UC San Diego Vice Chancellor
and Transportation Department
Receive Energy Awards

March 26, 2009

By Pat JaCoby

Steven Relyea, Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs at the University of California, San Diego was honored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy for “Outstanding Individual Achievement” during the annual SANDEE (San Diego Excellence in Energy) awards presentation March 26, which also included an award to UC San Diego for “Special Achievement in Transportation.”

Steven Relyea

“Under Steve’s direction, UCSD has become a shining star among energy savers in the San Diego region,” noted Irene Stillings, executive director of the California Center for Sustainable Energy. “Long recognized for its pioneering research in global climate change, UCSD has made increasingly more impressive achievements in energy-efficient building construction and maintenance, electricity generation and alternative transportation. Steve’s role has been instrumental to these accomplishments, and his leadership has encouraged and inspired UCSD faculty, staff and students to join in creating one of the greenest college campuses in the nation.”

Relyea was on hand to receive the SANDEE award, a unique wall plaque made from recycled bicycle-chain rings. His citation noted that “his hard work and dedication have led to greater energy efficiency, implementation of sustainable technologies and an overall positive change towards more sustainable operations, behavioral changes, water conservation, waste diversion and even green purchasing. The Vice Chancellor also prompted the formation of the Climate Solutions Work Group, a campus committee that enables high-level decision-makers, faculty, operations, staff and students to collaborate and consider major campus energy and sustainability projects.”

Brian d’Autremont, director of Parking and Transportation, accepted the “Special Achievement in Transportation” award which cited the significant energy savings and reduced carbon dioxide emissions achieved through the campus alternative transportation programs. Among these are the Free Bus Zones which provide unlimited free rides to faculty, staff and students on bus routes serving the campus and Medical Center; the Vanpool Program consisting of a fleet of 51 vans, and the transit and Coaster programs to attract commuters to public transportation.

Among others recognized at the annual awards ceremony were the County of San Diego and the City of Encinitas. “Together, the energy savings achieved by award recipients totals 9,619,391 saved in kilowatt hours and 23,114 metric tons in CO2 emissions,” said Stillings.

Media Contact: Pat JaCoby, 858 534-7404 or pjacoby@ucsd.edu