Student Proposals
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Recommendations for energy sustainability:
Facilities Services Fee amendments
The following projects are framed from the student vote for the Clean Energy Initiative in the March 2004 SGA elections (1). The initiative voted on therein was based on a campus-wide survey of energy issues conducted in February and March of 2004 by Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville (2). From this, a greater perspective and sense of the priorities of the campus community was gained.
In collaboration with the Committee on the Campus Environment, the University of Tennessee's administration of Operations, the Division of Student Affairs, the Office ofthe Dean of Students, the Facilities Services Department, the Faculty Senate,various members of the UT Board of Trustees, the Energy, Environment and Resources Center, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Student Government Association, Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville here forth recommends the following project categories be implemented as a portion of the increased Facility Services Fee, to elevate the practices of energy sustainability at the University of Tennessee:
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- Tennessee Valley Authority's Green Power Switch® Program
-Energy Conservation and Efficiency Projects
-On-SiteGeneration of Renewable Energy
-AnnualConservation/ Efficiency Student Proposal Competitions (education andawareness)
-EnergySustainability Coordinator Position
- Faculty/Staff Contribution Account
Under the above-listed project categories, the following specific projects are recommended in order to facilitate the transition of the University of Tennessee to a model of campus sustainability. The total costs of these annual projects are based proportionally on the funds generated annually through the current portions of the Facilities Services Fee at $25/ semester ($800,000/ year/ campus improvements, classroom improvements, and technology upgrades), which is approximately equivalent to an $8 per semester per student fee increase towards the Clean Energy Program (3):
Amendments to the Facilities Services Fee will include the following addition:
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- Campus Improvements ($800,000/ year)
- Classroom Upgrades ($800,000/ year)
- Technology Upgrades ($800,000/ year)
- Clean Energy Program ($800,000/ year)
Tennessee Valley Authority's Green Power Switch® Program
1. The annual additional purchase of 15 Green Power mega-blocks, or the equivalent of $18,000/ mega-block/ year(4). This purchase accounts for approximately 844,000 kilowatt-hours, or 0.359% of UT's total electricity consumption in 2003 (5).
Annual designated cost: $270,000
- Energy Conservation and Efficiency Projects (6)
1.Replacement of lighting fixtures in McCord Hall, etc.
2.Computer shutdown software - $200,000.
3.Lighting motion sensors.
4.Purchase and installation of a hybrid lighting system - $30,000.
5. DDC control systems andtimer installation to shutdown facilities equipment when not in-use.
6. Replacement of electric motors with more energy efficient motors - $250,000.
Annual designated cost: $200,000
- On-Site Generation of Renewable Energy
1. The annual purchase of a 25-kilowatt DC photovoltaic array for on-site generation purposes, incollaboration with Tennessee Valley Authority and the Knoxville Utility Board's Generation Partner program, at a purchase rate of $200,000 per year.
a) The current rate ofsolar installation in the Southeast stands at ~$8000/ kW (7).
b) The current financial return through Generation Partners for commercial generation is $ 0.20 per kWh(8).
2. The designation of a research grant through a campus department ( i.e. Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, etc.) for the generation of on-site electricity through the campus recreation facilities. This grant will allow utilizing the kinetic energy fromindoor bicycles, treadmills, etc. for interactive student participation of on-site electricity generation.
Annual designated cost: $200,000
- Annual Conservation/ Efficiency Student Proposal Competitions
1. The annual competitionof students for $100,000 for on-campus conservation/ efficiency projects.
2.Annual education/ awareness events for energy conservation/ efficiency.
Annual designated cost: $100,000
-Energy Sustainability Coordinator Position
1. The designation of asustainability coordinator position for the University of Tennessee.
The position would administer the following duties:
a) Maintain and serve as a point of communication between different departments and areas of the campus.
b) Help facilities services with reporting and projections.
c) Solicit questions fromthe campus community regarding energy use and policy.
d) Organize and administer educational opportunities including:
i.Bi-annual field trips to Buffalo Mountain
ii. On going updates to an informational kiosk outlining efficiency and conservation savings
iii. On going updates to an informational kiosk illustrating the generation of renewable energy
iv. Annual banquet toupdate UT's energy sustainability progress to the campus community
e) Publicize and administer the annual conservation and efficiency student proposal competition.
f) Act as a resource pointfor the Public Relations Department and the community media.
g) Attend monthlyCampus Committee on the Environment meeting and provide progress reports.
Annual designated cost: $30,000
- Faculty Donation Account
1. The creation of a UT financial account for faculty/ staff contributions towards the Clean Energy Program. This measure would include the following:
a) The use of contributed funds through the following ratio: (2.7: 2: 2: 1: 0.3)
b)The education and awareness of the faculty/ staffcommunity.
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