LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 8, 2016) — The University of Kentucky has named Jeff Zumwalt the director of utilities and energy management, a role that will report directly to the vice president for facilities management as part of implementation of a new energy management and conservation effort across UK.
In his role, Zumwalt provides leadership on planning and implementing the university’s strategic initiatives related to utilities and energy management. This includes energy procurement, production and distribution throughout the campus. Zumwalt is also charged with developing and managing energy conservation programs.
Prior to coming to UK, Zumwalt worked as the associate director of production and distribution for Texas A&M University and the director of the physical plant department for the University of New Mexico (UNM).
At UNM, Zumwalt managed $80 million in utility renovations funded by energy efficiency improvements. His efforts in energy efficiency led to his appointment on UNM’s sustainability council. In this capacity, he drafted the first greenhouse gas inventory for the campus in 2007 and helped write the climate action plan.
He was also the vice president of Lobo Energy, a subsidiary of UNM that focused on opportunities to reduce energy costs. Prior to joining UNM, Zumwalt spent 12 years in the electric utility industry working for Reliant Energy and Southern California Edison.
Zumwalt earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles and a MBA from UNM.
He is active in industry associations as demonstrated by his past membership on the board of directors for the International District Energy Association and the New Mexico Industrial Energy Consumers. Zumwalt has also volunteered as a member of the faculty at the APPA Institute for Facility Management.
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