Campus Committees, Declarations, & Policies
Signing of the Presidents' Climate Commitment and the Talloires Declaration
In the fall of 2007 Chancellor Crabtree signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment and the Talloires Declaration Each document lays out environmental goals and principles for higher education institutions.
The American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment is an effort by leaders in higher education nationwide to address global warming by reducing institutions’ impact on the climate. The goal is to make UT "climate neutral," meaning that the university will have no net negative effect on the global climate. The document has three major steps. First, universities are required to take two immediate, tangible actions. These initiatives, already in place, include the participation of UT in the national RecycleMania competition and the subsidization of public transportation for UT students. The second step is the completion of a carbon inventory. As an honors student with the environmental studies program, Leslie Chinery completed 90% of this inventory as a senior honors thesis. She completed the remainder of the inventory over the summer of 2008 working with the Facilities Services Department to prepare the September submission. The final step is for the university to create a plan for going “carbon neutral.” The university is currently working on the creation of this plan, due in September of 2009. The plan will include a target date for achieving climate neutrality. For more information about ACUPCC implementation progress visit the ACUPCC Implementation page or contact Gordie Bennett, campus Implementation Liaison.
The Talloires Declaration is a broad statement by higher education leaders around the world in support of 10 key environmental principles. These range from a commitment to sustainable campus practices to placing a priority on environmental education as part of the curriculum.
UT Environmental Policies
- The University of Tennessee aspires to serve as a model of environmental stewardship and integrity and to follow principles of good environmental conservation, waste reduction, and design on its Knoxville campus.
- The faculty, staff, administration and students will strive to increase awareness of environmental problems and will promote sound environmental practices.
- UTK will encourage consideration of environmental impacts in all decisions made by university faculty, staff and students.
- The university will ensure full compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations and will seek to lead the community in developing beneficial laws and regulations.
- In its daily operations, UTK will attempt to conserve energy and to promote the use of renewable energy sources at the same time that it champions waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.
- University growth will occur in ways that respect the surrounding human and natural communities.
- UTK will cooperate with other local, national and international organizations to promote sound environmental policies.
Sustainable Building Policy for The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Campus
September 11, 2007
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville recognizes the importance of energy efficiency and sustainable design for campus buildings. Sustainable design considers human and environmental health along with economic and social concerns within the design, construction, and renovation process. As a member of the United States Green Building Council The University of Tennessee acknowledges the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) rating system as the nationally accepted sustainable building standard (http://www.usgbc.com).
Campus structures are designed with a long life expectancy. The lifetime maintenance of building materials and systems (life cycle costs) should be considered along with capital cost in new constructions and major renovations.
In accordance with the principles of the campus Environmental Policy The University of Tennessee, Knoxville shall use the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) rating system as the standard for the design and construction of new buildings costing more than $5 million and major renovations. All such projects shall be designed to meet current LEED certification as a minimum requirement under the LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (LEED-NC) standard.
Small scale renovations shall utilize the LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) rating system as applicable.
Architects, contractors, engineers, and all others involved with the building design process are expected to follow this policy. In addition to following LEED criteria, building planning teams should provide a building operation life cycle cost as early as possible in the design process to the Chancellor’s staff for review.
