LAS VEGAS - The UNLV department of facilities management was recently honored by the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA) with its Award for Excellence - the highest honor for an education-based facilities management program in the nation. UNLV is one of just three institutions nationwide to win the award for 2010.

The APPA, which boasts more than 1,500 members in education, government and business, solicits nominations for its top award each year from institutions that exceed current facilities management standards. To be considered, members have to meet or surpass more than 50 evaluation criteria in areas including leadership, planning, process management, human resources capabilities and overall maintenance operation.

APPA evaluators made an on-site visit to UNLV to judge the facilities department's sustainability and energy management practices and its ability to meet the needs of diverse campus constituents. UNLV was selected due to its overall strength and balance of facilities operation, proving it meets the APPA's highest standards for industry practice.

"The facilities team at UNLV has been focused on becoming more sustainable long before it became a community buzz word," said Rick Storlie, director of administrative services for UNLV facilities. "We're consistently finding new ways to make the most efficient use of our resources, both through energy efficiency and management practices, and the Award for Excellence is validation from our peers that we're doing the right things."

UNLV is the first Nevada institution to be honored with the Award for Excellence from APPA, which carries with it a five-year recognition period.

Facilities Management at UNLV includes the areas of facilities maintenance and operations, landscape and grounds, custodial and recycling services, energy management, administrative services and work management. In 2009, the division received one of the state's highest honors - The Cashman Good Government Award - from the Nevada Taxpayers Association for efficient and effective use of taxpayer funds.