University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston UTMB

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University of Texas Medical Branch- Galveston
(UTMB)
Feb. 23, 2006
Megan Gray
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Overview

• 1891 opened as first medical school in Texas
• today 13,000 employees (1,600 faculty) 2,500
  students, 100 buildings

UTMB is Galveston Countys largest
employer major economic impact, also the
largest source of waste
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Resource Conservation Initiative

• Early 1990s Recycle Task Force formed of
  environmentally conscious employees
• grassroots group volunteered time to start
  paper/cardboard recycling program
• Initiative grew
• more recyclables
• conservation components
• composting, energy usage reductions

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Resource Conservation Initiative

• Today UTMB Resource Conservation Initiative
  a plan charged with the task of protecting the
  Earths finite resources so that future
  generations will have what is necessary to live
  clean, healthy lives
• Spearheaded by two men
• Gene Curry Energy Conservation
• Ken Steblein Landscape/Recycling Operations
  Specialist
• Award-winning program throughout Texas 10
  since 1994, including Governors Award

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Partnerships/Community Involvement

• Browning Ferris Industries (BFI)
• Sodexho
• Morrison Food Management
• Moody Gardens (non-profit garden)
• 10-year-old Galveston Partners in Composting
  program
• City of Galveston
• Island mentality aware of how much waste leaves
  the island, 1900 hurricane at mercy of
  environment
• Campus interaction Green teams of students
• Part of the Recycling Alliance of Texas

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Recycling Initiatives

• Locking recycling bags preserve patient
  confidentiality
• Recycling bags fabric
• Mercury-free blood pressure monitors replace the
  standard
• Recycling chemical solvents

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Recycling Initiatives

• E-waste (Environmental Health and Safety Dept.)
• Replacing mercury thermometers
• ChemSwap program
• Provisions also made for
• wooden pallets
• ink jet/toner cartridges
• cardboard
• 65/ton to dispose solid waste, 20/ton to recycle

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Innovative Initiatives

• Free trolley for UTMB faculty, staff, students,
  and patients from campus to downtown
• Campaign to encourage biking
• Solar lighting system for one parking garage
• Coming soon 2 military
  fuel cells

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Energy Conservation

• 1999 energy conservation program begun with 4
  million initial investment in new equipment
• Awareness campaign aimed at employees
• Green team of volunteers to propose ideas for
  each building ex. lighting retrofits
• Savings cycled back into conservation program
• 2004 12 million spent on energy upgrades
• power-factor corrections, boiler economizers, new
  chillers, remodeled cooling towers, water
  conservation equipment

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Since 1999, 15 reduction in water, electricity,
gas usage
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Green Policies

• Resource Conservation Policy comprehensive list
  of specific steps
• One semi-green building Primary Care Pavilion
  renovated in 1996, energy star certified (many
  other buildings too historic)
• Gleaves Centennial Rose Garden 1,310 roses, 46
  varieties

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Green Policies

• Facilities Operation and Management (FOAM)
• Environmental Health and Safety provide safe
  working conditions
• Biological and Chemical Safety
• Radiation Safety
• Environmental Protection Management
• Occupational Safety
• Fire Prevention
• Green purchasing efforts Purchasing Dept. list
  of 1200 items with 10 recycled content
• Continuing education classes for staff to
  implement Resource Conservation Policy

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UTMB Earth Day Celebration

• April 28, 2006
• goal encourage earth-friendly ideas and
  practices, maintain recycle partnerships, and
  promote education about the environment to the
  UTMB and local community.
• Sponsored by Office of the President, Office of
  Community Outreach, Facilities Operation and
  Management (FOAM)

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UTMB Earth Day Celebration

• Activities
• games with recycled materials
• office supply swap shop
  (also online during the year)
• native plant giveaway loblolly pines
• waste-free lunch

Earth Day 2005 Earth Day Menu - Zero
Waste -Gazpacho -Shredded Chicken and Vegetable
Salad -Bottled Water -Fruit -Earth Day Cake
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Sources

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
  Natural Outlook. Campus Goes Green.
  http//www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/p
  ubs/pd/020/05-03/campusgoesgreen.htmlid. Summer
  2005
• Ken Steblein, Director of Landscape and Recycling
  Operations
• Gene Curry, Director of Energy Conservation
• UTMB Resource Conservation Initiative
  http//www.utmb.edu/conservation/default.asp
• UTMB Resource Conservation Policy
• UTMB Resource Conservation Policy Guidelines