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January is for Building Sustainable Habits!

Apply to Join the UNM Sustainability Advisory Council



The UNM Office of Sustainability is now accepting applications for two Student At-Large positions on the Sustainability Advisory Council for the 2026–2027 academic years. These roles offer students from Central Campus and North Campus the opportunity to help guide UNM’s implementation of the Sustainability Strategic Plan, support campus initiatives, and elevate student voices in sustainability decision-making.

The commitment includes attending up to three meetings per year. Please review the full application information here.

Please send your cover letter (required) and letter of recommendation (optional) to lobosust@unm.edu. Applications are due January 30, with selections announced in February 2026.

Please share this opportunity with students in your network!

All images are taken at BARCO Albuquerque Recycling Center

Office of Sustainability joins the Recycling Team to Tour BARCO

January is the perfect time to start building sustainable habits that will last throughout the year and beyond. Facility Services is already bringing in 2026 with better practices!

Last month, the Office of Sustainability joined the UNM Recycling Team for a tour of the BARCO Recycling Facility to learn more about how the City of Albuquerque processes its recyclable materials. The experience was an eye-opening reminder of what happens after items leave our bins.

Did you know that UNM operates its own recycling facility? Its effectiveness depends on all of us taking small, intentional steps to recycle correctly on campus. Here are a few reminders to help make recycling at UNM more efficient:

• Break down cardboard boxes before placing them in recycling
• Make sure plastic items are clean and free of food residue
• Double-check that the item you’re recycling is accepted
• Staff reminder: Please empty your small blue desk bins into the larger recycling bins in your building. Our Facilities team has limited capacity and primarily services the larger bins. Your help makes a big difference!

Together, these small actions help ensure that UNM’s recycling efforts are as effective as possible.

Visit the UNM Recycling site for more information.

The inside of an operating Utilities Services cooling tower mimics Niagara Falls

Chilled water for air conditioning and other uses is supplied to approximately 90% of main campus buildings.

Two of the eight massive chillers that keep The University of New Mexico cool.

All photos and figures taken from UNM Utilities site.

UNM Utility Services Saves 6+ Million Gallons of Water Annually

UNM Utility Services has earned its fourth Impact on Water Efficiency & the Environment (IWEE) Award for optimizing campus cooling tower operations, saving more than 6 million gallons of water each year. This latest recognition brings UNM’s total annual water savings in 2024 to approximately 14.3 million gallons.

The award reflects the Utilities team’s installation of advanced control technology that improves cooling tower efficiency, reduces water use, and saves an estimated $20,000 annually in operating costs. The Industrial Water Engineering group recognizes organizations that implement innovative, data-driven strategies to improve water efficiency and reduce environmental impact.



“It is through the dedicated efforts of our Utility Services team that these opportunities of increased operational efficiencies are uncovered. An important part of our organization is to encourage and support this type of initiative. This particular project was a result of the efforts of our Water Group and Maintenance Team,” said Robert Notary, Director of Technical Services within Facility Services.

This achievement supports UNM 2040 Goal Four: Sustainability and the UNM Sustainability Strategic Plan, reinforcing the University’s commitment to responsible resource stewardship.

“The sustainability strategic planning process made it clear that water conservation is a high priority for UNM students, faculty, and staff. Utility Services is leading The University’s efforts to maximize water efficiency and savings as we work toward the goal of reducing campus water use 20% by 2030,” said Anne Jakle, Director of the UNM Office of Sustainability.

Save the Date!

April is Earth Month at UNM! Here are some dates to keep on your calendar:

• UNM Sustainability Expo 4/23
• Arbor Day 4/24
• Bike to UNM Day 5/6

UNM Sustainability Strategic Plan Released

After a year-long stakeholder engagement process, UNM has released its 5-year Sustainability Plan



Explore more here.

Free! UNM Bike Valet

A new, staffed, bike parking service funded by students and designed to make riding to campus easier, more convenient, and better supported than ever.

This new service promotes sustainable, active transportation by offering added convenience and an extra layer of staffed oversight beyond standard bike racks.

Explore how it works here!