April 22, 2011 | April 22, 2011 | A tulip poplar tree planted to mark Earth Day today at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will one day soon provide shade for students, employees and campus visitors.

The tree was planted across Hooper Drive from UAMS Medical Center near an area where students often walk to and from their cars. The tree planting symbolized ongoing campus efforts to become more sustainable.

Planting the tree were Mark Kenneday, UAMS vice chancellor for campus operations; Jonathan Flannery, UAMS executive director for engineering and operations; Robert Airo, UAMS sustainability coordinator; and John Slater, urban forest partnership coordinator for the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

UAMS also celebrated Earth Day by hosting a fair with exhibitors from the Little Rock Zoo to the Arkansas Bicycle Club to vendors promoting energy efficiency and sustainable techniques.

In the past year, UAMS has been recognized for its energy efficiency efforts. Its Office of Sustainability has taken the lead on expanding recycling availability across the campus.

With bins for recycling paper, plastic and aluminum already available on UAMS loading docks, the Office of Sustainability recently expanded its paper recycling efforts. Departments, offices, units or floors can now purchase recycling bins for white and other types of paper. The Office of Sustainability will coordinate collection from the bins.

About 30 of the bins for white paper or mixed paper have been set up across campus in the first month of the program, said Robert Airo, UAMS sustainability coordinator. More are being ordered by departments each day, he said.

Energy efficiency on campus has continued to be recognized. The Energy Star designation achieved in 2010 by the UAMS Residence Hall has been renewed for another year, said Jonathan Flannery, UAMS executive director for engineering and operations. He said the facility’s energy efficiency score improved compared to its previous mark.

The Residence Hall became the 55th residence hall – and the first in Arkansas – to achieve ENERGY STAR designation in the EPA’s program, designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products and projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.