Through the foresight of UNM administrators and the hard work of the Physical Plant Department, UNM has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions over the last six years. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which went into effect in 2005, targets greenhouse gases because most of the world’s scientists believe the gases are contributors to global warming and climate change.
“The year used to determine the reductions was 2000 because that is the base year in Governor Richardson’s Executive Order 05-33,” said Jeffrey Zumwalt, associate director of PPD utility operations.
Between 2000 and 2006, UNM reduced nitrous oxide emissions from 108 tons to 15 tons, or 86 percent, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions from 120,801 tons to 102,550 tons, or 15 percent. The emission numbers are from the UNM District Energy System, facilities that provide steam, chilled water, electricity and domestic water to 95 percent of main and north campuses, not including University Hospitals.
Many of the reductions were accomplished by replacing the old and inefficient boilers and chillers at the Ford Utility Center. University Utilities Engineer Larry Schuster noted in a recent report that in addition to the above savings, the campus has grown 3.6 percent and the annual energy usage has decreased by 8.2 percent.
UNM has also reduced water use by 28 percent between 1995 and 2006. “This is a remarkable accomplishment that should be celebrated,” said Mary Vosevich, PPD director.