Spring Break
NT facilities go green, help environment
Staff uses energy efficient cleaning supplies
Carol Davis
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: NEWS
Glenn Haubold, associate director of facilities maintenance, said his department is trying to go green during the finance and administration town hall meeting July 17,
The facilities department completed an evaluation of its procedures where many changes were made, Haubold said.
The changes include environmentally-safe products and recycled tools certified by Green Seal, an independent, non-profit organization that strives to achieve a healthier environment. The cleaning schedule was also changed in efforts to better serve the university.
"If you're cleaning with people in the building, you're not cleaning efficiently," Haubold said.
The green cleaning supplies custodians are currently using on campus include mops made from recycled plastic products, cleaning wipes which replace aerosol sprays, liquid chemicals in quart bottles and the lotion hand soaps have been replaced with a Green Seal approved foaming hand soap, Haubold said.
The utilities department made several changes aimed at reducing energy costs at the university, in addition to the new products and cleaning schedule.
Utilities at UNT cost $8,930,000 annually or $24,500 daily, said Charles Jackson, executive director of facilities, who spoke about current energy conservation practices.
"We signed a 10-year performance contract to have a contractor come in and make improvements to our energy using facilities," Jackson said. "This contract is guaranteed a savings of $1.2 million per year which pays off the contract."
The contract cost UNT about $10 million but has provided $12.8 million dollars in savings since 1996, Jackson said. The Board of Regents has approved and is negotiating a second energy-saving performance contract.
During the meeting, Andrew Harris, vice president of finance and administration, updated the crowd of faculty and staff on the president's cabinet meeting where UNT President Gretchen Bataille approved to test a flex time work week for UNT employees.
The plan is currently being tested and will allow university employees to shrink their work week to four days a week in order to reduce trips to the campus because of high gas prices Harris said.
"Employees can tack on a few hours to their work day, still putting in the same amount of time but maybe reducing their trips to campus," Harris said.
If the plan is a success, it could become a formal policy implemented as early as fall 2008, Harris said.
The facilities department completed an evaluation of its procedures where many changes were made, Haubold said.
The changes include environmentally-safe products and recycled tools certified by Green Seal, an independent, non-profit organization that strives to achieve a healthier environment. The cleaning schedule was also changed in efforts to better serve the university.
"If you're cleaning with people in the building, you're not cleaning efficiently," Haubold said.
The green cleaning supplies custodians are currently using on campus include mops made from recycled plastic products, cleaning wipes which replace aerosol sprays, liquid chemicals in quart bottles and the lotion hand soaps have been replaced with a Green Seal approved foaming hand soap, Haubold said.
The utilities department made several changes aimed at reducing energy costs at the university, in addition to the new products and cleaning schedule.
Utilities at UNT cost $8,930,000 annually or $24,500 daily, said Charles Jackson, executive director of facilities, who spoke about current energy conservation practices.
"We signed a 10-year performance contract to have a contractor come in and make improvements to our energy using facilities," Jackson said. "This contract is guaranteed a savings of $1.2 million per year which pays off the contract."
The contract cost UNT about $10 million but has provided $12.8 million dollars in savings since 1996, Jackson said. The Board of Regents has approved and is negotiating a second energy-saving performance contract.
During the meeting, Andrew Harris, vice president of finance and administration, updated the crowd of faculty and staff on the president's cabinet meeting where UNT President Gretchen Bataille approved to test a flex time work week for UNT employees.
The plan is currently being tested and will allow university employees to shrink their work week to four days a week in order to reduce trips to the campus because of high gas prices Harris said.
"Employees can tack on a few hours to their work day, still putting in the same amount of time but maybe reducing their trips to campus," Harris said.
If the plan is a success, it could become a formal policy implemented as early as fall 2008, Harris said.
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