Making Orange Green
This is the second in a three-part series for young alumni. Last month we highlighted recycling. This time, the focus is on the UT Make Orange Green campaign, and in next month’s eTorch we’ll describe the university’s efforts to go climate neutral.
When they visit campus, some alumni can't help but what wonder what it means to "Make Orange Green," a phrase that has become almost as common as "Go Big Orange." Here's the answer: Make Orange Green is what UT Knoxville is doing to become a national leader in campus environmental efforts.
The program's roots are in the student body. Whether it was creating the campus recycling program or working to develop the Student Environmental Initiatives Fee, students have played a vital role in UT's environmental efforts through the years. In the fall of 2005, members of Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville, or SPEAK, spearheaded the creation of the environmental fee, which in turn has funded an impressive array of projects.
UT was the first campus in the state to purchase green power and remains one of the largest purchasers of power generated from environmentally friendly sources in the Southeast. That power is purchased from the Knoxville Utilities Board through the TVA Green Power Switch program, and UT's leadership has led to colleges and universities across the state also taking part in the program.
Money from the fee has brought about more than green power though. The fee has allowed UT to purchase hybrid vehicles, fund major energy efficiency improvements on campus, and create educational initiatives like Make Orange Green that help students, faculty, and staff learn what they can do to keep UT at the front of the environmental pack. In fact, this year UT was certified as the first green-cleaning campus in the entire nation!
Make Orange Green has brought together offices and departments around campus to work together on making UT a leader in campus sustainability. Staff from Facilities Services, Communications and Marketing, the Committee on the Campus Environment, and other students, faculty, and staff all help in the effort. Their combined work has created a sense of pride on campus about being a truly green place to live and work. That's how you Make Orange Green.
