The 1974 energy conservation measures taken by Chancellor Reese were primarily cost-reducing efforts, and cost containment was still the primary focus in 1977 when he appointed a campus energy committee to establish a campus-wide energy policy, and the institution hired a full-time, energy-conservation coordinator. The energy hotline established in 1980 had a similar focus.
The shift to concern with environmental policy beyond cost containment was evident when a committee in the Energy, Environment, and Resources Center (now ISSE) prepared a draft environmental policy for the campus that committed UT Knoxville to seek environmentally friendly solutions and initiatives in January 2001. The Faculty Senate unanimously voted to recommend the policy in March 2001.
Chancellor Crabtree signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment on September 11, 2007 (at the same time he signed the Tallories Declaration). The commitment requires that institutions initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality and take specified actions while the plan is being created. UT’s comprehensive plan was finalized in early 2010 and required the institution to achieve climate neutrality (zero net greenhouse emissions) by 2061.