University of Tennessee at Knoxville
EN-9: Community Partnerships

The University of Tennessee's Office of Sustainability has partnered with the City of Knoxville, Social Equal Energy Efficient Development (SEEED), Knox County Schools' Energy Program, and other local organizations to participate in the Georgetown Energy Prize Competition. The initial proposal stage of this contest began in 2013 and it will conclude in 2016 after a two-year energy reduction competition. UT and the City of Knoxville, along with their partners will spend these three years working on updates to make the city more energy efficient, outreach to the community to decrease energy consumption and innovation to help push Knoxville to save as much energy as possible.

The Smart Communities Initiative connects faculty and students with municipalities across Tennessee to provide support on projects proposed by the towns to increase the level of economic viability, environmental sustainability and social integrity in the region. This is an ongoing program with new projects and partnerships being started each semester. Community groups and municipalities are encouraged to apply to the program with a proposal of the project and an outline of the proposed plan. From there the students and faculty members work with a community point person to move the project forward. The University contributes student and faculty time and, when applicable, any materials created throughout the course of the partnership, such as a cost-benefit analysis or a green development plan.

The Appalachia Community Health and Disaster Readiness Projects unites UT faculty and students from the College of Nursing, College of Architecture and Design, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Law Enforcement Innovation Center and community organizations and members in the goal of improving environmental and human health and security in Clay County, Kentucky. Started in 2013, this 3-year collaborative project aims to help the community address key issues like clean water access and sewage management, winter safety awareness, disaster preparedness and flood recovery. UT brings to the table complete funding ($1.5 million) from a federal grant by the US Department of Health and Human Services which the project leader applied for and received. Additionally the project is providing the community with several pieces of material support, such as the design plans for rebuilding the local dam that will be used to seek federal support, support in creating a disaster preparedness plan, a winter health guide and grant writing training, among many other projects. They use a model of engagement based on a social-ecological framework that involves community participation and knowledge-sharing to gather information from community members about what is most needed and engage local organizations, individuals and government in an attempt to make the products of this effort more permanent and ingrained in the community. They hope that their efforts in Clay County will give them proper tools to have a more powerful voice at the policy level to enact permanent change in this community and others like it.

Tiva Water represents the commitment and lasting impact UT students have on campus as well as around the world. The global clean water crisis is an environmental, economic, and social concern to which a small group of UT alumni have created a nonprofit which provides communities with filters and thus access to clean drinking water. UTK still fosters this partnership and hope to inspire students by the initiative with continued support of the organization by getting involved, spreading the word, and even raising money through the sale of bowties.