The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has experienced rapid growth in the last decade. In addition to educating over 17,000 students annually, UAB is a major research facility and academic healthcare center. Due to growth and expansion, UAB requires more and more water to sustain operations. The central chilled water system serves over…

The green concept has tremendous value in schools, especially when it reflects the central purpose and mission of schools: educating young people to participate and civically engage in society. School communities that keep greening the school on the periphery of their awareness will reap advantages, but those that align this idea with the…

Many colleges and universities are doing their part to react to environmental challenges without breaking the bank. For most, intelligent response involves technology. Schools such as Pennsylvania State University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Adelphi University (New York), Hamilton College (New York), and Fairfield University…

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education spent 3 years compiling and analyzing information on the consumption and costs of energy and other kinds of utilities by Alabama public colleges and universities. Usage and cost information is taken from each institution's quarterly utilities report. It is noted that interinstitutional comparisons can be…

These ten performance-based lesson plans concentrate on tasks related to energy conservation in the home. They are (1) caulk cracks, holes, and joints; (2) apply weatherstripping to doors and windows; (3) add plastic/solar screen window covering; (4) arrange furniture for saving energy; (5) set heating/cooling thermostat; (6) replace faucet…