

Welcome Back, Comets!

Comet Composting Returns

This week, residential composting service resumes with our new provider, Moonshot Composting. On campus residents can now view the new Comet Composting training, which takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Existing Comet Composting participants can resume composting, viewing the new training video is highly recommended due to changes in acceptable materials and drop off locations. New and existing participants can visit our upcoming Comet Composting tabling events to learn more about the program.

Announcing the New Sustainability Honors Program

In summer 2024, Sustainability Honors replaced the previous Sustainability Service Honors Program. Sustainability Honors recognizes graduating students who went above and beyond to engage with and learn more about sustainability during their time at UTD. Students are recognized for their participation in a variety of engagements, including coursework, volunteering, leadership, internships, and more! Undergraduates and graduates can log participation during their time at UT Dallas, students who achieve 15 points of engagement receive Sustainability Honors. Learn more and register for the program.

Welcome New Eco Reps!

The Office of Sustainability welcomes two new Eco Reps to the program; Eco Reps are compensated student leaders that implement sustainability programs at UT Dallas. Joining our team are Emma Balfay (right) as Outreach Eco Rep, and Heather Joseph (left) as Sustainable Communities Eco Rep. We are excited to bring these talented students to our team and can’t wait to see how they make campus more sustainable!

Sustainability Stewards: Registration Open for Fall

Each fall and spring semester, the Office of Sustainability hosts a three-part Sustainability Stewards certification. This virtual certification, open to students, staff, and faculty, is an overview of basic sustainability principles such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, zero waste, renewable energy, climate change, sustainability on campus, and more. Register for this semester’s Sustainability Stewards training hosted from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. on October 3, 10, and 17.

The Greenhouse

Updates to the UT Dallas Eco Rep Blog

What is the Comet Cupboard, and how to get Involved at UTD

Anna shares more about the Comet Cupboard and how the Office of Sustainability supports their mission.

Head to the Greenhouse! >

Sustainability in Operations Highlight

Each month, we highlight sustainable features of campus operations
including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management,
and green building practices.

With the scorching summer heat in Texas, have you ever wondered how the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) manages to keep its campus cool and comfortable? While the typical air conditioner or furnace you use at home works well for a small space, it would be woefully inadequate for a sprawling campus like UT Dallas. Cooling and heating millions of square feet across the campus requires a solution on a much grander scale. Surprisingly, one of the most crucial components of this system is something you probably don’t even notice—because it lies hidden beneath your feet.

Beneath the UT Dallas campus is a vast network of tunnels, covering an area of approximately 30,000 square feet, which is roughly equivalent to the size of the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center. This subterranean system is dedicated to transporting heating and cooling fluids between the campus’s energy plants and the various buildings. These tunnels house the infrastructure that ensures every classroom, lab, and office remains at a comfortable temperature year-round.

The system’s core includes chilled water lines that carry 40-degree Fahrenheit water from the energy plants to air handlers in campus buildings. These handlers cool the air circulating through the buildings, and the water, now warmed to 58 degrees, returns to the chillers for reuse. The tunnels also carry steam lines, delivering steam heated to 331 degrees Fahrenheit at 90 psi [Pounds Per Square Inch] to warm the air during colder months. After heating, the steam condenses to water and returns to the boilers at 160 degrees Fahrenheit to be reheated.

This intricate underground system is the unseen hero of campus climate control at UT Dallas. While it operates out of sight, it plays an essential role in creating a comfortable environment for students, faculty, and staff, no matter the weather outside. So, the next time you walk across campus, remember that beneath your feet lies a technological marvel working tirelessly to keep the heat at bay.