TAMIU Celebrates Earth Day
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) will join the global celebration of Earth Day Tuesday, April 25 by exercising its commitment to energy efficiency and the environment with a series of events.
This year’s Earth Day celebration theme will be “Water for Future” and includes events that highlight the importance of conserving the planet’s natural resources. As part of the Earth Day celebration, hands-on activities have been organized for students so they can join the University’s “Maroon is the New Green” natural resource stewardship movement.
Earth Day activities include a Sports Complex Clean Up from 9 – 11 a.m. with students earning community service hours, fun prizes, and refreshments. A Recycled Bench Dedication will follow with two new recycled glider benches being dedicated by TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz from 11:30 – 12 noon at the Athletic Fields. Finally, from noon to 2 p.m., an Earth Day Festival in the Student Center Memorial Garden will focus on water conservation initiatives. Students will earn prizes and make a "water conservation" pledge to show their support for Earth.
TAMIU president Dr. Arenaz said the University has partnered again with Schneider Electric in its Earth Day Celebration presentation.
“Stewardship of our natural resources is an important lesson for everyone, and thanks to our partnership with Schneider Electric, during this Earth Day Celebration, TAMIU students will learn how they truly make a difference. Through participation in fun events, they’ll have a chance to affirm our shared responsibility for the survival of our planet. It all starts here on our beautiful, 300-acre campus, one of the largest existing green spaces in Laredo. Students can even demonstrate their green commitment on social media with the hashtag #MaroonIsTheNewGreen,” Arenaz observed.
TAMIU’s Earth Week 2023 is coordinated by the University’s Environmental, Health and Safety Office, Campus Safety and Planning Office, and the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration, in partnership with Schneider Electric.
TAMIU entered into a multi-phase partnership with Schneider Electric beginning in 2017 to leverage the University’s energy budget to fund much-needed energy and infrastructure upgrades designed to save money and improve the learning environment for its students.
Among notable improvements from this multi-phase project are:
Expanding and commissioning existing electric and chilled water metering system
Interior and Exterior LED lighting retrofits campus-wide
Extending chilled water piping
Chiller replacements
Upgrading HVAC equipment at the Resident Learning Center
Water conservation – optimizing domestic water fixtures and kitchen water fixtures
Water conservation – upgrading irrigation controls
Optimizing HVAC hoods in the kitchen and labs
Adding building envelope sealant
Onsite hypochlorite generation for the Resident Learning Center Pool and cleaning chemical generation
Upgrading controls across campus
Implementation of a dynamic Conserve My Planet student engagement program.
Arenaz noted the multi-phase initiative is projected to bring the University substantial savings.
“TAMIU’s multi-phase project will generate more than $17.9 million in projected savings over the 20-year life of the project. Additionally, this multi-phase project is expected to reduce energy consumption by 6,075,939 kWh per year which is equivalent to removing 2,254,363 pounds of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The water conservation measures included in TAMIU’s multi-phase project will also help the campus save more than 28,448,000 gallons of water annually.
“At TAMIU, ‘maroon is indeed the new green,’ and we are fortunate to have so many faculty, staff and students committed to fostering environmental awareness on campus, as well as in the greater Laredo community,” Arenaz concluded.
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970. It is now observed and celebrated in over 174 countries around the world.
For additional information on TAMIU, call the University’s Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu or click on tamiu.edu.
More of the University’s story is available on its website, tamiu.edu and dedicated social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To learn more about Schneider Electric, visit schneider-electric.com.
