LAREDO, Texas — Texas A&M International University, in cooperation with the Texas Engineering Experiment Station’s (TEES) Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL), celebrated receiving nearly $500,000 in federal funding for its "Energy-Efficient Green Campus Research Initiative" March 24 at an on-campus ceremony in Laredo. The TEES-TAMIU team received the funding, thanks to Congressman Henry Cuellar who represents the 28th Congressional District in Texas, which includes Laredo. This initiative will provide TAMIU the financial and technical resources necessary to undertake a long-term path to a more cost-effective, environmentally friendly future for the campus and surrounding community. The initiative will focus on three elements: Solar Renewable Energy Demonstration and Research, which will incorporate clean, renewable solar energy in TAMIU’s new Student Success Center; the Sustainable Green Campus Initiative, which will implement a "green campus initiative" for the entire campus, including greater energy and resource efficiency; and the Energy-Efficient Campus Initiative, in which existing campus buildings will be recommissioned to reduce energy use by 10 percent. Malcolm Verdict, project manager with the Energy Systems Laboratory, said this initiative would enable TAMIU to become the "first 100-percent green campus in Texas, leading the way for other campuses in The Texas A&M University System as we educate our students to deal with challenges of climate change." "The world has a fixed amount of natural resources — some of which are already depleted," Cuellar said. "So as population growth greatly strains our finite resources, there are fewer resources available. If we intend to leave our children and grandchildren with the same standard of living we have enjoyed, we must preserve the foundation of that standard of living. "I’m happy to report that Texas A&M International University is taking the first step in doing just that." The Texas Engineering Experiment Station is the engineering research agency of Texas and a member of the A&M System.
