TTU Sustainability – Greening of Purple and Gold

Welcome to TTU's Sustainability website for environmental activities and programs. TTU has the environmental impact of a modest size city. With increased environmental stewardship, the campus can consume fewer natural resourced and produce less pollution. Sustainability encompasses energy conservation, reducing environmental footprint, recycling, and campus greening to meet TTU’s current student’s needs without compromising the needs of future students.

TTU has been involved in environmental energy conservation stewardship for many years, but a student government vote in the Fall of 2005 recommended a self-imposed $8 per semester fee for undergraduate students to increase efforts for clean, renewable energy and conservation projects. Ultimately, the TBR passed a one-year tuition increase in June of 2006 with provisions to form a state wide Energy Task Force to evaluate continuation of the student fee.

TTU faculty, staff, and students participated in an on-campus Energy Task Force appointed by the President. The Campus Energy Task Force was charged with making recommendations for use of the first year campus funds collected for the 2006-2007 year. The chairman, a faculty member, and a student were selected for membership in the TBR Statewide Energy Task Force. Late in the Spring Semester of 2007, the TBR Sustainability Campus Fee Guidelines were completed and enacted at the June 2007 TBR Quarterly Meeting. The TBR Guidelines allowed continuation of the student fee up to $10.00 per student per semester after a supportive student vote at any TBR campus.

Recognizing the importance of the first-year initiatives in continuing the fee approval, the Campus Energy Task Force worked hard at jumpstarting the first years' initiatives to insure all campus interests were represented while also complying with existing Campus Master Plans and TBR Regulations. The Campus Energy Task Force identified 24 clean energy initiatives totaling over $400,000 for the University to consider.

In June 2007, the University identified and disclosed five initiatives of the 24, totaling $112,500 of the original $139,000 budget, to the TBR in compliance with the Sustainability Campus Fee Guidelines. The TTU $8 fee will continue until revisions by the students or TBR as disclosed initiatives are completed and future initiatives are considered for decreasing the campus environmental impact.

To submit Sustainability Campus Fee initiatives, proposals for funding, or questions, email scf@tntech.edu. All initiatives or proposals must comply with the TBR Sustainability Campus Fee Guidelines.