The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) has been approved as a member of the Clean Texas Program. This program is the state's voluntary environmental leadership program administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) with the goal of producing real environmental improvements, such as:
- Reducing air emissions,
- Improving water quality,
- Preventing pollution, and
- Improving environmental compliance.
Other UT institutions participating in this program include The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston.
Clean Texas is for facilities with a demonstrated environmental record and a firm commitment to continuous environmental improvement. In exchange for this commitment, facilities accepted into the program earn valuable benefits including:
- Regulatory Benefits
- Recognition
- Networking
- Technical and Program Assistance
UTHSC-H has pledged to decrease annual air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). These pollutants lead to ozone and smog in our city and will be reduced by installing natural gas fired emergency generators in new construction projects, and by systematically replacing existing diesel fired units. Over the next three years, we anticipate decreasing our potential NOx pollution by almost 8,000 pounds, and decreasing VOC pollution by nearly 900 pounds.
Another environmental program incorporated into the Clean Texas Program is the use of digital x-ray processing and the use of silver recycling units for photographic processes requiring the use of developer and fixer solutions. Our goal with in the next three years is to eliminate hazardous wastes generated by photographic and x-ray processes.
Other innovative environmental programs include: Completion of the new School of Nursing and Student Community Center, which is registered LEED NC 2.0 and eligible for gold level LEED certification, utilization of solar power, grey water and rain water collection systems for irrigation and non-potable water applications, cardboard and paper recycling programs, student administered recycling programs for paper, plastic, and aluminum, and mercury reduction through free replacement of equipment such as thermometers by EH&S.
While EH&S serves as the institutional catalyst for environmental awareness and protection, our staff, students, and faculty will translate this awareness into a culture that considers environmental impacts and offers solutions that make good business sense. Environmental protection programs are part of a systematic implementation of our environmental management system, which will seek innovative solutions to limit pollution from our combined endeavors, while supporting the institutional mission. Additional information about the Clean Texas program is available from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at the following link www.tceq.state.tx.us/ .
