A Winter Request from Facilities Services

With the end of fall semester and the Winter Holiday approaching, campus has a tremendous opportunity to reduce energy consumption and utility costs. But we need your help!

» Read more about how you can help this winter.

What Is “Switch Your Thinking”?

Switch Your Thinking is an opportunity for every member of the UT Knoxville community to do their part to meet an ambitious goal—a 10 percent reduction in energy consumption on campus this year. It's a goal that will have an impact on the campus budget, and it will make a difference for the environment in ways that benefit generations to come.

The Chancellor's Challenge

Your dedication to our Switch Your Thinking goal has made an enormous difference, and we are recognized nationally for our efforts. Last fiscal year, students, faculty, and staff helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus by 1,118 tons—the equivalent of removing 196 automobiles from the road for a year or preserving 9.6 acres of forest.

This year, when going about your daily business on campus, think about how you can further conserve energy—with the goal of reducing our overall consumption this calendar year by 10 percent.

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How We're Switching Our Thinking

Have a Greener Holiday: Fun Sustainability Tips from UT Knoxville Faculty and Staff

Thu, 22 Dec 2011

From crafting your own wrapping paper to skipping gifts all together, Aly Chapman from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Gordie Bennett from the Office of Sustainability offer tips to help lessen your holiday's impact on the environment.

Have a Greener Holiday: Fun Sustainability Tips from UT Knoxville Faculty and Staff

Tue, 20 Dec 2011

From hand-dipping your own chocolates to hosting friends for a holiday potluck, Jay Price from UT Recycling and Anne Hulse from the Programs Abroad Office offer tips to help lessen your holiday's impact on the environment.

Have a Greener Holiday: Fun Sustainability Tips from UT Knoxville Faculty and Staff

Thu, 15 Dec 2011

Jerri Daoust from the College of Engineering and Tiffany Morrison fromthe Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Sciences offer green tips to help you save time, money, and energy during the holiday season. Daoust plans to give sustainable gifts to her family and friends. Morrison has a creative alternative to scented candles for a festive atmosphere.

Building Temperatures Adjusted for Winter Break Energy Savings

Tue, 13 Dec 2011

Now that the fall semester has ended, the campus has a tremendous opportunity to reduce energy consumption and utility costs. Facilities Services has set back or turned off heating and cooling systems in campus spaces that do not house research laboratories, animal care facilities, server rooms, or other temperature-sensitive operations.

Have a Greener Holiday: Fun Sustainability Tips from UT Knoxville Faculty and Staff

Tue, 13 Dec 2011

Mary Anne Hoskins from the College of Arts and Sciences and Alisa Meador from the Programs Abroad Office offer green tips to the help you save time, money, and energy during the holiday season. Scaling back on your holiday shopping and having your Christmas tree mulched are two ways you can lessen your holiday's impact on the environment.

UT’s Power Down Pledge Adds Hundreds of Signatures

Mon, 12 Dec 2011

In the past two weeks the Switch Your Thinking Power Down Pledge Tree has been making the rounds to various buildings on the UT Knoxville campus. The tree is an effort by the UT Office of Sustainability to encourage the campus community to save energy.

Have a Greener Holiday: Fun Sustainability Tips from UT Knoxville Faculty and Staff

Fri, 09 Dec 2011

Used fabric, old shelving and extra sweaters add up to money-saving and energy-saving tips from UT Knoxville faculty and staff.

Have a Greener Holiday: Fun Sustainability Tips from UT Knoxville Faculty and Staff

Thu, 08 Dec 2011

Got extra plastic grocery bags and old newspaper comics? Then you can save money and energy this holiday season, with these tips from UT Knoxville faculty and staff.

Have a Greener Holiday: Fun Sustainability Tips from UT Knoxville Faculty and Staff

Wed, 07 Dec 2011

Experts say household waste often increases more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. An informal poll of UT Knoxville faculty and staff members like Heather Grigsby of the Programs Abroad Office found some unique and easy tips for “greening” the holidays this season.

Have a Greener Holiday: Fun Sustainability Tips from UT Knoxville’s Faculty and Staff

Tue, 06 Dec 2011

Experts say household waste often increases more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year's. An informal poll of UT Knoxville faculty and staff members including Elizabeth Avery of the School of Advertising and Public Relations, pictured left, found some unique and easy tips for "greening" the holidays this season.

For more information on the effort to foster sustainable development and promote environmental stewardship at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, please visit

environment.utk.edu

Knowledge is Power

Peak power use times during the winter months are from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. on weekdays. Plan to cut back!

For more information, read the UT Knoxville Energy Conservation Policy online at environment.utk.edu