Earth Day event at UTMB highlights campuswide commitment to sustainability

About 300 faculty, staff, and students gathered at The University of Texas Medical Branch on April 3 for its annual Earth Day event. Earth Day, observed nationally each year on April 22, promotes environmental awareness and action. The UTMB event featured 13 exhibitors showcasing sustainability efforts across campus. It highlighted both progress and future goals, emphasizing a growing focus on environmental responsibility within UTMB.

In a short keynote address, Andy Krouse, PhD, associate vice president of business operations and facilities, encouraged attendees to consider their individual impact.

"In everything you do every day, think about what you can do to improve the environment on our campus," Krouse said.

That focus is already producing measurable results. UTMB diverts 23% of its total waste by weight into recycling. A key part of that effort is an on-site recycling plant operated by a small team in partnership with Republic Services. The facility makes it possible for UTMB to process materials on campus, an approach Krouse said is uncommon in higher education.

Energy efficiency remains a central priority. Through a structured energy savings program and targeted improvements, UTMB has reduced both energy consumption and costs. Over the past year, utility plant optimization efforts saved approximately 7.6 million kilowatt-hours of energy, resulting in about $400,000 in cost savings.

"Energy savings is incredibly important," Krouse said. "We are making a heavy investment in improving our infrastructure to decrease energy use and are getting feedback from our campus community so we can continue to improve."

Those savings help support the core missions of UTMB in clinical care, education, and research.

"There is so much more that we can do in support of our core mission with what we save through energy efficiency," Krouse said.

The university continues to invest in infrastructure and long-term sustainability planning. UTMB generates more than 12 megawatts of its own power, reflecting the significant demands of a large academic health center, and is working to improve systems through upgrades and staff training. After successful optimization efforts on the Galveston Campus, similar initiatives are expected to expand to the League City Campus next year.

Environmental protection efforts extend beyond energy use. Kevin Hebert, senior environmental safety specialist in the Department of Environmental Protection Management at UTMB, works closely with facilities teams to oversee waste, stormwater, and air quality programs.

"Our campus has two combustion turbine power plants, multiple steam-generating boilers, and various emergency generators that all have to be maintained, monitored, and reported as part of the Title V requirements," Hebert said. "We recently submitted our Title V renewal application, which will require public notification once approved."

Hebert said his team's work focuses on preventing environmental contamination and ensuring compliance with strict regulations.

"We manage waste, stormwater, and hazardous materials to ensure they do not affect groundwater," he said. "We also oversee air programs and emissions from our plants."

New federal regulations are also shaping campus initiatives. Hebert said UTMB is implementing measures tied to the Environmental Protection Agency's updated Hydrofluorocarbon Management Rule.

"This rule focuses on reducing leaks and improving the recovery and reuse of refrigerants from equipment," he said. "We are required to inventory refrigeration units above a certain threshold, retrofit systems when needed, and install automatic leak-detection systems if they are not already in place."

The effort supports a broader national goal to significantly reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons.

"The goal is to reduce these emissions by about 85% by 2036," he said.

Water quality protection is another critical focus. Meagan Thibodaux, environmental health and safety supervisor at UTMB, said every drain on campus ultimately feeds into one system that flows directly into Galveston Bay, making careful monitoring essential.

"We make sure nothing harmful goes down the drain, like construction sediment or oil, and we maintain an inventory of chemicals to protect both water and air quality," she said.

The Earth Day event underscored a comprehensive approach to sustainability within UTMB. From recycling and energy efficiency to regulatory compliance and environmental protection, the university continues to build on recent gains while encouraging the campus community to play an active role in reducing environmental impact.