UNM has received an award from the City of Albuquerque for striving to reduce the amount of pollution within the community.
The city's Public Works Department, the Albuquerque City Council, the Wastewater Utility Division, the Industrial Pretreatment Program and the Pollution Prevention Program presented UNM with the Pollution Prevention Award of Excellence on Jan. 22.
Linda McCormick, pollution prevention specialist for UNM's Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs, accepted the award on behalf of the University.
"This puts us on the leading edge of pollution prevention in New Mexico," McCormick said.
McCormick said UNM's Physical Plant Department, the Grounds and Landscaping Department and Biological, Chemical and Environmental Affairs were instrumental in doing the work that resulted in the award.
The pollution prevention award recognizes that UNM has gone beyond regulatory requirements to minimize environmental pollution, McCormick said.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The award was based on efforts made July 7, 2001 to July 6, 2002.
Brynda Gutierrez, pollution prevention specialist with the city, also recognized UNM as being in the top bracket of institutions that are trying to prevent pollution.
"We deal with a lot of companies and we were impressed that UNM doesn't just focus with the faculty and getting the message out there, but also with the students," Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said the city also recognized that UNM professors are encouraging students to use more natural substances for experiments within labs, and to implement greater source control.
Gary Smith, associate director for environmental services within the Physical Plant Department, said that UNM has had tremendous success in becoming a more environmentally safe campus.
UNM reduced water consumption by 40 percent from 1994, Smith said. He estimates that figure has increased to a nearly 50 percent by 2003.
Smith attributes the decrease in water consumption to the strategic placement of turf on the UNM campus -- something that the Grounds and Landscaping Department contributed toward.
"We think about placement of turf so it reduces energy use," Smith said.
He added that by placing turf on the south side of a building, energy use within that building can be reduced by up to 20 percent.
Physical Plant workers are conserving water with low-flow sinks and toilets and electricity with energy efficient lighting.
Other pollution prevention efforts made by University staff include reduced pesticide use, reduced use of gasoline-powered equipment and recycled grass clippings.
"Our staff made it all happen," Smith said.
He recognized David Trujillo, landscape supervisor, Felix Vallejos, master gardener and Bryan Suhr, arboriculture supervisor, as well as the employees of the Physical Plant Department for their efforts in making UNM as pollution free as possible.
