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

Chancellor Cheek Part of National Land-Grant Energy Panel

Mon, 30 Apr 2012

What is the role of the university in meeting the nation and world's energy challenges? University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek is part of a conference being held this week at The Ohio State University (OSU) to explore that question.Sponsored by OSU, Colorado State University, and the Association for Public and Land-grant Universities, the three-day event has brought together public university, industry, and government leaders from around the country to discuss the evolving role of the university in solving substantial questions about energy in the twenty-first century.

Campus Buildings Go Dark to Celebrate Earth Hour

Fri, 30 Mar 2012

Lights will be turned off for an hour tomorrow night in two buildings on campus to celebrate Earth Hour and to conserve energy. Earth Hour is a global celebration, hosted annually on the last Saturday in March by the World Wildlife Fund. The event, now in its sixth year, raises awareness of the need for sustainable practices to help save the planet's biodiversity and natural resources.

Campus Makes Strides Toward Climate Action Plan Goal, Completes Chancellor’s Challenge

Mon, 26 Mar 2012

In February 2011, Chancellor Cheek challenged the campus community to work together to reduce our energy consumption. The Chancellor's Challenge is now over, and the results are in. The campus has reduced electricity use by one-kilowatt hour per square foot over this past year. We have also saved more than $900,000 in electricity costs.

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.

Switch Your Thinking: Winter Wind Down

Wed, 30 Nov 2011

This winter, help us meet the Chancellor’s Challenge to decrease campus energy use by 10 percent. December is the start of the winter season for energy use peak times set by the Tennessee Valley Authority. From now until March, the campus will be paying more for energy used between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

UT Chancellor’s Challenge Needs Your Help

Thu, 03 Nov 2011

With just four months left in the Chancellor's Challenge to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent, progress on campus has taken a dramatic dip. Since the challenge began last February, the campus decreased overall electricity use by just 1.2 percent. While these efforts saved more than $170,500 in energy costs, they are not enough to reach the 10 percent goal by February 2012.

Chancellor Signs Power Down Pledge

Fri, 21 Oct 2011

Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek has signed the Power Down Pledge, have you? By inking his thumbprint on the pledge poster, the chancellor pledged to reduce his on-campus energy use. The Power Down Pledge is an initiative of Make Orange Green and the Chancellor's Energy Challenge, an aggressive energy-reduction program aimed at reducing UT's energy consumption by 10 percent.

Faculty and Staff Can Get a ‘Switch Your Thinking’ Water Bottle at Fall Festival Friday

Wed, 28 Sep 2011

Faculty and staff can and should take advantage of the new water bottle refill stations that have been installed all over campus. New BPA-free "Switch Your Thinking" bottles will be available for faculty and staff at UT’s Fall Festival on Friday.

UT Celebrates Greening Efforts at Make Orange Green Kickoff on Thursday

Wed, 21 Sep 2011

UT Knoxville is celebrating Make Orange Green with a kickoff event at Presidential Court on Thursday, September 22 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. The event will offer students, faculty, and staff a look at what the campus and local organizations are doing to save energy, reduce waste, and promote environmental leadership.

UT Launches Nation’s First Fully Automated E-bike Sharing System

Tue, 06 Sep 2011

UT Knoxville is home to the nation's first automated electric bicycle (e-bike) sharing system. The pilot program is the subject of a research study by civil and engineering assistant professor Chris Cherry and Stacy Worley and David Smith from biosystems engineering. If successful, it may be adopted into a full-scale program by the university.

Campus Makes Gains in Chancellor’s Challenge

Mon, 11 Jul 2011

Summer's in full swing, and so is the Switch Your Thinking Chancellor's Challenge. In the month of May the UT Knoxville campus made its largest gain in its effort to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent. Faculty, staff, and students worked together to achieve a 3.7 percent reduction in electricity use for the month of May, as compared to the May average of the past two years.

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