USF is LEEDing the Way
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USF is LEEDing the way!
It seems that in many states throughout the country, the new fad has been “going green”. However, it is much more than just a fad; this movement has taken the nation by storm and has not only helped the environment, but also the profitability of companies. With most families, companies, and local organizations becoming more environmentally friendly in order to reduce costs and pollution, USF has also joined the initiative. By creating buildings that are eco-friendly and promoting a campus that is also as “green,” USF has reduced the university’s carbon footprint considerably. USF has taken a number of initiatives to ensure the sustainability of the university. USFSP’s Science and Technology building meets the USGBC’S compliance requirements and has been LEED certified. Other strides that the university has taken to become more green are the “Smoke-Free USF” campaign, transportation alternatives, the Green Energy Fund and above all a School of Global Sustainability. This School is one of the first in the nation and puts USF at the top of the list for eco-friendly campuses. For this White Paper Project, the main focus will be the initiatives USF has taken to go green and the sustainability that is a byproduct of those
Team Write On Sarah Brodie Krystal Hydes Kirstie Martin Muhamed Resic Maurice Taramona Professional Writing USF Spring 2012 Professor Francis Tobienne
initiatives.
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Table of Contents
Introduction………………1 Executive Summary…….3 Current Initiatives……….4
Interview……………………..5 Transportation……………...6 Water…………………………7 Energy……………………….8 Recycling and Waste Management………………..9 Green Buildings/LEED…10 Academics (School of Global Sustainability)……12
USF prides itself on being an eco-friendly university. With USFSP holding the first LEED certified building of all USF campuses, it is already LEEDing the way!
Smoking Ban……………13 Student Involvement…..13 Future…………………….14 Conclusion………………15 Works Cited……………..16 Annotated Bibliography...................17
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Executive Summary The University of South Florida is one of the many organizations that have embraced the green movement through its various policies and community activities. It has recently been selected to be in the Princeton
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Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges which was done in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council (Cash). This recognition puts it as one of the foremost leaders in green movement and set an example for others to adhere to. The USF Office of Sustainability is where most of the universities green initiatives take place. This office coordinates most of the construction or improvements to mainly the Tampa campus and sometimes hosts various events to raise awareness. These initiatives include improvements to the transportation system in and around campus, the conservation of water and energy, and implementing a better recycling policy. They have also begun the monumental undertaking that is constructing LEED certified buildings which adhere to a strict set of rules to become officially declared a green building. One of the first things the USF Office of Sustainability did was to improve the universities design so it can become more ecofriendly. This includes the planting of trees to create mini habitats around the campus. This helps in various ways that tie directly with their other initiatives such as transportation. By linking all the habitats around campus with walkways, they are encouraging more people to walk instead of driving. This in turn reduces the heat emissions these vehicles would otherwise create. Transportation has always been a big problem in large universities such as USF. It creates problems that directly affect the local environment such as air pollution and creating large heat islands. The university has taken great steps in reducing these two by having a large scale shuttle system that conveniently takes students to most places on campus. These shuttles are environmentally friendly and run on biodiesel which greatly reduce the pollutants it lets out into the air. The construction of large parking garages around most of its campuses helps contain heat islands. By removing large asphalt parking lots
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which were the norm and having large garages, the temperate could actually drop a few degrees since asphalt retains much of the heat it absorbs. Another initiative is the one involving all water related problems found inside the university. Any institution that is over one acre must adhere to certain regulations and USF is no different. It involved with phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater program which actively removes illicit discharges and pollutants in the water supply. The university has also required that every building have a water meter so it can further track its water usage responsibly. One of the most important water related policy that USF has used has been with xeriscaping. By planting flora that is native to the area, the risk of draught drops since these plants are used to the environment and do not need to be excessively watered (“Office of Sustainability”). For an institution its size, energy is probably the greatest problem the University of South Florida faces. To combat the universities great need for power, USF has implemented standards in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy which helps with energy conservation. This ranges from using better insulation to changing all the light bulbs to the energy efficient models which is an incredibly expensive endeavor. Waste management is something that the University of South Florida has been actively participating for many years. Since the 1990s, USF has been committed in reducing waste and recycling which comes as no surprise since most faculty and staff use recycled paper. The use of online classrooms and software such as BlackBoard has allowed professors to greatly reduce the amount of paper they would otherwise have had to consume. Recently the University of South Florida has started to construct green buildings which meet certain building codes set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDs) program which is run by the U.S. Green
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building Council has recently given the new Science and Technology building in the St. Petersburg campus a gold level certification (Marquez). This is the second highest a building can attain and it is considered to be very prestigious. This shows that the building has undergone a rigorous testing which judges every facet of the building to be in compliance.
Currently, this is the only building to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council but the University of South Florida has several more under construction scattered throughout its many campuses.
Current Initiatives
USF has taken on quite a few initiatives in the past to become more green and sustainable. Some of these initiatives include an alternative transportation system, a more sustainable system of water-usage, the lessening of energy consumption, better recycling and waste management, LEED certified buildings, and even a School of Global Sustainability. In order to better understand these initiatives, we have included an interview conducted with the Sustainability Program Coordinator of the Office of Sustainability. For the remainder of this section, we will go more in-depth on each initiative.
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Interview with Zaida E. Darley, M.A. Sustainability Program Coordinator, Office of Sustainability
Q: What is currently the most important sustainability initiative at USF and why? A: Every sustainability initiative is important because every bit counts. But if I had to pick, I think the Climate Action Plan and the Student Green Energy Fund are two very important sustainability initiatives on campus. The Climate Action Plan was created after President Genshaft signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment. An inventory of the campus's greenhouse gas emission was conducted and a commitment was made to become Climate Neutral by 2070 (http://rs.acupcc.org/cap/607/). Without the commitment of the President and set goals, USF cannot judge whether the campus's sustainability initiatives are making a difference. Now that goals have been set, the Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF) can help USF move towards Climate Neutrality (www.usf.edu/greenenergy). Funds are awarded to projects that will reduce the campus's electric bill and thereby reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Q: Where does the funding for these initiatives come from and who decides how the money is allocated? A: Each department has the option to make greener choices with their resources. For bigger projects, the Student Green Energy Funds is available. This $1 million annual fund is generated from the $1 a credit hour Green Fee that was requested and approved by students. SGEF awards are decided by a 12-member council that is made up of 6 staff/faculty and 6 students. So students generate the funds, decide on which projects are awarded, and can also propose projects. Q: How can students get involved? A: Students, faculty and staff can propose energy-saving projects to the Student Green Energy Fund. There are also several student organizations that are involved with campus sustainability, like the Student Environmental Association (SEA) and Keep Our Schools Beautiful (KOSB). SEA has been involved with Recyclemania, Real Food Challenge, and the EPA Game Day Challenge. Q: What results has USF seen so far? A: The results of sustainability initiatives can be seen everywhere. There has been an increase in recycle bins, a removal of almost all styrofoam from USF Dining, more water bottle filling stations (so people don't have to buy bottled water), and solar panels installed at the Marshall Center, Engineering and (soon) Champion's Choice. The solar panels are thanks to the SGEF. Q: Who does USF partner with in achieving its sustainability goals? A: Tampa Electric, City of Tampa, Sierra Club, and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County are just a couple of partners that have been very supportive with our efforts. Q: Lastly, why is it important to USF to have a campus that is eco-friendly with buildings that are LEED certified? A: It saves energy and resources in many ways. LEED certified building use local renewable resources and are designed to be as energy efficient as possible.
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Transportation The University of South Florida has taken many great strides in providing students the option of using environmentally friendly transportation inside its various campuses. All of the Universities campuses have the placed bicycle racks in convenient locations to encourage students to use this as an alternative to driving. This also includes adding bike racks to every new building constructed. By being partnered with the New North Transportation Alliance, USF has been provided with 37 bike racks which are being implemented in convenient locations around campus. The Tampa campus has gone an extra step and has constructed four miles of bike lanes on the campus ("Office of Sustainability"). For students and faculty who do not wish to use bicycles on campus, the University has provided a large network of sidewalks that are easily accessible by anyone which includes safety features such as signalized intersections ("Office of Sustainability"). Much of the sidewalk has been lined with trees, trellises, and arcades to provide shade for bicyclists and pedestrians alike. For some students, walking everywhere on campus or using bicycles is not an option due to class schedules or disabilities. Because of this, the University has various methods of free transportation that is available to everyone with a valid USF identification card. First and foremost are the Bull Runner shuttles; which are a mostly bio-diesel fueled bus which transports students freely around campus ("Office of Sustainability"). The Tampa campus is also currently partnered with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit which provides students with free transportation around the city. This bus system is also committed to staying environmentally responsible as well and most of their buses have been replaced with much ones
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who emit dramatically less pollution into the air (“HART”).
USF brags one of the most eco-friendly transportation services among universities today. The Bull Runner shuttles, which are mostly bio-diesel fueled buses, transport students freely around campus. While the St. Petersburg campus is not partnered with the local busing system like the Tampa campus is, there are still benefits to riding it. Students receive a discount for riding the bus and there are several bus stops around campus so students can get to wherever they may need to go. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has introduced Hybrid Smartbuses which reduce emissions by 90% and use 18% less fuel (“PSTA”). Environmentally conscious students at St. Petersburg may consider using this service so they would feel like they would be doing their part to further the green initiative. These busing alternatives can be used in conjunction with bicycling since they all have bicycle racks available ("Office of Sustainability"). Parking has become a big problem with the ever increasing admission rate and the University has begun to try and solve it. Parking lots create what is known as heat islands which are when the asphalt of retains the heat thereby increasing the immediate surrounding areas by a few degrees. This also has the side effect that by having more parking lots, you would be
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reducing the amount of green space available. The University is aware of these issues and has constructed large parking garages in each of their campuses. These garages help the University two-fold. They consolidate all heat into a specific area and also provide more parking spaces by using less room. These large parking garages have allowed to university to eliminate 120 acres of heat islands which increase permeable areas, landscape, and waterscape around its various campuses ("Office of Sustainability"). Another way the University has tried to solve its parking issues is to coordinate class scheduling so there is more of an even distribution around campus. This would greatly decrease the heat being retained by the parking lots and encourage more usage of parking garages since they’re usually located near the bigger hubs of student activity. Water Another major issue that USF has decided to tackle in an effort to “go green” is water sustainability. It is very easy to take water for granted as most people consider the world to have an abundance of it. However, there are several initiatives that can be taken to prevent waste and lower consumption and costs. The University of South Florida has taken several steps in meeting those girls. Water pollution is a major problem in today’s society as it can cause surface waters to become unsafe for drinking, swimming, fishing, etc. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) has constructed a permit program, authorized by the Clean Water Act, regulating point sources that release pollutants into waters in the United States (“EPA”). Point sources include man made ditches and pipes. The NPDES requires construction sites that are larger than 1 acre to have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Act (SPPA). There are two phases of this program, and USF is currently in Phase II (“Office of Sustainability”). Phase II requires large and medium municipal separate storm sewer systems located in Incorporated counties with a population over 100,000 to attain NPDES
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permits. The University abides by this mandate and works in conjunction with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to obtain all required permits (“Office of Sustainabilty”) In an effort to conserve water, the majority of buildings on USF campuses are individually metered. However, this does not include residence halls. Water meters are used to measure the volume of water usage. Using individual meters at each building allows the University to study consumption patterns and investigate alternative methods of meeting their sustainable water initiative. Many buildings on the USF-Tampa campus have been upgraded with motion sensing automatic faucets and toilets (“Office of Sustainability”). This prevents waste from over-flushing, and running sink water that is left on for longer than necessary or forgotten. The University of South Florida has implemented a policy that requires the use of xeriscaping in new building construction and new campus common areas (“Office of Sustainability”). Xeriscape landscapes is defined as “quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment.” (“Xeriscape- Sustainable Resources”). It involves planning and design, soil improvement, appropriate plant selection, practical turf areas, efficient irrigation, use of mulches, and appropriate maintenance. The policy at USF states that “landscape plans should include the use of plant species that are indigenous to the natural plant communities of the region and which promote the use of xeriscape principles” (“Office of Sustainability”). It also stipulates that planting non-invasive exotic plants should be limited to species that are able to withstand drought and minimal fertilization and use of chemicals.
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Energy One of the biggest initiatives across the campus deals with energy. This is no surprise as energy use, sustainability, and alternatives continues to make world headlines every day. USF has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy by adhering to the Florida Energy Code to monitor energy use (“U.S. Department of Energy”). They have implemented standards in building insulation values in walls, roofs, and windows as well as mechanical systems insulation and controls for HVAC and lighting. USF requires life cycle cost analysis as part of the Building Construction Document (“Office of Sustainability”). The purpose of life cycle cost analysis is to estimate the overall costs of project alternatives in order to select the design that ensures the lowest total cost of ownership over a facility’s entire life (“Whole Building Design Guide”). Energy recovery is being implemented into design whenever possible. The Greenlights Program replaces inefficient fixtures throughout the campus. Other sources of energy recovery include high efficiency chillers, additional insulation on heat pipes, roof replacements with a reflective surface, return ducts are insulated, and heat recovery systems in air handling units with 100% out air have been installed (“Office of Sustainability”). The Clean Energy Research Center at USF has been granted $15 million dollars for research of renewable over the last 10 years. The use of this money encompasses renewable energy projects, and design and development of photovoltaics, electric vehicles, microturbine gas landfills, battery development and management, and hydrogen production/storage and conversion to fuel cells. The Center is also working on the renowned Smart Grid project with local utilities (“Office of Sustainability”). USF has done a great deal to promote energy conservatism throughout the organization. They have replaced outdated fluorescent lamps with eco-friendly F28 T8 Fluorescent lamps in all buildings in excess of Recycling and Waste Management
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4 million square feet. According to the GE Lighting Department, these bulbs offer up to a 44% reduction in wattage compared to the T12 system, saves energy, and boasts a 30,000 hour life (“GE Lighting”). In the past, USF has used T12 system bulbs.
All vending machines on campus employ motion sensing lighting and energy control to reduce usage. Some buildings have also installed motion sensing light switches in classrooms and conference rooms (“Office of Sustainability”). USF has done a massive overhaul of the chilled water distribution system to conserve energy. The decision to close buildings outside of regular office hours has reduced energy consumption and after hours cleaning. Finally, the University has saved $7.7 million in gas costs through smarter purchasing of natural gas via transportation contracts (“Office of Sustainability”).
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Recycling and waste management have been in place for many years, and have been a hot button topic since the 1970’s. The Waste/Recycling/Purchasing Subcommittee of the USF Office of Sustainability has developed and submitted a new Green Purchasing directive that would continue their efforts of becoming a greener institution. Several green purchasing components are already in place. For example, Green Seal Certified products are used for cleaning across the campus. USF has also put an emphasis on the importance of sustainability initiatives to all vendors bidding on contracts. Of course, most college departments and offices use recycled paper and recycle their office paper. Physical Plant has operated a rigorous recycling program throughout the University since 1990 and Republic collects yard waste and separates material. Garbage solids are burned to generate electricity and scrap metal is recycled (“Office of Sustainability”). Professor’s are continuing to eliminate paper in courses every year through the use of technology (Blackboard, online examinations, etc.). Over 2,000 recycling containers for paper have been distributed campus-wide. USF Dining Services is a huge contributor to the recycling initiative. They provide reusable cups at a discounted price for fountain beverages, recyclable bags for transportation, re-usable to-go containers, and trayless dining to conserve water and energy. Dining services recycles cardboard and tin
materials and grease from the restaurants is recycled for biodiesel to power automobiles (“Office of Sustainability”). Recently, USF had its first waste audit. Receipts from years 19962007 were examined to determine that physical plant has recycled 48 tons of aluminum and over 9700 tons of mixed paper (“Office of Sustainability”). Other areas where recycling exists include electronic equipment and construction waste. All LEED projects require records of recycled waste be submitted as evidence.
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Green Buildings/LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a certification system that was formatted in 2000 by the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED certification is a tool that gives official recognition as an independent third-party to homeowners or corporations that meet levels of sustainability. There are nine sectors that LEED measures organizations such as businesses, communities and homes as key fields of sustainability. These nine sectors in alphabetical order are: Awareness and Education, Energy and Atmosphere, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Design, Locations and Linkages, Materials and Resources, Regional Priority, Sustainable Sites, and Water Efficiency. LEED rates the organization on its high achievement in energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, sustainable site development, and water savings; all which are defined as five key factors of environmental and human health.
While participation with the LEED process is voluntary, there are benefits, both environmental and financial, that come with having LEED certification. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) these benefits include: Be healthier and safer for occupants Conserve energy and water Lower operating costs and increase asset value Qualify for incentives in a plethora of cities, which include tax rebates and zoning allowances Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions Reduce waste sent to landfills LEED is an internationally recognized certification system. There are LEED projects in at least 120 countries throughout the world. In the United States alone, there are multiple groups that utilize and participate in the LEED certification system. State and local governments as well as federal agencies implement LEED in the publicfunded or –owned buildings as well as create and apply LEED initiatives. LEED certification is rated and awarded based on a 100-point scale, with the possibility of ten bonus points. The possible points are divided as shown below.
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Academics (School of Global Sustainability) The Patel School of Global Stability is one of the first and only in the country that focuses primarily on sustainability. Along with other initiatives to go green, USF has taken on the enormous task of educating students about sustainability at work and at home. PSGS is USF’s way of combining research with education and community involvement in order to promote more sustainable communities and environment. It is directed by Dr. Vairavamoorthy who is an internationally renowned advocate for sustainable water sources and sanitation systems. The research carried out by Dr. Vairavamoorthy to further the sustainability efforts of USF is the development of new and creative ways to create more flexibly designed water systems. He is supported by USF’s office of sustainability which has many faculty and staff members. Together, the faculty and staff of the Office of Sustainability and the Patel School of Global Sustainability, have become involved in making each campus of USF greener. They have successfully gotten a LEED certified building, and aim to meet many other USGBC requirements as far as buildings are concerned in the near future. PSGS believes that the best way to further the sustainability and ecofriendliness of our families, schools, and environment is to educate people about it and that is just what they do. They offer many programs including a
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Masters of Arts in Global Sustainability, but offer their classes to those who are not in such programs. PSGS is one of the main reasons USF has been recognized for its efforts to go green.
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Smoking Ban The University of South Florida has instituted a smoking ban which has slowly taken effect over the past few years. The Tampa campus was the first to try and implement this when they banned smoking from the Moffit Cancer and Research Institute in 2008 (Shurtz). At this time, USF had no plans in instituting a University wide ban on smoking. Moffit hoped set an example so the University would become a smoke-free campus. The USF Health building quickly followed suit a year later and banned smoking around there as well. They stated that under the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, which banned smoking in all enclosed indoor workplaces, they would be allowed to do this (Giannini). The problem with this act is that smoking outside the building is not enforceable by law but USF Health says they hope the no-smoking signs would discourage use there. Starting this semester, both the St. Petersburg and Tampa campus have instituted a campus wide smoking ban on the grounds that it encourages a healthier lifestyle for its students and it also reduces cigarette emissions in the air. The first one to do it was St. Petersburg which began this policy on January 2012 while Tampa began on March 2012. Like Moffit and the USF Health building, they stated that the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act was broad enough to include a university campus (Alexander). Enforcement of this ban is the most difficult part because legally there is nothing that the university can do to students that have been caught smoking on campus. The Oracle has reported that universities such as the University of Florida have reported that since there are no consequences, people continue to smoke anyways. Anyone found smoking outside the designated areas can only be asked to put out their
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cigarettes. Some have suggested that complaints can be filed against students or employees and that it can possibly be damaging to them, many have spoken out that is unreasonable to damage someone’s employment or educational success for a poorly implemented policy with no legal consequences (USF Oracle). Despite all this, the University of South Florida hopes to make an impact on smoking and that these policies show that they in no way support it. These are some of the necessary steps an organization must take to further a green cause since the green movement since the environment and a healthy lifestyle go hand in hand. Student Involvement Student involvement is crucial to achieve the goal of a “greener” USF. “U.S. Green Building Council Student Groups encourage students to better their campuses by giving back to their communities, promoting sustainability, and getting involved with “green building” construction on campus.” The Green Building Council separates itself from others groups by connecting the next generation of green building movement leaders. The Green Building Council connects students by recruiting them and equipping them with the knowledge to go out and change their campus for the better. Student involvement is easily achieved by simply going to www.centerforgreenschools.org and writing down your basic contact information. As shown by the diagram below, the benefits for a student getting involved in the USGBC can be valuable to just about anyone.
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staff in using Hands-On LEED and Roadmap to a Green Campus.
USGBC Students groups benefit from the following:
Career Invitation to USGBC Students job fair Networking opportunities with green professionals Stand out from peers during a job search with LEED credentials.
Involvement Students have the opportunity to become connected with close to 80 USGBC chapter and affiliates within their communities and across the country. Leadership training opportunities are offered, and many chapters provide student discounts for membership and chapter events Opportunity for students to volunteer at Greenbuild and get discounted admission costs.
In addition to the USGBC, The USF Office of Sustainability was created to help advance the University of South Florida’s student involvement in transforming into a “Green University.” The USF Office of Sustainability writes on their main website, which can be found on www.psgs.usf.edu, “As citizen-scholar activists, we share a sustainability ethic that promotes conserving resources, reducing waste, recycling and reusing materials, finding new sources of clean energy, increasing energy efficiency, and diminishing lifecycle impacts and our consumption of greenhouse gas producing materials. We engage in this ethic of stewardship to guide the development and implementation of programs, policies, and other courses of action in the operation and management of the University of South Florida system as well as its institutional teaching, research, and service commitments.” With all these resources available to students, transforming a school to become “greener” has never been easier. Student involvement could and should grow with groups like the USGBC and The USF Office of Sustainability. Future No University in Florida is making more leaps and bounds in the future when it comes to creating energy-sustainable campuses more than the University of South Florida. When combining USFSP and USP Tampa campuses, there are a total of THREE certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings. USF Tampa alone has FIVE more buildings looking to get the LEED certification: the basketball
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Resources Complimentary access is offered to students for the following online courses: 101- Green Building Basics and LEED and 201- LEED Core Concepts and Strategies. Promotional codes are provided to students upon request after the Students group has completed affiliation, Students receive special assistance from the national
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practice facility, golf training facility, the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare, the Sun Dome and the Wellness and Nutrition Center, according to the Green Building Council's website. While there are opponents to University of South Florida’s plans in the future, citing high expenses as the reason not to pursue the “green” certification, it is without a doubt that the future plans being sought out by USF will drastically improve the image and environment alike. USF is going the extra mile to make sure that their future looks “greener”. Conclusion The aim of this project was to provide insight into the sustainability initiatives being taken by USF and their partners. Information was given on their current endeavors including transportation, water, energy, recycling and waste management, green buildings, LEED certifications, academics, smoking ban, student involvement, and the future of these initiatives. The University of South Florida is making great strides in being one of the foremost green friendly universities in the country. The Office of Sustainability has been one of the main reasons in which the University of South Florida is nationally recognized in its efforts for creating an environmentally friendly
atmosphere in and around its various campuses. By having separate departments in this office, the Office of Sustainability has been able to focus its efforts on various tasks by people who want to create a better educational and working environment for everyone. The improvements being made to how its buildings being constructed by adhering to the LEED criteria is also a huge step towards the ultimate goal towards sustainability. Besides construction and improvements, USF has been able to foster a culture of students and staff that are motivated by being more environmentally conscientious. New policies have been implemented such as the smoking ban in the Tampa and St. Petersburg campus which highlight how serious the university views the health of its faculty and staff as well as its students. USF has also been allowing the formation of school sponsored clubs which take an active role in conservation. The future looks bright for USF as it is making sure every student that is enrolled is at least aware of how serious taking care of the environment and fostering a green campus can be. USF certainly is “LEEDing” the way for other universities around the country to join the initiative to ensure the sustainability of our future.
Works Cited Alexander, Aimee. “Campus smoking ban takes effect Jan. 2012.” 22 Nov. 2011. 10 Mar. 2012. < http://crowsneststpete.com/2011/11/22/campus-smoking-ban-takes-effect-jan-2012/>
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Cash, Jacqui. “USF One of Nation’s Top Green Colleges.” USF News 05 May 2010. 17 Mar. 2012 <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=2295> Difonzo, Courtney. Smoking. 2012. Photograph. Digital BullpenWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://jou2100.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/smoking.jpg>. F28T8 Sell Sheet. GE Consumer & Industrial Lighting. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/literature_library/sell_sheets/do wnloads/fluorescent/F28T8-XL_sell_sheet.pdf>. Gadsden, Sandra J. “New Science and Technology building helps transform USF St. Petersburg.” Tampa Bay Times 24 Jan. 2010. 03 Mar. 2012. http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/newscience-and-technology-building-helps-transform-usf-st-petersburg/1067467. Giannini, Alessandra. "Banned: USF Health says 'no' to smoking." USF Oracle 19 November 2009, Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/banned-usf-health-says-no-to-smoking-1.2090464> Gordon, Tony. Smoking Sign. 2011. Photograph. USF OracleWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/polopoly_fs/1.2678267!/image/1005517987.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape _260/1005517987.jpg>. Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority. HART, 2012. Web. 27 March 2012. http://www.gohart.org/hart_of_green/future-green-plans.html. Life-Cycle Cost Analysis. Whole Building Design Guide. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.wbdg.org/resources/lcca.php>. Logan, Bill. "USF Is Taking Green to a Whole New Level, out with Styrofoam, in with Reusable to Go Boxes." ABC Action News. ABC, 28 July 2011. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. <http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/usf-is-taking-green-to-a-whole-newlevel%2C-out-with-styrofoam%2C-in-with-reusable-to-go-boxes>. Marquez, Melanie. “Science & Technology Building Earns LEED Certification.” USFSP News 21 Jan. 2010. 03 Mar. 2012. < http://www.usfsp.org/inews/view.asp?ID=599> National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Environmental Protection Agency, 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. www.epa.gov/npdes The Princeton Review, and USGBC. "The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges." Web. PSTA to Introduce New Hybrid SmartBus at “Green Living Workshop. PSTA, 2009. Web. 28 Mar 2012. <http://www.psta.net/PDF/SmartBus 6-27-09.pdf>. Shurtz, Alec. "New smoking policy clears air." USF Oracle 06 March 2008, Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/2.5741/new-smoking-policy-clears-air-1.618664> Starling, Amada. “SEAS plans Earth friendly events.” The Crows Nest. 22 Feb. 2012. 03 Mar. 2012 < http://crowsneststpete.com/2012/02/22/seas-plans-earth-friendly-events/> U.S. Green Building Council. LEED. U.S. Green Building Council. 2011 03 Mar. 2011. < http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19>
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USF Bullrunner. N.d. Photograph. Metro MagazineWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.metromagazine.com/images/news/UofSouthFlaBullRunnerShuttle-2.jpg>. USF Office of Sustainability. University of South Florida, 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <www.usf.edu/sustainability>. "USF’s partial smoking ban has hurdles to overcome." USF Oracle 03 19 2012, n. pag. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/usf-s-partial-smoking-ban-has-hurdles-to-overcome-1.2717320> USF Science and Technology Building. N.d. Photograph. Creative ContractorsWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.creativecontractors.com/uploads/photos/091113PT112-108-Edit.jpg>. Xeriscape. Sustainable Resources. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://xeriscape.sustainablesources.com/>. Annotated Bibliography Cash, Jacqui. “USF One of Nation’s Top Green Colleges.” USF News 05 May 2010. 17 Mar. 2012 <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=2295> This website gives some general information about the universities inclusion as being one of the top green colleges in the nation. The University of South Florida was included in the The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges which was done in conjunction with the U.S. Green building council. It goes on to state some of the universities criteria in being included in this are hosting a Green Jobs Fair or including Green issues in its general courses. The article then goes on to give some background information on The Princeton Review and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Marquez, Melanie. “Science & Technology Building Earns LEED Certification.” USFSP News 21 Jan. 2010. 03 Mar. 2012. < http://www.usfsp.org/inews/view.asp?ID=599> This article is about the St. Petersburg campus attaining a gold level LEED certification, which is the second highest possible. This building was designed in collaboration with USF St. Petersburg and the USF College of Marine Science as well as being funded by the Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) which is a state program that funds education programs through utility taxes.
Gadsden, Sandra J. “New Science and Technology building helps transform USF St. Petersburg.” Tampa Bay Times 24 Jan. 2010. 03 Mar. 2012. <http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/new-science-and-technology-building-helps-transformusf-st-petersburg/1067467> This is another article that goes into the opening of the Science and Technology building in 2010. The article states that it has earned a gold level LEED certification through its environmentally
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friendly design and construction materials. The building itself also has storage for environmentally friendly activities such as kayaking, which would encourage more students to participate in it.
U.S. Green Building Council. LEED. U.S. Green Building Council. 2011 03 Mar. 2011. < http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19> This is the homepage of the U.S Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This website has information on how the LEED program started and that its goal is to provide buildings a framework for designing and constructing green buildings. The rating system it uses was developed in 2000 and has been updated in 2012 to further improve its criteria. This website also provides the exact criteria to which it bases its ratings and even goes as far as providing the checklist in which a building is judged upon.
Starling, Amada. “SEAS plans Earth friendly events.” The Crows Nest. 22 Feb. 2012. 03 Mar. 2012 < http://crowsneststpete.com/2012/02/22/seas-plans-earth-friendly-events/> This article gives information into one of the many environmentally friendly events its hosts. In this case, the Student Environmental Awareness Society (SEAS) is hosting an event which is open to all students that tries to bring further awareness of the green movement through the use of fun activities. It is also calling for everyone to avoid using any form of technology or electricity for an hour on March 31 to save energy.
Alexander, Aimee. “Campus smoking ban takes effect Jan. 2012.” 22 Nov. 2011. 10 Mar. 2012. < http://crowsneststpete.com/2011/11/22/campus-smoking-ban-takes-effect-jan-2012/> The campus smoking ban that began in January 2012 was implemented to provide clean air for everybody on campus as well as to promote a healthier lifestyle by discouraging smoking. This is an on-going trend in Florida Universities and the USF St. Petersburg campus is not the first to do this. This ban falls under the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, which is state law that prohibits smoking inside enclosed workplaces. Since the university campus itself is considered a workplace, it would fall under this. The ban itself is a policy and not a law so it is still unclear on how it would be enforced. USF Office of Sustainability. University of South Florida, 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <www.usf.edu/sustainability>. This is the homepage to the University of South Florida Office of Sustainability. It details their sustainability initiatives including, transportation, designed environment, water, recycling,
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green building, and energy. It also provides information on the mission, history, pledge, programs, and who to contact. There is a plethora of great information on USF’s mission to become cleaner and greener. The Princeton Review, and USGBC. "The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges." Web. This is a PDF version of the “Princeton Review’s Guide to 311 Green Colleges” found online. USF is listed as one of the 311 green colleges and receives several other recognitions. They made the list of Green Guide Schools with LEED certified Buildings. They were also acknowledged for have a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS). Finally, they were listed under schools with ACUPCC Signatories, which addresses global climate disruption.
Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority. HART, 2012. Web. 27 March 2012. <http://www.gohart.org/hart_of_green/future-green-plans.html> This is the homepage of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) green initiative. HART is Tamps main bus line and is partnered with the Tampa Campus to provide free transportation for USF students. PSTA to Introduce New Hybrid SmartBus at “Green Living Workshop. PSTA, 2009. Web. 28 Mar 2012. <http://www.psta.net/PDF/SmartBus 6-27-09.pdf>. This is the a document which states that the Pinellas busing system will begin using Hybrid buses that greatly reduce pollutants into the air. Shurtz, Alec. "New smoking policy clears air." USF Oracle 06 March 2008, Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/2.5741/new-smoking-policy-clears-air-1.618664> This article is about the USF Tampa campus banning smoking from the Moffit Center. The Moffit center banned smoking completely since they were a cancer treatment and research center and wanted to encourage its patients and staff to not partake in that behavior. At the time, USF had not banned smoking on its campus. Giannini, Alessandra. "Banned: USF Health says 'no' to smoking." USF Oracle 19 November 2009, Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/banned-usf-health-says-no-to-smoking1.2090464> This article is about the smoking ban the USF Health building implemented outside its premises. They argued that under the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, that they could do this. Though it is not enforceable by law at this time.
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"USF’s partial smoking ban has hurdles to overcome." USF Oracle 03 19 2012, n. pag. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/usf-s-partial-smoking-ban-has-hurdles-to-overcome1.2717320> This article is about the Tampa smoking bans implementation and the consequences it might have with its students. Legally the University cannot enforce the ban and many universities like the University of Florida have reported that since there are no consequences, people continue to smoke like if nothing has happened. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Environmental Protection Agency, 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <www.epa.gov/npdes> This website explains the permits required for storm water discharge and explains in detail the duties of NPDES. Xeriscape. Sustainable Resources. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://xeriscape.sustainablesources.com/>. This website provided an explanation for what xeriscaping is and the effects it has on the environment. Life-Cycle Cost Analysis. Whole Building Design Guide. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.wbdg.org/resources/lcca.php>. This article detailed the process of life-cycle cost analysis and how it is used in practice. It explains the costs and benefits of putting LCCA into effect. F28T8 Sell Sheet. GE Consumer & Industrial Lighting. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/literature_library/sell_sh eets/downloads/fluorescent/F28T8-XL_sell_sheet.pdf>. This sell sheet gave the specifications on the F28T8 fluorescent light bulbs that USF has used to replace the old, less efficient light bulbs. Logan, Bill. "USF Is Taking Green to a Whole New Level, out with Styrofoam, in with Reusable to Go Boxes." ABC Action News. ABC, 28 July 2011. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. <http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/usf-is-taking-green-to-a-whole-newlevel%2C-out-with-styrofoam%2C-in-with-reusable-to-go-boxes>. This article is about USF dining services eliminating waste by getting rid of styrofoam and replacing it with hard plastic, reusable to go boxes. USF Science and Technology Building. N.d. Photograph. Creative ContractorsWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.creativecontractors.com/uploads/photos/091113PT112-108-Edit.jpg>.
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USF Bullrunner. N.d. Photograph. Metro MagazineWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.metromagazine.com/images/news/UofSouthFlaBullRunnerShuttle-2.jpg>. Courtney DiFonzo. Smoking. 2012. Photograph. Digital BullpenWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://jou2100.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/smoking.jpg>. Tony Gordon. Smoking Sign. 2011. Photograph. USF OracleWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/polopoly_fs/1.2678267!/image/1005517987.jpg_gen/derivatives/lan dscape_260/1005517987.jpg>.
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USF is LEEDing the way!
It seems that in many states throughout the country, the new fad has been “going green”. However, it is much more than just a fad; this movement has taken the nation by storm and has not only helped the environment, but also the profitability of companies. With most families, companies, and local organizations becoming more environmentally friendly in order to reduce costs and pollution, USF has also joined the initiative. By creating buildings that are eco-friendly and promoting a campus that is also as “green,” USF has reduced the university’s carbon footprint considerably. USF has taken a number of initiatives to ensure the sustainability of the university. USFSP’s Science and Technology building meets the USGBC’S compliance requirements and has been LEED certified. Other strides that the university has taken to become more green are the “Smoke-Free USF” campaign, transportation alternatives, the Green Energy Fund and above all a School of Global Sustainability. This School is one of the first in the nation and puts USF at the top of the list for eco-friendly campuses. For this White Paper Project, the main focus will be the initiatives USF has taken to go green and the sustainability that is a byproduct of those
Team Write On Sarah Brodie Krystal Hydes Kirstie Martin Muhamed Resic Maurice Taramona Professional Writing USF Spring 2012 Professor Francis Tobienne
initiatives.
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Table of Contents
Introduction………………1 Executive Summary…….3 Current Initiatives……….4
Interview……………………..5 Transportation……………...6 Water…………………………7 Energy……………………….8 Recycling and Waste Management………………..9 Green Buildings/LEED…10 Academics (School of Global Sustainability)……12
USF prides itself on being an eco-friendly university. With USFSP holding the first LEED certified building of all USF campuses, it is already LEEDing the way!
Smoking Ban……………13 Student Involvement…..13 Future…………………….14 Conclusion………………15 Works Cited……………..16 Annotated Bibliography...................17
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Executive Summary The University of South Florida is one of the many organizations that have embraced the green movement through its various policies and community activities. It has recently been selected to be in the Princeton
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Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges which was done in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council (Cash). This recognition puts it as one of the foremost leaders in green movement and set an example for others to adhere to. The USF Office of Sustainability is where most of the universities green initiatives take place. This office coordinates most of the construction or improvements to mainly the Tampa campus and sometimes hosts various events to raise awareness. These initiatives include improvements to the transportation system in and around campus, the conservation of water and energy, and implementing a better recycling policy. They have also begun the monumental undertaking that is constructing LEED certified buildings which adhere to a strict set of rules to become officially declared a green building. One of the first things the USF Office of Sustainability did was to improve the universities design so it can become more ecofriendly. This includes the planting of trees to create mini habitats around the campus. This helps in various ways that tie directly with their other initiatives such as transportation. By linking all the habitats around campus with walkways, they are encouraging more people to walk instead of driving. This in turn reduces the heat emissions these vehicles would otherwise create. Transportation has always been a big problem in large universities such as USF. It creates problems that directly affect the local environment such as air pollution and creating large heat islands. The university has taken great steps in reducing these two by having a large scale shuttle system that conveniently takes students to most places on campus. These shuttles are environmentally friendly and run on biodiesel which greatly reduce the pollutants it lets out into the air. The construction of large parking garages around most of its campuses helps contain heat islands. By removing large asphalt parking lots
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which were the norm and having large garages, the temperate could actually drop a few degrees since asphalt retains much of the heat it absorbs. Another initiative is the one involving all water related problems found inside the university. Any institution that is over one acre must adhere to certain regulations and USF is no different. It involved with phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater program which actively removes illicit discharges and pollutants in the water supply. The university has also required that every building have a water meter so it can further track its water usage responsibly. One of the most important water related policy that USF has used has been with xeriscaping. By planting flora that is native to the area, the risk of draught drops since these plants are used to the environment and do not need to be excessively watered (“Office of Sustainability”). For an institution its size, energy is probably the greatest problem the University of South Florida faces. To combat the universities great need for power, USF has implemented standards in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy which helps with energy conservation. This ranges from using better insulation to changing all the light bulbs to the energy efficient models which is an incredibly expensive endeavor. Waste management is something that the University of South Florida has been actively participating for many years. Since the 1990s, USF has been committed in reducing waste and recycling which comes as no surprise since most faculty and staff use recycled paper. The use of online classrooms and software such as BlackBoard has allowed professors to greatly reduce the amount of paper they would otherwise have had to consume. Recently the University of South Florida has started to construct green buildings which meet certain building codes set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDs) program which is run by the U.S. Green
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building Council has recently given the new Science and Technology building in the St. Petersburg campus a gold level certification (Marquez). This is the second highest a building can attain and it is considered to be very prestigious. This shows that the building has undergone a rigorous testing which judges every facet of the building to be in compliance.
Currently, this is the only building to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council but the University of South Florida has several more under construction scattered throughout its many campuses.
Current Initiatives
USF has taken on quite a few initiatives in the past to become more green and sustainable. Some of these initiatives include an alternative transportation system, a more sustainable system of water-usage, the lessening of energy consumption, better recycling and waste management, LEED certified buildings, and even a School of Global Sustainability. In order to better understand these initiatives, we have included an interview conducted with the Sustainability Program Coordinator of the Office of Sustainability. For the remainder of this section, we will go more in-depth on each initiative.
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Interview with Zaida E. Darley, M.A. Sustainability Program Coordinator, Office of Sustainability
Q: What is currently the most important sustainability initiative at USF and why? A: Every sustainability initiative is important because every bit counts. But if I had to pick, I think the Climate Action Plan and the Student Green Energy Fund are two very important sustainability initiatives on campus. The Climate Action Plan was created after President Genshaft signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment. An inventory of the campus's greenhouse gas emission was conducted and a commitment was made to become Climate Neutral by 2070 (http://rs.acupcc.org/cap/607/). Without the commitment of the President and set goals, USF cannot judge whether the campus's sustainability initiatives are making a difference. Now that goals have been set, the Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF) can help USF move towards Climate Neutrality (www.usf.edu/greenenergy). Funds are awarded to projects that will reduce the campus's electric bill and thereby reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Q: Where does the funding for these initiatives come from and who decides how the money is allocated? A: Each department has the option to make greener choices with their resources. For bigger projects, the Student Green Energy Funds is available. This $1 million annual fund is generated from the $1 a credit hour Green Fee that was requested and approved by students. SGEF awards are decided by a 12-member council that is made up of 6 staff/faculty and 6 students. So students generate the funds, decide on which projects are awarded, and can also propose projects. Q: How can students get involved? A: Students, faculty and staff can propose energy-saving projects to the Student Green Energy Fund. There are also several student organizations that are involved with campus sustainability, like the Student Environmental Association (SEA) and Keep Our Schools Beautiful (KOSB). SEA has been involved with Recyclemania, Real Food Challenge, and the EPA Game Day Challenge. Q: What results has USF seen so far? A: The results of sustainability initiatives can be seen everywhere. There has been an increase in recycle bins, a removal of almost all styrofoam from USF Dining, more water bottle filling stations (so people don't have to buy bottled water), and solar panels installed at the Marshall Center, Engineering and (soon) Champion's Choice. The solar panels are thanks to the SGEF. Q: Who does USF partner with in achieving its sustainability goals? A: Tampa Electric, City of Tampa, Sierra Club, and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County are just a couple of partners that have been very supportive with our efforts. Q: Lastly, why is it important to USF to have a campus that is eco-friendly with buildings that are LEED certified? A: It saves energy and resources in many ways. LEED certified building use local renewable resources and are designed to be as energy efficient as possible.
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Transportation The University of South Florida has taken many great strides in providing students the option of using environmentally friendly transportation inside its various campuses. All of the Universities campuses have the placed bicycle racks in convenient locations to encourage students to use this as an alternative to driving. This also includes adding bike racks to every new building constructed. By being partnered with the New North Transportation Alliance, USF has been provided with 37 bike racks which are being implemented in convenient locations around campus. The Tampa campus has gone an extra step and has constructed four miles of bike lanes on the campus ("Office of Sustainability"). For students and faculty who do not wish to use bicycles on campus, the University has provided a large network of sidewalks that are easily accessible by anyone which includes safety features such as signalized intersections ("Office of Sustainability"). Much of the sidewalk has been lined with trees, trellises, and arcades to provide shade for bicyclists and pedestrians alike. For some students, walking everywhere on campus or using bicycles is not an option due to class schedules or disabilities. Because of this, the University has various methods of free transportation that is available to everyone with a valid USF identification card. First and foremost are the Bull Runner shuttles; which are a mostly bio-diesel fueled bus which transports students freely around campus ("Office of Sustainability"). The Tampa campus is also currently partnered with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit which provides students with free transportation around the city. This bus system is also committed to staying environmentally responsible as well and most of their buses have been replaced with much ones
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who emit dramatically less pollution into the air (“HART”).
USF brags one of the most eco-friendly transportation services among universities today. The Bull Runner shuttles, which are mostly bio-diesel fueled buses, transport students freely around campus. While the St. Petersburg campus is not partnered with the local busing system like the Tampa campus is, there are still benefits to riding it. Students receive a discount for riding the bus and there are several bus stops around campus so students can get to wherever they may need to go. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has introduced Hybrid Smartbuses which reduce emissions by 90% and use 18% less fuel (“PSTA”). Environmentally conscious students at St. Petersburg may consider using this service so they would feel like they would be doing their part to further the green initiative. These busing alternatives can be used in conjunction with bicycling since they all have bicycle racks available ("Office of Sustainability"). Parking has become a big problem with the ever increasing admission rate and the University has begun to try and solve it. Parking lots create what is known as heat islands which are when the asphalt of retains the heat thereby increasing the immediate surrounding areas by a few degrees. This also has the side effect that by having more parking lots, you would be
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reducing the amount of green space available. The University is aware of these issues and has constructed large parking garages in each of their campuses. These garages help the University two-fold. They consolidate all heat into a specific area and also provide more parking spaces by using less room. These large parking garages have allowed to university to eliminate 120 acres of heat islands which increase permeable areas, landscape, and waterscape around its various campuses ("Office of Sustainability"). Another way the University has tried to solve its parking issues is to coordinate class scheduling so there is more of an even distribution around campus. This would greatly decrease the heat being retained by the parking lots and encourage more usage of parking garages since they’re usually located near the bigger hubs of student activity. Water Another major issue that USF has decided to tackle in an effort to “go green” is water sustainability. It is very easy to take water for granted as most people consider the world to have an abundance of it. However, there are several initiatives that can be taken to prevent waste and lower consumption and costs. The University of South Florida has taken several steps in meeting those girls. Water pollution is a major problem in today’s society as it can cause surface waters to become unsafe for drinking, swimming, fishing, etc. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) has constructed a permit program, authorized by the Clean Water Act, regulating point sources that release pollutants into waters in the United States (“EPA”). Point sources include man made ditches and pipes. The NPDES requires construction sites that are larger than 1 acre to have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Act (SPPA). There are two phases of this program, and USF is currently in Phase II (“Office of Sustainability”). Phase II requires large and medium municipal separate storm sewer systems located in Incorporated counties with a population over 100,000 to attain NPDES
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permits. The University abides by this mandate and works in conjunction with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to obtain all required permits (“Office of Sustainabilty”) In an effort to conserve water, the majority of buildings on USF campuses are individually metered. However, this does not include residence halls. Water meters are used to measure the volume of water usage. Using individual meters at each building allows the University to study consumption patterns and investigate alternative methods of meeting their sustainable water initiative. Many buildings on the USF-Tampa campus have been upgraded with motion sensing automatic faucets and toilets (“Office of Sustainability”). This prevents waste from over-flushing, and running sink water that is left on for longer than necessary or forgotten. The University of South Florida has implemented a policy that requires the use of xeriscaping in new building construction and new campus common areas (“Office of Sustainability”). Xeriscape landscapes is defined as “quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment.” (“Xeriscape- Sustainable Resources”). It involves planning and design, soil improvement, appropriate plant selection, practical turf areas, efficient irrigation, use of mulches, and appropriate maintenance. The policy at USF states that “landscape plans should include the use of plant species that are indigenous to the natural plant communities of the region and which promote the use of xeriscape principles” (“Office of Sustainability”). It also stipulates that planting non-invasive exotic plants should be limited to species that are able to withstand drought and minimal fertilization and use of chemicals.
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Energy One of the biggest initiatives across the campus deals with energy. This is no surprise as energy use, sustainability, and alternatives continues to make world headlines every day. USF has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy by adhering to the Florida Energy Code to monitor energy use (“U.S. Department of Energy”). They have implemented standards in building insulation values in walls, roofs, and windows as well as mechanical systems insulation and controls for HVAC and lighting. USF requires life cycle cost analysis as part of the Building Construction Document (“Office of Sustainability”). The purpose of life cycle cost analysis is to estimate the overall costs of project alternatives in order to select the design that ensures the lowest total cost of ownership over a facility’s entire life (“Whole Building Design Guide”). Energy recovery is being implemented into design whenever possible. The Greenlights Program replaces inefficient fixtures throughout the campus. Other sources of energy recovery include high efficiency chillers, additional insulation on heat pipes, roof replacements with a reflective surface, return ducts are insulated, and heat recovery systems in air handling units with 100% out air have been installed (“Office of Sustainability”). The Clean Energy Research Center at USF has been granted $15 million dollars for research of renewable over the last 10 years. The use of this money encompasses renewable energy projects, and design and development of photovoltaics, electric vehicles, microturbine gas landfills, battery development and management, and hydrogen production/storage and conversion to fuel cells. The Center is also working on the renowned Smart Grid project with local utilities (“Office of Sustainability”). USF has done a great deal to promote energy conservatism throughout the organization. They have replaced outdated fluorescent lamps with eco-friendly F28 T8 Fluorescent lamps in all buildings in excess of Recycling and Waste Management
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4 million square feet. According to the GE Lighting Department, these bulbs offer up to a 44% reduction in wattage compared to the T12 system, saves energy, and boasts a 30,000 hour life (“GE Lighting”). In the past, USF has used T12 system bulbs.
All vending machines on campus employ motion sensing lighting and energy control to reduce usage. Some buildings have also installed motion sensing light switches in classrooms and conference rooms (“Office of Sustainability”). USF has done a massive overhaul of the chilled water distribution system to conserve energy. The decision to close buildings outside of regular office hours has reduced energy consumption and after hours cleaning. Finally, the University has saved $7.7 million in gas costs through smarter purchasing of natural gas via transportation contracts (“Office of Sustainability”).
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Recycling and waste management have been in place for many years, and have been a hot button topic since the 1970’s. The Waste/Recycling/Purchasing Subcommittee of the USF Office of Sustainability has developed and submitted a new Green Purchasing directive that would continue their efforts of becoming a greener institution. Several green purchasing components are already in place. For example, Green Seal Certified products are used for cleaning across the campus. USF has also put an emphasis on the importance of sustainability initiatives to all vendors bidding on contracts. Of course, most college departments and offices use recycled paper and recycle their office paper. Physical Plant has operated a rigorous recycling program throughout the University since 1990 and Republic collects yard waste and separates material. Garbage solids are burned to generate electricity and scrap metal is recycled (“Office of Sustainability”). Professor’s are continuing to eliminate paper in courses every year through the use of technology (Blackboard, online examinations, etc.). Over 2,000 recycling containers for paper have been distributed campus-wide. USF Dining Services is a huge contributor to the recycling initiative. They provide reusable cups at a discounted price for fountain beverages, recyclable bags for transportation, re-usable to-go containers, and trayless dining to conserve water and energy. Dining services recycles cardboard and tin
materials and grease from the restaurants is recycled for biodiesel to power automobiles (“Office of Sustainability”). Recently, USF had its first waste audit. Receipts from years 19962007 were examined to determine that physical plant has recycled 48 tons of aluminum and over 9700 tons of mixed paper (“Office of Sustainability”). Other areas where recycling exists include electronic equipment and construction waste. All LEED projects require records of recycled waste be submitted as evidence.
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Green Buildings/LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a certification system that was formatted in 2000 by the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED certification is a tool that gives official recognition as an independent third-party to homeowners or corporations that meet levels of sustainability. There are nine sectors that LEED measures organizations such as businesses, communities and homes as key fields of sustainability. These nine sectors in alphabetical order are: Awareness and Education, Energy and Atmosphere, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Design, Locations and Linkages, Materials and Resources, Regional Priority, Sustainable Sites, and Water Efficiency. LEED rates the organization on its high achievement in energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, sustainable site development, and water savings; all which are defined as five key factors of environmental and human health.
While participation with the LEED process is voluntary, there are benefits, both environmental and financial, that come with having LEED certification. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) these benefits include: Be healthier and safer for occupants Conserve energy and water Lower operating costs and increase asset value Qualify for incentives in a plethora of cities, which include tax rebates and zoning allowances Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions Reduce waste sent to landfills LEED is an internationally recognized certification system. There are LEED projects in at least 120 countries throughout the world. In the United States alone, there are multiple groups that utilize and participate in the LEED certification system. State and local governments as well as federal agencies implement LEED in the publicfunded or –owned buildings as well as create and apply LEED initiatives. LEED certification is rated and awarded based on a 100-point scale, with the possibility of ten bonus points. The possible points are divided as shown below.
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Academics (School of Global Sustainability) The Patel School of Global Stability is one of the first and only in the country that focuses primarily on sustainability. Along with other initiatives to go green, USF has taken on the enormous task of educating students about sustainability at work and at home. PSGS is USF’s way of combining research with education and community involvement in order to promote more sustainable communities and environment. It is directed by Dr. Vairavamoorthy who is an internationally renowned advocate for sustainable water sources and sanitation systems. The research carried out by Dr. Vairavamoorthy to further the sustainability efforts of USF is the development of new and creative ways to create more flexibly designed water systems. He is supported by USF’s office of sustainability which has many faculty and staff members. Together, the faculty and staff of the Office of Sustainability and the Patel School of Global Sustainability, have become involved in making each campus of USF greener. They have successfully gotten a LEED certified building, and aim to meet many other USGBC requirements as far as buildings are concerned in the near future. PSGS believes that the best way to further the sustainability and ecofriendliness of our families, schools, and environment is to educate people about it and that is just what they do. They offer many programs including a
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Masters of Arts in Global Sustainability, but offer their classes to those who are not in such programs. PSGS is one of the main reasons USF has been recognized for its efforts to go green.
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Smoking Ban The University of South Florida has instituted a smoking ban which has slowly taken effect over the past few years. The Tampa campus was the first to try and implement this when they banned smoking from the Moffit Cancer and Research Institute in 2008 (Shurtz). At this time, USF had no plans in instituting a University wide ban on smoking. Moffit hoped set an example so the University would become a smoke-free campus. The USF Health building quickly followed suit a year later and banned smoking around there as well. They stated that under the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, which banned smoking in all enclosed indoor workplaces, they would be allowed to do this (Giannini). The problem with this act is that smoking outside the building is not enforceable by law but USF Health says they hope the no-smoking signs would discourage use there. Starting this semester, both the St. Petersburg and Tampa campus have instituted a campus wide smoking ban on the grounds that it encourages a healthier lifestyle for its students and it also reduces cigarette emissions in the air. The first one to do it was St. Petersburg which began this policy on January 2012 while Tampa began on March 2012. Like Moffit and the USF Health building, they stated that the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act was broad enough to include a university campus (Alexander). Enforcement of this ban is the most difficult part because legally there is nothing that the university can do to students that have been caught smoking on campus. The Oracle has reported that universities such as the University of Florida have reported that since there are no consequences, people continue to smoke anyways. Anyone found smoking outside the designated areas can only be asked to put out their
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cigarettes. Some have suggested that complaints can be filed against students or employees and that it can possibly be damaging to them, many have spoken out that is unreasonable to damage someone’s employment or educational success for a poorly implemented policy with no legal consequences (USF Oracle). Despite all this, the University of South Florida hopes to make an impact on smoking and that these policies show that they in no way support it. These are some of the necessary steps an organization must take to further a green cause since the green movement since the environment and a healthy lifestyle go hand in hand. Student Involvement Student involvement is crucial to achieve the goal of a “greener” USF. “U.S. Green Building Council Student Groups encourage students to better their campuses by giving back to their communities, promoting sustainability, and getting involved with “green building” construction on campus.” The Green Building Council separates itself from others groups by connecting the next generation of green building movement leaders. The Green Building Council connects students by recruiting them and equipping them with the knowledge to go out and change their campus for the better. Student involvement is easily achieved by simply going to www.centerforgreenschools.org and writing down your basic contact information. As shown by the diagram below, the benefits for a student getting involved in the USGBC can be valuable to just about anyone.
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staff in using Hands-On LEED and Roadmap to a Green Campus.
USGBC Students groups benefit from the following:
Career Invitation to USGBC Students job fair Networking opportunities with green professionals Stand out from peers during a job search with LEED credentials.
Involvement Students have the opportunity to become connected with close to 80 USGBC chapter and affiliates within their communities and across the country. Leadership training opportunities are offered, and many chapters provide student discounts for membership and chapter events Opportunity for students to volunteer at Greenbuild and get discounted admission costs.
In addition to the USGBC, The USF Office of Sustainability was created to help advance the University of South Florida’s student involvement in transforming into a “Green University.” The USF Office of Sustainability writes on their main website, which can be found on www.psgs.usf.edu, “As citizen-scholar activists, we share a sustainability ethic that promotes conserving resources, reducing waste, recycling and reusing materials, finding new sources of clean energy, increasing energy efficiency, and diminishing lifecycle impacts and our consumption of greenhouse gas producing materials. We engage in this ethic of stewardship to guide the development and implementation of programs, policies, and other courses of action in the operation and management of the University of South Florida system as well as its institutional teaching, research, and service commitments.” With all these resources available to students, transforming a school to become “greener” has never been easier. Student involvement could and should grow with groups like the USGBC and The USF Office of Sustainability. Future No University in Florida is making more leaps and bounds in the future when it comes to creating energy-sustainable campuses more than the University of South Florida. When combining USFSP and USP Tampa campuses, there are a total of THREE certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings. USF Tampa alone has FIVE more buildings looking to get the LEED certification: the basketball
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Resources Complimentary access is offered to students for the following online courses: 101- Green Building Basics and LEED and 201- LEED Core Concepts and Strategies. Promotional codes are provided to students upon request after the Students group has completed affiliation, Students receive special assistance from the national
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practice facility, golf training facility, the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare, the Sun Dome and the Wellness and Nutrition Center, according to the Green Building Council's website. While there are opponents to University of South Florida’s plans in the future, citing high expenses as the reason not to pursue the “green” certification, it is without a doubt that the future plans being sought out by USF will drastically improve the image and environment alike. USF is going the extra mile to make sure that their future looks “greener”. Conclusion The aim of this project was to provide insight into the sustainability initiatives being taken by USF and their partners. Information was given on their current endeavors including transportation, water, energy, recycling and waste management, green buildings, LEED certifications, academics, smoking ban, student involvement, and the future of these initiatives. The University of South Florida is making great strides in being one of the foremost green friendly universities in the country. The Office of Sustainability has been one of the main reasons in which the University of South Florida is nationally recognized in its efforts for creating an environmentally friendly
atmosphere in and around its various campuses. By having separate departments in this office, the Office of Sustainability has been able to focus its efforts on various tasks by people who want to create a better educational and working environment for everyone. The improvements being made to how its buildings being constructed by adhering to the LEED criteria is also a huge step towards the ultimate goal towards sustainability. Besides construction and improvements, USF has been able to foster a culture of students and staff that are motivated by being more environmentally conscientious. New policies have been implemented such as the smoking ban in the Tampa and St. Petersburg campus which highlight how serious the university views the health of its faculty and staff as well as its students. USF has also been allowing the formation of school sponsored clubs which take an active role in conservation. The future looks bright for USF as it is making sure every student that is enrolled is at least aware of how serious taking care of the environment and fostering a green campus can be. USF certainly is “LEEDing” the way for other universities around the country to join the initiative to ensure the sustainability of our future.
Works Cited Alexander, Aimee. “Campus smoking ban takes effect Jan. 2012.” 22 Nov. 2011. 10 Mar. 2012. < http://crowsneststpete.com/2011/11/22/campus-smoking-ban-takes-effect-jan-2012/>
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Cash, Jacqui. “USF One of Nation’s Top Green Colleges.” USF News 05 May 2010. 17 Mar. 2012 <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=2295> Difonzo, Courtney. Smoking. 2012. Photograph. Digital BullpenWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://jou2100.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/smoking.jpg>. F28T8 Sell Sheet. GE Consumer & Industrial Lighting. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/literature_library/sell_sheets/do wnloads/fluorescent/F28T8-XL_sell_sheet.pdf>. Gadsden, Sandra J. “New Science and Technology building helps transform USF St. Petersburg.” Tampa Bay Times 24 Jan. 2010. 03 Mar. 2012. http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/newscience-and-technology-building-helps-transform-usf-st-petersburg/1067467. Giannini, Alessandra. "Banned: USF Health says 'no' to smoking." USF Oracle 19 November 2009, Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/banned-usf-health-says-no-to-smoking-1.2090464> Gordon, Tony. Smoking Sign. 2011. Photograph. USF OracleWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/polopoly_fs/1.2678267!/image/1005517987.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape _260/1005517987.jpg>. Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority. HART, 2012. Web. 27 March 2012. http://www.gohart.org/hart_of_green/future-green-plans.html. Life-Cycle Cost Analysis. Whole Building Design Guide. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.wbdg.org/resources/lcca.php>. Logan, Bill. "USF Is Taking Green to a Whole New Level, out with Styrofoam, in with Reusable to Go Boxes." ABC Action News. ABC, 28 July 2011. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. <http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/usf-is-taking-green-to-a-whole-newlevel%2C-out-with-styrofoam%2C-in-with-reusable-to-go-boxes>. Marquez, Melanie. “Science & Technology Building Earns LEED Certification.” USFSP News 21 Jan. 2010. 03 Mar. 2012. < http://www.usfsp.org/inews/view.asp?ID=599> National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Environmental Protection Agency, 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. www.epa.gov/npdes The Princeton Review, and USGBC. "The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges." Web. PSTA to Introduce New Hybrid SmartBus at “Green Living Workshop. PSTA, 2009. Web. 28 Mar 2012. <http://www.psta.net/PDF/SmartBus 6-27-09.pdf>. Shurtz, Alec. "New smoking policy clears air." USF Oracle 06 March 2008, Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/2.5741/new-smoking-policy-clears-air-1.618664> Starling, Amada. “SEAS plans Earth friendly events.” The Crows Nest. 22 Feb. 2012. 03 Mar. 2012 < http://crowsneststpete.com/2012/02/22/seas-plans-earth-friendly-events/> U.S. Green Building Council. LEED. U.S. Green Building Council. 2011 03 Mar. 2011. < http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19>
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USF Bullrunner. N.d. Photograph. Metro MagazineWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.metromagazine.com/images/news/UofSouthFlaBullRunnerShuttle-2.jpg>. USF Office of Sustainability. University of South Florida, 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <www.usf.edu/sustainability>. "USF’s partial smoking ban has hurdles to overcome." USF Oracle 03 19 2012, n. pag. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/usf-s-partial-smoking-ban-has-hurdles-to-overcome-1.2717320> USF Science and Technology Building. N.d. Photograph. Creative ContractorsWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.creativecontractors.com/uploads/photos/091113PT112-108-Edit.jpg>. Xeriscape. Sustainable Resources. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://xeriscape.sustainablesources.com/>. Annotated Bibliography Cash, Jacqui. “USF One of Nation’s Top Green Colleges.” USF News 05 May 2010. 17 Mar. 2012 <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=2295> This website gives some general information about the universities inclusion as being one of the top green colleges in the nation. The University of South Florida was included in the The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges which was done in conjunction with the U.S. Green building council. It goes on to state some of the universities criteria in being included in this are hosting a Green Jobs Fair or including Green issues in its general courses. The article then goes on to give some background information on The Princeton Review and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Marquez, Melanie. “Science & Technology Building Earns LEED Certification.” USFSP News 21 Jan. 2010. 03 Mar. 2012. < http://www.usfsp.org/inews/view.asp?ID=599> This article is about the St. Petersburg campus attaining a gold level LEED certification, which is the second highest possible. This building was designed in collaboration with USF St. Petersburg and the USF College of Marine Science as well as being funded by the Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) which is a state program that funds education programs through utility taxes.
Gadsden, Sandra J. “New Science and Technology building helps transform USF St. Petersburg.” Tampa Bay Times 24 Jan. 2010. 03 Mar. 2012. <http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/new-science-and-technology-building-helps-transformusf-st-petersburg/1067467> This is another article that goes into the opening of the Science and Technology building in 2010. The article states that it has earned a gold level LEED certification through its environmentally
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friendly design and construction materials. The building itself also has storage for environmentally friendly activities such as kayaking, which would encourage more students to participate in it.
U.S. Green Building Council. LEED. U.S. Green Building Council. 2011 03 Mar. 2011. < http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19> This is the homepage of the U.S Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This website has information on how the LEED program started and that its goal is to provide buildings a framework for designing and constructing green buildings. The rating system it uses was developed in 2000 and has been updated in 2012 to further improve its criteria. This website also provides the exact criteria to which it bases its ratings and even goes as far as providing the checklist in which a building is judged upon.
Starling, Amada. “SEAS plans Earth friendly events.” The Crows Nest. 22 Feb. 2012. 03 Mar. 2012 < http://crowsneststpete.com/2012/02/22/seas-plans-earth-friendly-events/> This article gives information into one of the many environmentally friendly events its hosts. In this case, the Student Environmental Awareness Society (SEAS) is hosting an event which is open to all students that tries to bring further awareness of the green movement through the use of fun activities. It is also calling for everyone to avoid using any form of technology or electricity for an hour on March 31 to save energy.
Alexander, Aimee. “Campus smoking ban takes effect Jan. 2012.” 22 Nov. 2011. 10 Mar. 2012. < http://crowsneststpete.com/2011/11/22/campus-smoking-ban-takes-effect-jan-2012/> The campus smoking ban that began in January 2012 was implemented to provide clean air for everybody on campus as well as to promote a healthier lifestyle by discouraging smoking. This is an on-going trend in Florida Universities and the USF St. Petersburg campus is not the first to do this. This ban falls under the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, which is state law that prohibits smoking inside enclosed workplaces. Since the university campus itself is considered a workplace, it would fall under this. The ban itself is a policy and not a law so it is still unclear on how it would be enforced. USF Office of Sustainability. University of South Florida, 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2012. <www.usf.edu/sustainability>. This is the homepage to the University of South Florida Office of Sustainability. It details their sustainability initiatives including, transportation, designed environment, water, recycling,
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green building, and energy. It also provides information on the mission, history, pledge, programs, and who to contact. There is a plethora of great information on USF’s mission to become cleaner and greener. The Princeton Review, and USGBC. "The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges." Web. This is a PDF version of the “Princeton Review’s Guide to 311 Green Colleges” found online. USF is listed as one of the 311 green colleges and receives several other recognitions. They made the list of Green Guide Schools with LEED certified Buildings. They were also acknowledged for have a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System (STARS). Finally, they were listed under schools with ACUPCC Signatories, which addresses global climate disruption.
Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority. HART, 2012. Web. 27 March 2012. <http://www.gohart.org/hart_of_green/future-green-plans.html> This is the homepage of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) green initiative. HART is Tamps main bus line and is partnered with the Tampa Campus to provide free transportation for USF students. PSTA to Introduce New Hybrid SmartBus at “Green Living Workshop. PSTA, 2009. Web. 28 Mar 2012. <http://www.psta.net/PDF/SmartBus 6-27-09.pdf>. This is the a document which states that the Pinellas busing system will begin using Hybrid buses that greatly reduce pollutants into the air. Shurtz, Alec. "New smoking policy clears air." USF Oracle 06 March 2008, Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/2.5741/new-smoking-policy-clears-air-1.618664> This article is about the USF Tampa campus banning smoking from the Moffit Center. The Moffit center banned smoking completely since they were a cancer treatment and research center and wanted to encourage its patients and staff to not partake in that behavior. At the time, USF had not banned smoking on its campus. Giannini, Alessandra. "Banned: USF Health says 'no' to smoking." USF Oracle 19 November 2009, Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/banned-usf-health-says-no-to-smoking1.2090464> This article is about the smoking ban the USF Health building implemented outside its premises. They argued that under the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, that they could do this. Though it is not enforceable by law at this time.
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"USF’s partial smoking ban has hurdles to overcome." USF Oracle 03 19 2012, n. pag. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/usf-s-partial-smoking-ban-has-hurdles-to-overcome1.2717320> This article is about the Tampa smoking bans implementation and the consequences it might have with its students. Legally the University cannot enforce the ban and many universities like the University of Florida have reported that since there are no consequences, people continue to smoke like if nothing has happened. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Environmental Protection Agency, 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <www.epa.gov/npdes> This website explains the permits required for storm water discharge and explains in detail the duties of NPDES. Xeriscape. Sustainable Resources. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://xeriscape.sustainablesources.com/>. This website provided an explanation for what xeriscaping is and the effects it has on the environment. Life-Cycle Cost Analysis. Whole Building Design Guide. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.wbdg.org/resources/lcca.php>. This article detailed the process of life-cycle cost analysis and how it is used in practice. It explains the costs and benefits of putting LCCA into effect. F28T8 Sell Sheet. GE Consumer & Industrial Lighting. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/literature_library/sell_sh eets/downloads/fluorescent/F28T8-XL_sell_sheet.pdf>. This sell sheet gave the specifications on the F28T8 fluorescent light bulbs that USF has used to replace the old, less efficient light bulbs. Logan, Bill. "USF Is Taking Green to a Whole New Level, out with Styrofoam, in with Reusable to Go Boxes." ABC Action News. ABC, 28 July 2011. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. <http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/usf-is-taking-green-to-a-whole-newlevel%2C-out-with-styrofoam%2C-in-with-reusable-to-go-boxes>. This article is about USF dining services eliminating waste by getting rid of styrofoam and replacing it with hard plastic, reusable to go boxes. USF Science and Technology Building. N.d. Photograph. Creative ContractorsWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.creativecontractors.com/uploads/photos/091113PT112-108-Edit.jpg>.
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USF Bullrunner. N.d. Photograph. Metro MagazineWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.metromagazine.com/images/news/UofSouthFlaBullRunnerShuttle-2.jpg>. Courtney DiFonzo. Smoking. 2012. Photograph. Digital BullpenWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://jou2100.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/smoking.jpg>. Tony Gordon. Smoking Sign. 2011. Photograph. USF OracleWeb. 4 Apr 2012. <http://www.usforacle.com/polopoly_fs/1.2678267!/image/1005517987.jpg_gen/derivatives/lan dscape_260/1005517987.jpg>.
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