USF Sustainability White Paper

Te a m G o - G o G r e e n

Team Go-Go Green March 2011

USF S USTAINABILITY
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: What is Sustainability? USF’s Sustainability History Current Sustainability Efforts University Comparisons Student Involvement Future Sustainability Endeavors
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BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS
With the signature of university president, Dr. Judy Genshaft, on April 12, 2009, The University of South Florida formally committed to moving the university toward a more sustainable future by accepting the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. In an effort to not only sustain the university, but to benefit both the local and global communities, the University of South Florida has reviewed existing policies and practices, and formally established new ones, to promote the benefits of sustainability and to reduce any negative impact on the university, its constituents, and the environment. This paper provides a thorough review of the universities longstanding efforts in maximizing sustainability while discussing current programs and initiatives, including the campus and building design, transportation, energy consumption and re-

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Team Go-Go Green • Kristin Eylward—Team Leader, Primary Editor • Edward Kirk—Researcher, Contributing Editor • Sean McIntosh—Researcher, Contributing Editor • Jessica Thomas— Researcher, Interviewer • Morgan Wells—Researcher, Interviewer Professional Writing Dr. Francis Tobienne University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue Tampa, FL 33620

Photo courtesy of the University of South Florida

generation, recycling efforts, and related costs. While reviewing the specific actions of the University of South Florida, it is also important to review the actions of other universities in order to establish a quorum of acceptable and innovative standards to raise the level of awareness at a regional, state, national, and global level.

An examination of current student practices is provided, as well as programs discussed that encourage both energy and resource conservation. Finally, an interview with the Director of the Office of Sustainability reveals future initiatives and plans to further expand the universities goal of achieving maximum sustainability.

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TABLE
3 4 Executive Summary What is Sustainability?

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CONTENTS
16 USF Student Involvement
-How

Can the Students do Their Part to Go Green?

-Why is Global Sustainability Im portant? -Universities: A Great Place to Start

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USF Engineers for a Sustainable World USF’s Future Endeavors
-Academics -Campus Design -Green Building -Transportation -Energy -Recycling, Waste Management, and Procurement -Students

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History of Sustainability at USF
-Infrastructure -Operations -Management

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Current Sustainability Efforts
-Campus Design -Building Design -Transportation -Energy -Costs

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Spotlight: The School of Global Sustainability Bio: Dr. E. Christian Wells Spotlight: USF Earns “Gold” Rating Works Cited Bibliography

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Spotlight: The Patel Center for Global Solutions The Green Lights Program Spotlight: Dr. E. Christian Wells
-Interview

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A Comparison of Universities
-University of Florida -University of Central Florida

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USF’s Sustainability Programs

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E X E C U T I V E S U M M A RY
With the world population growth estimated at 1.14%, we could realistically see a doubling of the population within 61 years, exceeding 13 billion by 2067. It is necessary to start focusing our attention on how we can expand our accommodations without eliminating all of our resources. Universities are not only an institution, but they are an entire community in and of themselves. They are a home of cutting-edge technology, innovative minds, and collaborative environments. Not only can powerful and influential research and development take place at a university, but it can also be implemented in practice right on campus. Recognizing the importance of this, the University of South Florida (USF) has engaged it’s staff, faculty, and students to not only begin addressing sustainability on campus, but to address systems and policies to lessen the burden on the local area, state, country, and global community. Through various programs—past, current and future—USF continues to accept responsibility and commit to taking action, further demonstrated by its signing onto the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and earning the prestigious rating of “Gold” from the U.S. STARS rating program. Through aggressive programs, including, but not limited to, recycling programs, inception of the School of Global Sustainability, energy conservations projects, overhaul of its transportation system, and various student organizations, USF is quickly becoming a leader in reducing the carbon footprint on the world.

The University of South Florida’s School of Global Sustainability Groundbreaking Ceremony
Photo courtesy of the University of South Florida

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WHAT
Global Sustainability is a hot topic in today’s environment at both an organizational level and a personal level. Due to the extreme number of stakeholders involved, a single, agreed-upon definition of global sustainability can be hard to come by. To give a well-rounded idea of what global sustainability entails, the following definitions have been provided: - “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” – Brundtland Commission of the United Nations - “Sustainability is improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems.” – International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources - “Sustainable development is human development within the ecological means of our planet, while leaving a substantial share of Earth’s biosphere to species other than humans. In addition to this ecological framework, sustainable development requires a social regulatory framework which focuses on improving the quality of life for all, in current and future generations. Within those transparently set frameworks, a dynamic market economy can thrive.” –Foundation for Global Sustainability As you can see, while sustainability has a large focus on the environment, societal and economic interests are an integral part as well. It is all about learning to live within our environmental limits and understanding how the environment, society, and the economy are interconnected. To achieve the goal of global sustainability, it is important to maintain the essential aspects of sustainability. The essential aspects include maintaining resources, agricultural systems, biological diversity, economic growth, and finally, environmental and human health.

IS S U S TA I NAB I L I T Y ?

Picture courtesy of the University of South Florida

Why is Global Sustainability Important?
With the world population growth estimated at 1.14%, we could realistically see a doubling of the population within 61 years! That means that by 2067, the world population could exceed 13 billion! Due to these statistics, it is necessary to start focusing our attention on how we can expand our accommodations without eliminating all of our resources.

on campus. The outcomes can then be examined firsthand and benefits and shortcomings can be addressed. With this in mind, the University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF) developed a tenpoint action plan for universities in 1990 called the Talloires Declaration. Signed by university presidents, it is a commitment to implement the following steps of action: 1) Increase awareness of environmentally sustainable development 2) Create an institutional culture of sustainability 3) Educate for environmentally responsible citizenship 4) Foster environmental literacy for all Continued, p.5

Universities: A Great Place to Start
Universities are not only an institution, but they are an entire community in and of themselves. They are a home of cuttingedge technology, innovative minds, and collaborative environments. Not only can powerful and influential research and development take place at a university, but it can also be implemented in practice right

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WORLD POPULATION Continued from p.4 5) Practice institutional ecology 6) Involve all stakeholders 7) Collaborate for interdisciplinary approaches 8) Enhance capacity of primary and secondary schools 9) Broaden service and outreach nationally and internationally 10) Maintain the movement At this point in time, the Talloires Declaration has been signed by more than 350 university presidents in over 40 countries. Contributed by Kristin Eylward The graph to the left represents real and future estimates of population evolution for each continent, as well as the world as a whole. It reflects the past, current, and future growth rates for each respective continent. It is estimated that by 2067, the world population could exceed 13 billion. The vertical axis is logarithmic and represents millions. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Your gift will allow the Office of Sustainability to pursue its mission of building a sustainable, healthy campus environment for our students, faculty, staff, and alumni—making a positive impact to our community and planet. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Donor Relations (813-974-2035) to be put in contact with a staff member who will personally assist you.

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H I S TO RY

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S U S TA I N I B I L I T Y
Infrastructure - Creation of the USF Office of Sustainability - Creation of an Advisory Council and Technical Advisory Board for the Office of Sustainability - Established a “Green Fund” to support the Office of Sustainability’s efforts - Initiated several programs for each level of stakeholders (students, graduate students, faculty, as well as curriculum development) Operations - Reporting of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory to remain in compliance with the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) - Development of a Climate Action Plan (CAP) through collaboration between the Sustainability Steering Committee, students, and staff - Established policies for implementing the initiatives in the CAP - Implementation of the initiatives in the CAP

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USF

In 1995, the University of South Florida (USF) made a commitment to move towards developing a more sustainable campus. They formalized this commitment in the USF Tampa Campus Master Plan by outlining goals, practices, and strategies to do their part in global sustainability. Since 1995, USF has updated their commitment continually to include increased innovations in research and development, as well as modern trends and more recent global concerns. In the first ten years of USF’s “going green” Initiative, they planted over 2000 trees, developed a free biofuel shuttle service for students to relive traffic, increased the number of on-campus residences, provided easy recycling opportunities, replaced high-energy sources with low energy sources, and constructed many additional walking paths and bike lanes. Furthermore, during this initial ten year period, USF was able to save approximately $10 million with their Greenlights replacement program! Throughout this paper, each initiative that USF has implemented (including those just mentioned) will be examined in more detail. However, it is important to understand how they got started in their movement towards a more sustainable campus. This commitment has provided USF with many institutional gains in the areas of infrastructure, operations, and management.

Management - Became a Charter Participant of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS); a voluntary, self-reporting system used to track progress towards sustainable goals - Hosts a yearly Campus and Community Sustainability Conference - Linked the Office of Sustainability’s actions with those of the surrounding communities - Creation of the School of Global Sustainability After examining a little bit of USF’s history in the commitment to moving towards a more sustainable campus, as well as the development and implementation of initial sustainable efforts, we can now examine each initiative that the University of South Florida has applied on campus. While USF’s history of sustainability is fairly recent, you will see that the efforts have increased exponentially over the past six to seven years. Contributed by Kristin Eylward

At Left: The ACUPCC. University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft made the commitment of sustainability official with her signature on April 12, 2009. Photo courtesy of the ACUPCC.

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C U R R E N T S U S TA I NA B I L I T Y E F F O RT S
A Sustainability Initiative Steering Committee was formed in response to a letter from USF President Judy Genshaft. The letter was written on April 12, 2009, and was for the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. This commitment not only positions the University of South Florida, but positions the Tampa region and Florida as locations of innovation with increased economic and social benefits. While the President’s commitment in 2009 was not the university’s first commitment to sustainability, it was an aggressive step in moving USF’s efforts to an even more sustainable future. Savings, both direct and indirect, from “greening” the campus invites the campus to be utilized as a laboratory for both undergraduate and graduate research and community outreach, which in turn promotes the development of innovative education and research programs that have a high economic and societal impact. Additionally, by being in the forefront of universities by having a strong green initiative, USF graduates are high in-demand, are highly engaged citizens, and competitive in the regional and global economy (Whiteford). Moving into the future, it is important to note USF’s ongoing and long-term efforts in the following areas (S. Regonini): has taken many initiatives to get the design of the campus to contribute to sustainability and these programs include: Open Space Network – This movement includes the Greenway preservation, which entails protecting open space and retention ponds. Landscape – Since 1995, nearly 2,000 trees have been planted throughout the campus. Leroy Collins Boulevard was garnished with 180 trees after they were donated to the campus. Thirteen live Oak trees were re-located to a different part of campus after they were up-rooted due to construction. Currently, the trees on campus that are located on construction sites are barricaded at the drip line of the canopy to prevent materials from getting underneath. These strategies compact the soil and protect the roots from rainwater. Xeriscape Development – This involves planting more plants that are droughttolerant and native to the area. The new Patel Center for Global Solutions is the first project to fully commit to full xeric materials. Waterscape Improvement – Being implemented is an aggregated campus-wide storm water system. Cisterns are being built for the use of storage and re-use of the water before it goes into the storm water system. Currently, there is a storm water reuse project at the USF Golf Course. Green Buildings – There are many building across all of the University of South Florida’s campuses, some of which are in construction to be LEED certified. These include the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions, Tampa Campus (completed), Interdisciplinary Science, Tampa Campus (under construction), the Science & Technology Building, St. Petersburg Campus (under construction), USF Polytechnic Phase I, Lakeland Campus (under construction), and the Wellness and Nutrition Center, Tampa Campus (under construction). Building Materials – All of the materials used on current building construction and renovations are LEED registered. Concrete and locally produced brick and stucco have been used extensively. The use of rapidly renewable materials is also on the rise on USF campuses. Material Conservation/Recycling - Stained concrete floors have been used a lot throughout the process of renovations and construction of new buildings on campus. This technique has also been used on unpainted materials such as rock, concrete blocks, metal, and concrete. The process of recycling demolition and construction materials is in place on campus. Rainwater Harvesting – As part of the new Patel Center, there will be a cistern that collects all of the rainwater and re-uses it in the building for toilet and urinal flushing. This building is the first on campus to incorporate this into the design. There has also been a plan to equip all of the faucets in campus with low-flow water fixtures. These fixtures limit the flow of water that comes out of the faucets in order to conserve. Continued, p.9

Campus Design
On the main Campus of the University of South Florida, more than half of the buildings constructed over the past 10 years have been four stories or greater. There are actually several buildings that top off at seven stories. By doing this, the campus had reduced land area that is being covered and will be allowed to remain an open space. There have been major public spaces incorporated onto the campus including the MLK Plaza, Sessums Pedestrian Mall, Marshall Student Center, and many other quads located throughout the campus. These spaces promote an increase in foot traffic with the hopes of decreasing vehicle traffic on campus. USF

Building Design
On staff, there are three LEED Accredited Professionals that have begun to renovate many buildings around campus. These buildings include Chemistry, Education, Science Center, and Kopp. Many roofs around campus have been replaced with high insulation and reflectivity values. Buildings in construction have also been built east-to-west. Sunscreens for southern facing windows continue to be installed around numerous buildings, along with high efficiency glass. There are more initiatives taking place around campus which include:

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*SPOTLIGHT*
THE PATEL CENTER FOR GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
The Patel Center for Global Solutions was established in 2005 using a $5 million donation provided by Drs. Kiran C. and Pallavi Patel, as well as $5 million in state funds. It is a research center at the University of South Florida that promotes global sustainability through education, policy, and most importantly, action. The primary goal is to examine the natural, social, and economic environments of the world, to seek out the challenges and problems that exist, and then to provide practical solutions to those challenges. While the research focus is on global solutions, the Patel Center has taken action right at home as well, in the form of sustainability on USF’s campuses. USF is now proud to have on its main Tampa campus the first fully “green” building, known simply as “The Patel Center” by students and staff.

The Patel Center for Global Solutions, Tampa, FL

Photo courtesy of the University of South Florida

Construction on the Patel Center broke ground in 2009 and was finally completed in late 2010, with finishing touches completed in early 2011. The goal? To earn the “gold” status by the LEED Green Building Rating System. “Administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Builiding Rating System assigns a certification level based on a building’s environmentally friendly features, including sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources utilized, and indoor environmental quality” (Kay). In February 2011, USF was proud to receive that coveted “gold” rating. The following are some of the “green” features that were incorporated into the design of the Patel Center building: - A 30,000 gallon water tank was installed underneath the building in which rain water and condensation from the air conditioner is collected and redistributed to flush the toilets. - Landscaping was designed using trees and plants that can sustain the unique Florida weather without needing an abundance of environmental resources such as water. - Lighting systems were installed that turn off automatically when the rooms are unoccupied. - Building supplies were obtained only from manufacturers that were located within a 500-mile radius around Tampa in order to reduce the carbon footprint created by material transportation. - The building was built in an area of full sun (on an east-west axis) to provide as much natural light as possible and solar panels were installed on the roof to heat the water that is used in the building. - Special glazes were used on the windows to allow light to penetrate the interior but not the heat. - Temperature controls were added to each individual space so employees have the option to control the temperature to their liking, as a common complaint in offices is that it is too cold from overworking air conditioners. - Recycled and composite materials were used throughout the building, however style was not compromised as beautiful materials such as bamboo, maple, and specialized LEED-certified tiling was used. The features mentioned above are just a few of the vast amount of “green” improvements that were used in construction of the Patel Center. Of course, the environmental efforts did not stop at the mere construction of the building. In fact, Perry Construction (the firm contracted for the construction of the Patel Center) was able to recycle over 90% of the construction waste from this project! USF now has a beautiful, environmentally friendly space where students and staff can now concentrate their efforts on achieving global sustainability.

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Continued from p.7

Transportation
According to USF’s Tampa Campus Master Plan, there are going to be major changes and additions around campus to make it friendlier for people to use alternate ways of transportation. The plan implemented will also cut down on emissions greatly because it would be getting students/faculty/staff out of their vehicles. These changes and additions include: Pedestrian and Bicycle Commuting – The Master plan includes plan for a Long Range Bicycle Lane Plan and the incorporation of bike lanes onto campus streets. Currently, more than 4 miles of bike lanes have been added to the streets on Tampa’s campus, but they intend to add more. These plans include installing bike racks at all new locations around campus and adding signals for pedestrians at all of the new intersections. They have added more trees to paths around campus to provide shade with the hopes of increasing foot traffic around the campus. They have also made it simpler for bicycle/pedestrian commuters to access the campus from offcampus housing. Beginning in 2009, Campus Recreation offers a bicycle rental program. Bus System – The Bull Runner Transit System is USF’s Tampa campus busing system. The buses are run on bio-diesel (at one time 100%, but not currently) and are free to students/faculty/staff on campus. The buses run throughout campus and also to connecting neighborhoods around campus as well as to a HART station (Tampa’s Public Bus System). Currently, this bus system gives upwards of one million rides per year. Commuter Options – There are multiple commuter options that individuals affiliated with USF Tampa can take advantage of. These services include: - HART Bus System – As long as an individual has a University of South Florida ID card on them, they can ride the bus for free. This is a great option for commuters because HART connects with the Bull Runner system to bring commuters directly to campus.

- Bay Area Carpool – This provides individuals with the means to get in contact with one another and set up a way to carpool with each other if they are heading in the same direction or workplace. - WeCar – This is a program in which individuals or groups can rent hybrid cars to run errands. This program was initiated to encourage people to leave their cars at home and use the services provided to them on campus, but if needed, one can rent the cars. - Campus Fleet – Most of the golf carts on campus that are used by the staff are run on electric and they cut down on emissions greatly. There are many programs in the works to use electric powered larger vehicles around campus (i.e.- mail deliveries, cleaning supplies, furniture moving) and cutting out the vehicles that run strictly on gasoline.

Commissioning Commissioning services are utilized by the Facilities Planning and Construction committee on all new and renovated projects. Conservation The following summarizes conservation efforts: - Lighting was assessed and replaced, when appropriate, to comply with the Green Lights program. A second phase to increase conservations is now being implemented in all campus buildings in excess of 4 million square feet. - Motion-sensing lighting and energy control technology for vending machines have been installed - LED traffic lights are being installed - Induction lighting for street and walkway lights for current and future projects is being implemented - Motion-sensing light switches in most class rooms and conference rooms - Updated chilled water systems for energy conservation - Centralized control of buildings to monitor use and energy consumption - Economizers have been installed on boiler stacks to recover heat - Improved purchasing methods for natural gas, resulting in a $7.7 million savings through direct contracts with gas transportation companies - Closure of buildings outside normal operating hours, to include reduced after-hours cleaning services. Continued, p.10

Energy
In order to address issues of energy conservation and reduce the energy consumption, The University of South Florida is focusing in five major areas: Monitoring standards that related to energy consumption, commissioning outside services to provide an in-depth analysis of current energy use and to provide areas of improvement, exploring various ways to conserve energy, implementing appropriate systems to recover energy being used to provide energy for other systems, and investigating possible renewable resources. The following further describes these key areas (S. R. Regonini): Monitoring Complying with the Florida Energy Code, USF has implemented many standards related to insulation of walls, roofs, windows, and equipment efficiencies (both HVAC and lighting), which also requires life cost analysis and the FLACOM (Florida Commercial Building Energy Computational Program) Building Construction Document process.

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Continued from p. 9 Recovery Energy recovery is implement into design when appropriate. - The Greenlights Program (see box at left) has led to the replacement of inefficient fixtures across campus - High efficiency chillers have been installed - Heat pipes have received additional insulation - When needed, roofs are being replaced with highly reflective surfaces - Previously lost energy is now being recovered through the chilled water conversion - Heat is recovered through heat pipe recovery systems in air handling units with 100% outdoor air - Although not required by Florida Building Code, return ducts have been insulated Renewables The following highlights USF initiatives in renewable energy: - Established in 1995, the Solar Energy Charging Station is the first 20,000-watt solar charging station in the United States - Efforts are currently underway to evaluate the retrofitting gas-powered carts with solar power - $15 million in funding has been received by the university in the last 10 years for research, design, and development of renewable energy projects - $15 million was received by the USF Power Center of Utility Explorations to work with local utility companies to create, test, and develop smart grids

rently being undertaken to address internal procedures and processes to recycle materials for reuse, when appropriate, and to additionally reduce waste in the daily operations of the university. The following highlights some of these efforts (S. Regonini): Procurement The USF Purchasing Department is currently reviewing a directive developed by the Waste/Recycling/Purchasing Subcommittee, which includes general efforts such as computer equipment with the Energy Star designation, purchasing flex fuel for the university fleet, and an emphasis in the competitive bidding process for vendors with an interest in sustainability. Dining Services USF Aramark, the current dining services contractor, is supporting the local community by purchasing products from local vendors, including produce from local growers, who additionally carry Fair Trade products. Furthermore, the following activities are underway: - They are discussing the option of utilizing organic produce in dining halls - Reusable and recyclable dining products are utilized which as resulted in 32,992 gallons of water saved per academic year - Cardboard is recycled when shipments are received from vendors - Vegan and Vegetarian options are available at every location, everyday - Grease is being recycled for bio-diesel use Continued, p.11

The Green Lights Program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
“The Green Lights Program is aimed at promoting energy efficiency through investment in energy-saving lighting. The program saves money for businesses and organizations and creates a cleaner environment by reducing pollutants released into the environment. Lighting accounts for 20 percent of all electricity sold in the United States. Too often, organizations treat lighting as overhead rather than as an opportunity for investment. By changing this mind set and joining Green lights, participants realize average rates of return on their initial investment of 30 per cent or more. They reduce their lighting electricity bill by more than half while maintaining and often improving lighting quality.” (U.S Environmental Protection Agency).

Recycling
In USF’s effort to move forward in addressing issues of sustainability, it is important to note the efforts that are cur-

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Continued from p.10 - Recyclable containers are available at all locations for consumer use - Low-watt light bulbs are used and recycled, which results in 1,689 kilowatt hours per academic year. Waste Since 1990, the Physical Plant has operated an extensive recycling program in which solids are burned to generate electricity, scrap metal recycled, and some food waste used as compost by the USF Grounds department. Paper Plans, policies, and documents are reviewed online to save large amounts of paper from being printed. Technologies, such as the BlackBoard student portal, are utilized by faculty to review and return class assignments. Additional measures include over 2,000 recycling bins being distributed on campus, which has resulted in 500 tons of paper recycled in 2009, and 9,700 tons recycled since the programs inception. Recycling Completing its first waste audit, USF determined that over 48 tons of aluminum and over 9,700 tons of mixed paper were recycled from 1996 and 1997. As this effort has created revenue for the University, additional recycling programs are being instituted, including a pilot project at the Juniper-Poplar 1,000 bed student resident buildings. Electronic Equipment Recycling Many of the various colleges, departments, and divisions oversee their own electronic recycling programs. Recycling Construction Debris There is an increased effort to assure that construction waste is recycled, including the requirement of recycling record submittal for all LEED projects.

Costs
USF is not alone in being in the forefront of universities achieving maximum sustainability. While available data is limited regarding the total fiscal impact at one university, it is useful to review activities of other major universities to understand the overall potential impact. The following is a summary of notable activities of other universities to be used as speculative information when assessing additional impact and potential cost savings (Fliegler): - California State University System – Aggressive system-wide commitment to reduce energy consumption by approximately 30%, double its self-generated energy supply by 2015, and receive at least 20% of electricity needs from renewable resources by 2010. - Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) – Commitment to build in accordance with the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. Carnegie Mellon University built the nation’s first LEED-certified campus residence hall in 2003 for $12.5 million, which uses 31% less energy than other non-“green” buildings. - Duke University – Launched by students in 2004, procurement guidelines included giving provisions to vendors on supplying more environmentally friendly products and services. 38% of the university’s purchases are now Earthsaver products, which was up 11% from the previous year. An additional measure included replacing empty toner cartridges for printers with recycled cartridges, which saved nearly $300,000 in the first year of implementation. - Harvard University – Modified the process for the way plans are crafted and decisions made at the university, which grew into a $1.1 million business that generated more than $5 million in annual savings in the first 6 years of its inception. Additionally, there is a reduction of more than 60 million pounds in annual greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative has resulted in 14 full-time professional staff and a $6 million revolving loan fund. - Tufts University – Collaborated with the local, national, and global community to convene an international conference in 1990, at which the "Talloires Declaration" was drafted and signed. This statement

was the first official statement on environmental sustainability in higher education. This original effort has led to more than 300 leaders in higher education to sign the document. The university additionally committed to reducing its own emissions by 7% by 2010. - University of British Columbia – Launched a campus-wide program in 2002 to perform physical upgrades and retrofits, which led to an 11% percent reduction in building emissions, $3 million in annual savings, and a 30% reduction in energy consumption. Additionally, 58 millions sheets paper has been saved and 76.3 million kilowatt hours of energy resulting in a savings of $11.3 million. - University of California, Merced – This newly constructed university was designed and constructed to meet LEED Silver certification. - University of Pennsylvania – Approximately 30% of its total energy consumed is through wind power. Funding its programs through savings from an energy conservation program, the school tripled it windenergy purchase in 2006. This effort has additionally provided local communities by making it possible for some university partners to construct a new wind farm in a rural area. - University of Vermont – Brought environmental concerns into the university’s culture by utilizing its small grants program that provides $10,000 a year to promising environmental initiatives. - Yale University – Implemented outcomeoriented targets to reduce greenhouse emissions by 10% from previous years. Additionally, the university is in the process of coming up with similar strategies to address waste, design and construction, transportation, and procurement. Savings are then utilized to provide further investments in emission reduction strategies. Contributed by Sean McIntosh and Morgan Wells

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*SPOTLIGHT*
DR. E. CHRISTIAN WELLS
Dr. E. Christian Wells is the Director of the University of South Florida’s Office of Sustainability .  He was generous enough to take time out of his busy schedule to  answer a few questions about sustainable efforts at USF.  For a complete biography  on Dr. Wells, please see page  19.      1) Can you briefly describe the primary projects that USF has embraced with the hopes of creating a sustainable campus? We have helped various student and faculty groups with their projects and initiatives, including Conserva-Bull (a competition between dorms to see who can reduce the most energy consumption), Refill-a-Bull (a campaign to bring awareness to the environmental problems associated with bottled water), and many others. Our list of infrastructure projects is in our climate action plan, which can be found at here: http://acupcc.aashe.org/cap/607/ 2) In terms of USF obtaining optimal sustainability, not only for the benefit of USF, but for the local and global community, what do you see as long-term goals and benefits for the next 5, 10, and 20 years? The biggest goal is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions (mainly carbon dioxide produced from energy consumption and commuter transportation in single occupancy vehicles). 3) Thus far, what do you see as USF’s most innovative project related to sustainability?

Probably the most innovative is the creation of the new school of global sustainability (http://www.sgs.usf.edu/)-- there's nothing quite like it in the world! 4) Of all of the activities that USF has embraced, which do you feel is the most important?

The most important sustainability activity is educating the students, who are our future leaders. In the next 20 years, we will see more global environmental changes than we have seen in the last 100 years. And not only are these changes coming fast, but they are also uncertain-- the earth has never experienced the amount of population we have or the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere or the amount of destruction of non-renewable resources. Who knows how the earth will respond? We need to train the next generation of leaders to be nimble, to be adaptive, to be flexible, and to be resilient. They will need to understand the interconnections among the earth's systems, including humans. And they will need to be creative and courageous. For these reasons, the most important sustainability activity at USF must be to reform the education that USF students receive.

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A C O M PA R I S O N
The University of South Florida has performed major progress in efforts towards sustainability and greener living for a variety of students, faculty, and their campuses in general. However, it is not the only school in which environmentally sound concepts are being practiced. Two of Florida’s most prestigious universities, the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida, also utilize their own forms of sustainability that are comparable to the University of South Florida’s environmental goals. The University of Florida’s Office of Sustainability states in its guiding principles: “The mission of the Office of Sustainability is to make the University of Florida - in its operations, education, research, and outreach - a model of sustainability, integrating the goals of ecological restoration, economic development, and social equity. In pursuing this mandate, the Office of Sustainability will encourage and facilitate the collaborative efforts of faculty, students, and staff to generate knowledge, acquire skills, develop values, and initiate practices that contribute to a sustainable, high quality of life on campus, in the state of Florida, and across the globe. The Office of Sustainability supports faculty, students, and staff in assuming leadership to transform the following guiding principles into practices.” This mission statement from the University of Florida (UF) appears to be very similar in nature to that of the University of South Florida’s mission statement, with the exception that USF intends to make itself a “Green University” where it seems

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UNIVERSITIES
Cultural Climate - UF supports a number of organizations, museums, and art centers, which are inclusive to new students and families who wish to explore what the school has to offer. Energy Conservation and Climate Change Progress Energy is the primary electricity provider for the University of Florida and has contributed has contributed to such projects as the cogeneration plant on the campus, the Andrew H. Hines Jr./Progress Energy Eminent Scholar Chair professorship, and the Water Institute. Progress Energy is currently exploring the possibility of photovoltaic (PV) projects for UF and is purchasing the output of the two largest biomass plants in the country to expand their renewable energy portfolio. UF has also published a carbon action plan and executed a carbon neutrality goal for 2025. Equity - The University of Florida also focuses emphasis upon cultural diversity and equality regarding race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious creed, and disability. The Dean of Students Office hosts a division on Multicultural and Diversity Affairs. The office seeks promoting awareness, understanding of differences, collaboration between cross-cultural groups, and to foster a sense of mutual respect among all students. The Dean of Students Office also assists students in their personal development by providing programs and initiatives that educate, motivate, and challenge them as members of University of Florida. The UF Council of Diversity is currently developing a plan to benefit social justice and encourage students to embrace diversity. Health - Sustainability and “green living” has become a priority for UF Building Serv Continued, p.14

that UF’s stance is that sustainability not only affects us environmentally, but also socially and economically. The University of Florida features a list of “Initiatives” in the following areas: Academics and Research - UF incorporates the Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy (FISE), the Water Institute, as well as other centers for environmental research, planning, outreach, and action. There are currently 110 courses offered by the university in environmental awareness, as well as college level certificates and a minor offered in Sustainability Studies. They also offer a B.S. in Sustainability and Built Environment and a Master’s in Environmental and Land Use Law. Agriculture and Dining Services - UF utilizes Gator Dining Services, which includes sustainability in its food operations and focuses heavily on regional and local produce, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, responsible procurement, education and engagement of students, and finally, a strong emphasis on health and nutrition. PETA voted UF as being among the Top 10 Universities/Colleges for vegetarian dining. Built Environment - UF adopted the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as early as 2001 for construction of new buildings and renovation of old buildings. Thirty-two buildings on the UF campus are part of the UF Pilot Portfolio for LEED, which is the first for such a campus. Such hard work has received several awards, including one Platinum certified building, two Gold certified buildings, two Silver certified buildings, and 10 more which are certification under LEED.

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Continued from p.13 ices and thus old cleaning supplies have been replaced with ergonomically designed cleaning tools and environmentally safe cleaning products and supplies that have the “Green Seal” and “Green Label”. The Building Department has also incorporated tips and promoted recycling and preservation. UF also initiated Healthy Gators in 2010, which is a coalition of students, faculty and staff from over 40 University of Florida departments and organizations working together to create a more health conscious campus. Procurement - UF has instituted a sustainable purchasing policy to support the buying of products that will reduce any negative environmental or societal impacts of university operations. Transportation - The university has been committed to purchasing high fuel efficiency hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. UF encourages alternative modes of transportation through discounted carpool decals, an online rideshare matching service, a Zipcar shared vehicle fleet, and pre-paid regional transit for all faculty, staff, and students and their spouses. RTS buses on campus run on B20 biodiesel and E85 is available for the campus motor pool. The EPA has named UF to be one of the best schools for commuters. Waste Reduction - UF has set a goal of “no waste” for 2015. The UF Office of Sustainability and PPD are working together to incorporate comprehensive recycling programs for plastic, glass, and aluminum across campus. During the 2008-2009 school year, indoor co-mingled can and bottle recycling bins were being placed in faculty, staff, and graduate student work areas. Pilots are also underway for new outdoor recycling bins, including outdoor paper collection, and indoor bins for student and public areas. UF has instituted an Electronics/Recycling Policy and an accompanying step-by-step guide for disposal and recycling. Asset Management handles surplus equipment for reuse internally and has a “Swap Meet” feature on their website for the exchange of supplies and non-asset goods. As you can see, when comparing UF’s approach to sustainability with USF’s approach, the same goals are met, yet UF

focuses more social issues. One can also compare USF with the University of Central Florida (UCF) and see that the approach of these two schools is fairly similar. The following are UCF’s general mission and vision statements for their Department of Sustainability and Energy Management: Mission Statement “To obtain energy efficient operation of building systems through education, optimization, and verification while providing professional leadership and fostering sustainable growth.” Vision Statement “To provide informative and educational outreach to the UCF community in order to generate voluntary behavior modification while facilitating the sustainable stewardship of all faculty, staff, and students. Educational and interactive programming within the UCF community in order to provide real life experiences into a sustainable future. To create a campus population which is informed and actively participating in the facilitation of sustainable growth.” The University of Central Florida has implemented initiatives in the following areas: Academics - UCF offers new interdisciplinary Energy and Sustainability minors to undergraduates focused on sustainable energy generation, conservation, management, and utilization. In addition, UCF is planning on establishing professional Master's programs in Conservation Biology and Energy Systems Engineering. UCF places emphasis on an initiative called the “Unifying Theme,” which encourages UCF students at any and all academic stages to engage in interdisciplinary, academic discussion about Environment and Global Climate Change, potential solutions, and opportunities for direct student action. They have instituted a website based upon the “Unifying Theme” with information provided to promote students to become actively involved in sustainability through community events and research on campus. Energy Efficiency - UCF is incorporating new methods of energy preservation, such as aiming at new construction develop-

ments being approved and certified by LEED, as well as installing new energy efficient light fixtures, a new storage tank that chills water during peak times, and educating students to reduce energy waste. Currently, one building on campus has attained the LEED’s Gold certification which is in Phase I. They have a cogeneration plant and, as of 2008, adopted “green commuting” for campus computers. Natural Lands Conservation/Management - The land management at UCF provides students, faculty, staff, and residents a vast and comprehensive outdoor living laboratory for research, education, and recreation to learn more about the ecosystem. Renewable Energy - UCF has incorporated readily available renewable energy, in which they have utilized solar power for electricity and water heating through a photovoltaic project that UCF has in collaboration with Progress Energy and also through construction of a thermal energy panel that is currently in progress. Water Conservation - UCF has constituted initiatives in the step towards conservation by installing 1,000 low flow faucet aerators campus-wide and thus far is has save 478,000 gallons of water. The university has changed former irrigation techniques, as well as establishing initiatives directed towards surface water reclamation and storm water use. Campus Recycling - UCF’s goal is to reach a 75% recycling rate by the year 2020 and thus incorporates awareness by: - Participating in RecycleMania!, an inter-collegiate competition for college and university recycling programs. - Promoting gameday recycling drives for the duration of the football season. For each home game, recycling receptacles are placed throughout campus for students, alumni, and visitors to deposit botContinued, p.15

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Continued from p.14 tles and cans; student and staff volunteers work alongside the university’s vendors throughout the day to collect and sort the recyclable materials. - Collecting items during the Student Move Out Recycling Project by distributing containers for the collection of unwanted material students often dispose of when moving. Thousands of pounds of clothing, bedding, appliances, and electronics are donated to a local community center to help local families in need. Transportation - UCF promotes a pedestrian friendly campus, carpooling, alternative-fueled vehicles, and use of public transportation. There is a complimentary shuttle service that travels about campus between student housing to the Rosen School of Hospitality Management and to the College of Medicine. The university also hosts the Space Coast Clean Cities Coalition which promotes alternative fueled vehicles. UCF is only one of seven universities to participate in this Department of Energy program. UCF also has a retrofitted fleet vehicle that operates on solar energy alone. In conclusion, both UF and UCF have their own methods regarding sustainability, such as UF’s focus on how sustainability affects social issues and UCF retrofitting what few universities have been able to do, and that is have a car perform solely on solar energy. However, the message is clear between USF, UF, and UCF that sustainability not only affects the planet but students, faculty, staff, and others in their day to day activities on campuses, residences, and general way of living. Contributed by Jessica Thomas

USF’s SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS
There are four funded programs on USF’s Tampa campus managed by the Office of Sustainability. The programs “encourage and facilitate participation in sustainability efforts by faculty, staff, and students.” The names of these programs include: Sustainability Champions Program, Sustainability Mentors Program, Sustainability Fellows Program, and the Sustainability Scholars Program. Below is a summary of each of the four different programs. Sustainability Champions Program: This program focuses on “highlighting outstanding faculty and staff who demonstrate a strong commitment to make the USF campus and community a cleaner, greener place to live and work.” The candidates for the Champions program are selected based on their dedication to conserving resources, reducing water, recycling and reusing materials, increasing energy efficiency, and other behaviors that signify that being is helping to make USF a more sustainable campus. Every semester there are two champions selected, who receive an award and will also be featured on the Office of Sustainability website. Sustainability Mentors Program: This program focuses on highlighting amazing faculty or staff who mentor undergraduate or graduate students in sustainability activities on campus. This program had two goals of celebrating faculty/staff mentoring excellence and encouraging others to serve as mentors. These mentors are selected based on their involvement to working with USF students on sustainability issues as well as the social, economic, and environmental impact of these efforts. Every semester there will be two mentor’s selected and they will receive an award as well as being featured in the Office of Sustainability website. Sustainability Fellows Program: This program is based on service learning and “provides USF graduate students with the opportunity to work closely with the Office of Sustainability staff to make USF a Green University.” These fellows will be working around 10 hours a week as 0.25 FTE Graduate Research Assistance. Their goals are to help coordinate sustainability activities on campus and educational and community-based initiatives on sustainability. Every semester there are two Fellows selected, and they have the chance to be reappointed for another semester depending on their previous performance. Each fellow receives a stipend amount of money, as long as following certain guidelines. Sustainability Scholars Program: This program provides USF undergraduate students with the opportunity to work closely with the Office of Sustainability to work towards to main goal of making USF a green campus. Another goal is to make USF a greener and cleaner place to live and work. “Sustainability Scholars will work collaboratively with stakeholder groups on a range of sustainability projects on campus, examining and assessing coupled social, economic, and environmental practices that promote or impede sustainability.” The time commitment for this program is about 10 hours a week. There are two scholars selected each fall and spring semester and will be awarded a $1000 along with three

At Left: A University of Central Florida vehicle that runs completely on solar power alone. Photo courtesy of the University of Central Florida

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U S F S T U D E N T I N VO LV E M E N T
The University of South Florida (USF) has made great efforts to go green. The “Green” Patel Center is a perfect example of USF’s commitment to going green. The building is designed to be green by taking only bare necessities from the environment and emit a low carbon footprint. Despite the efforts from USF to go green there still remains another component that they will need to employ in order to realize their green potential, the students. The students must buy into the going otherwise USF may never reach optimum green status. How Can the Students do Their Part to go Green? In the “University of Pennsylvania: Carbon Footprint” (Bill) report classrooms and residences were the second and third highest consumers of energy on the campus. That is a fair assessment for must universities including USF. Thankfully it is not complicated or difficult for a student to go green. It would only require a slight adjustment in a few day to day practices. In the dormitories students should use energy efficient electronics. This includes energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs. Unplug their cellphone chargers when not in use. The chargers still use energy when they are not connected to a cellphone. Student should turn off every electronic when it is not in use. USF has thousands of dormitory residents. If this practice was adopted by everyone in the dormitories, USF would greatly reduce their carbon footprint. Not to mention save a considerable amount of money. LSU instituted a similar practice in 2009. All electronics, lights and appliances were turned off when not in use. This resulted in $24 million savings for that academic year. (NOCITO) Everyone has minimum energy threshold. Once that students have achieved that status. They need sure search for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. “Carbon offsetting is the act of reducing an equal amount of carbon somewhere else to counterbalance the carbon emissions from your energy-using activities. One of the most common offsets is the purchase of tradable Renewable Energy Certificates (TRECs), also known as “green electricity credits” or “green tags.” These represent the fact that electricity was produced using one or several renewable, zero carbon technologies, such as wind, solar or smallscale hydroelectric. The actual electricity associated with the credits is not necessarily being produced near the university or even on the same electric grid. Another common offset is the purchase or protection of forest lands that function as a carbon sink. These lands could be near campus or in another country. Many universities are also engaged in composting, which can serve as a legitimate offset” (Bill). USF students can create a carbon sink by planting trees. As a normal function of photosynthesis, the tree consumes the carbon dioxide and renews the environment with oxygen. USF’s engineering students can also create solar panels, which are renewable sources of energy. This will save the university money and reduce its carbon footprint. “Institutions have several methods for managing solid waste. The two most common are incineration and landfilling. Waste that is incinerated releases greenhouse gases when combusted and waste sent to landfills releases methane as it decomposes.” (Bill) Students should take recycling seriously. “Many universities recycle paper, aluminum, glass and plastic. The UW (University of Washington) collected more than 20,000 pounds of clothes, books, cell phones and other reusable materials from students when they moved out of the dorms at the end of the academic year. The items were given to community organizations.” (FREY) Instead of throwing everything into the trash can. Students should sort their trash and recycle. USF Students can follow the University of Washington’s example and donate any unwanted clothing. Especially within the city of Saint Petersburg those articles of clothing will be put to good use by the numerous community outreach programs. This creates a win, win situation because students aren’t contributing to greenhouse gases and a fellow citizen receives some necessary aid.

The “University of Pennsylvania: Carbon Footprint” report suggests that students create a green committee. The purpose of the committee will be to promote awareness about green practices. They can promote awareness and enforce against wasteful practices. A lot of people leave the water running while they are brushing their teeth. Also so students take excessively long showers. Considering the thousands of on campus students, this wasteful practice can compound over time. If the students can reduce their wasteful water consumption the university will save money and help the environment. Student committees can make a good green impression off the campus on and off the campus. The committees can encourage all of the text book manufactures to strictly make the books out of recycled material. Recycled material has less of impact on the environment. USF’s campus is large; however student should be encouraged Continued, p.17

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Continued from p.16 not to drive to class. The students can take the bus to class. The student can walk to class or they might enjoy a bike ride to class. Reduced use of their vehicle will lower emissions and reduce the University’s carbon footprint. The incoming freshman class may not be aware of the benefits to going green. They freshman could possibly continue wasteful habits on campus and as a result increase the USF’s carbon footprint. The committee will be responsible for maintaining and developing new green practices. As a part of the freshman orientation the green committee should introduce green culture to the incoming students. This will insure sustainability of the green culture for years to come. Lastly the most important purpose of the committee will be to measure the USF’s year over year carbon footprint. Conclusion There is a lot to be gained if the USF students adopt a green attitude. The university will decrease its carbon footprint. There will be more money available for USF to use on their students. Community members benefit from the students’ good will and effort to go green. The greatest benefit is the contribution the students make towards preserving the environment for their selves and future generations.  

USF ENGINEERS FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD
Students of the University of South Florida are committed to going green, on and off campus. Members of the USF chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) were recognized by the Environment Protection Agency for their Stainable environment design. The students have designed storm water retention pond to help the eco system in Tampa, Florida. The storm water retention pond will serve as an additional storage place for water during heavy rain periods. The storm water retention pond has a great impact on the local environment. Three sites have been chosen for the student’s project. These sites happen to be existing ponds that have suffered from a lack of attention. They have turned into local landfills. As a result pollutants have been found in the water. The pollutants have disrupted local wildlife. The storm water retention ponds will be maintained be maintained by USF student and students from the local middle school in East Tampa, Florida. This will prevent pollutants from contaminating the water and affecting the local environment. Another huge benefit to of the storm water retention pond will help relieve water level build up during heavy rain periods, thus preventing floods. The Environmental Protection Agency has award USF with $75,000 to complete the project. USF’s architecture department was named as the contractor for the storm water retention project. Once the project is completed, the storm water retention pond will be a major part of the community. “The close proximity of the ponds to local schools provided a natural fit for building curriculum around the ponds that provided a field site location for students to not only learn about science and engineering, but to also provide a "service" to the community through monitoring and interventions to maintain pond health.” Members of the USF chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World and the USF department of USF’s architecture department have joined together to prevent the pollution by revitalizing the neglected ponds in East Tampa.

 
Contributed by Edward Kirk

The students at USF are committed to doing their part in the move towards a more sustainable campus through energy conservation and recycling. Image courtesy of the University of South Florida

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U S F ’ S F U T U R E E NDEAVO RS
The University of South Florida has made serious strides thus far in making their Tampa campus cleaner and greener. The Office of Sustainability has been hard at work in their new green building, “The Patel Center.” These officials have not stopped their efforts and they plan on doing more to help the campus. They have plans to make changes to all of the buildings on campus, as well as plans for all future construction that is done on each campus. The following are examples of all of the programs that will be taking place on the University of South Florida’s campus in the future to maintain sustainability. Academics - In January 2010, USF created a new school named the School of Global Sustainability. Considering that this program is in its early years, there are sure to be improvements to the program to make it one of the best. For example, executives of this college are looking to expand on the amount of degree’s that are offered for the undergraduate and graduate level. Campus Design - USF’s Tampa campus has been making tremendous strides towards a cleaner and greener campus for more than 15 years. One of the biggest improvements has been constructing new buildings up instead of out. The newer buildings on campus are noticeably taller than the older buildings. The reasoning behind this is that the taller the building, the less it expands outward, allowing for less used land under the structure. The main goal for this improvement is to conserve the open space around campus. This goal is in accordance with the greenway expansion of open space. This project is making strides to keep all of the open area on campus and this improvement is being implemented for all future building plans. - The university has also implemented new procedures for the foliage on campus during construction. The trees on campus are to be protected during any future construction instead of up-rooting them and essentially killing them. - The university’s sustainability task is currently trying to figure out ways to re-use rain water around campus. Upon development of a strategic plan for this, all of the new technology will then be implemented into the buildings across campuses. Green Building - For the future, the creators of the “green” Patel Center building are looking to add three more cisterns to the building to reuse all of the rain water throughout the building. Transportation - There are plans to include more bicycle lanes around USF’s Tampa campus to make it easier for bike riders to get around campus. This will also make it easier for all of the pedestrians on campus because it would get the bikers off of the walking paths. - The university also has plans to make it easier to access the campus from offcampus housing for bike and bus riders. This would hopefully bring more people to campus without using their vehicles, which exert a lot more pollution and are more harmful to the environment. - The Bull Runner Bus System is going to be implementing an Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) system (See graphic on page 18). This service is going to give students the ability to see arrival predictions for all buses at their assigned stops. Furthermore, it will give riders the ability to track the buses from anywhere and be able to plan their days accordingly. The hope for this system is that people are going to start riding the bus more because their wait time is going to be drastically reduced. - The campus staff is looking into getting bigger vehicles that are completely run on electric power to run errands around campus (i.e. moving furniture). Energy - Through the use of the Florida Energy Code, USF has implemented standards in building insulation values for walls, roofs, windows, motor and equipment efficiencies, and mechanical systems insulation and controls for both HVAC and lighting. - With conservation, T12 florescent lamps and magnetic ballasts with more energy efficient F32 T8 florescent lamps and magnetic ballasts are going to be added to campus buildings. A second replacement which is underway intends to utilize F28 T8 florescent lamps in a radius of 4 million square feet across campus - A motion sensor called vend-mizer was installed for vending machines. - Motion-sensing light-switches were installed for some classrooms, conference rooms and new buildings.

Continued, p.20

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*SPOTLIGHT*
THE SCHOOL OF GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
Founded in 2010, the USF School of Global Sustainability was created as a concept of the integration of interdisciplinary research, scholarship and teaching. Inclusive and holistic, its intention is to thrive on the involvement and commitment of both faculty and students in the primary areas of natural and social sciences, engineering, business, the humanities, arts and health. Expansion of the school is dependent on the visions and ideas of students and faculties, which will be incorporated into the school’s culture and contribute to its growth and evolution (USF School of Sustainability). According to the Executive Summary of the University of South Florida’s new School of Global Sustainability (Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs) regarding the definition of sustainability: “Our definition rests on the concepts of environmental justice, social equity and economic visibility. . . Our definition of sustainability reflects what the UN and the World Wildlife Fund suggest as the process of improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting eco-systems. We use the definition where human, societal, environmental, material, and economic activities are fundamentally integrated dimensions that are mutually reinforcing.” The intent of the school is to not only serve the students and faculty with a rich-learning experience, but to include external resources to create an External Advisory Board and a Faculty Advisory Board. This network of agencies will then be able to further the expansion of students for internship experiences, which will not only increase the quality of the school’s students, but provide a return of investment to community partners. Some of the Prospective Internship Sites for Students include: - Department of Energy (DOE), Washington, DC - The World Bank: IRDB & IDA, Washington, DC - The International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Palisades, NY - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA - Renewable Energies in the Americas (REIA) Initiative, Washington, DC - Internship in Tropical Diseases and Global Health – HSHPS, Arlington, VA - Met Office: Weather and Climate Change, Devon, United Kingdom The school is currently offering a Master of Arts in Global Sustainability, with other degree offerings to be available in the future. While the inaugural curriculum focuses on water with later concentration in other areas, the school will continue to focus on working professionals in both for-profit and non-profit agencies that primarily focus in sustainability and “green” issues. A sampling of several classes available for students is as follows: - Foundations of Medical Anthropology – Covers current medical anthropology issues with a focus on water-related issues - Advances in Water Quality and Policy Management - Addresses structure and implementation of U.S. watershed-based water management, to include topics in water quality - Advances in Water Resources – Focuses on management of water supplies in various environments - Sustainability Project – Under the guidance of a Project Director, students will complete a project focused on innovative issues of sustainability. Some projects currently underway include the development and research of a safe water supply for an underserved neighborhood in Miches, Dominican Republic, an interdisciplinary collaboration to investigate the recovery of biofuel in sewage to be used as a renewable resource, and the Photo-novellas project which utilizes a novel approach to address health disparities and sustainability.

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Continued from p.18 - Chilled water distribution has been changed from the Primary/Secondary valve to the variable primary type to preserve energy and improve chilled water consistency - Newly installed energy meters on energy buildings with remote reading and data gathering. - For recovery, high efficiency chillers have been installed. Heat pipes on high OA systems have received additional insulation. Heat pipe recovery systems with 100% outdoor air have been installed. Recycling, Waste Management & Procurement - For procurement, efforts are underway to purchase Energy Star computers and equipment, as well as Green Seal Certified products for cleaning throughout the uni-

versity. Recycled office paper and papers with various levels of recycled content are available throughout the campus.

Students

- Students have taken their own part in contributing to sustainability through or- USF dining halls offer USDA Organic certi- ganizations such as the Student Environmental Association, Students in Free Enfied, vegetarian, and vegan options on terprise, Emerging Green Builders, Engitheir menus with implementation of neers for a Sustainable World, Alliance of trayless dining to preserve water and enConcerned Students, and Necessary Imergy , as well as encouraging the use of provements to Transform Our Environreusable tableware and recyclable cups. ment. These groups provide the necessary - Waste is collected by Republic and the tools, resources, and networking that will vendor burns garbage solids to generate provide for a more green way of living on electricity and scrap metal is recycled. and off campus. - Online review of lesson plans, assignments, and policies reduce the necessity The University of South Florida has for paper as USF faculty utilize Blackboard, made progressive steps towards going a digital drop box for assignments, and green with Student Government creating a other necessary documents. Twonew position of “Chief Sustainability Offithousand recycling containers for paper cer” and with residential halls implementhave been instituted on campus. ing a campus-wide recycling program. - The USF Student Environmental AssociaThese efforts listed are only just a stepping tion has been working on incorporating stone into becoming a more environmenaluminum can recycling in Residence Hall. tally sound campus and doing what is best not only for students, faculty, and campus, but also for the world. Contributed by Jessica Thomas and

BIO: DR. E. CHRISTIAN WELLS
Dr. E. Christian Wells is the Director of the University of South Florida’s Office of Sustainability, as well as an Associate Professor of Anthropology. He is an environmental archeologist, receiving his B.A. from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from Arizona State University. His focus areas not only include sustainability, but also the analysis of anthropogenic soil data, the relationship between environmental and economic issues, and the effects of place-based learning on student engagement. With funding he received from agencies such as the National Geographic Society, the National Science Foundation, and others, he was able to engage in field research over the past fifteen years in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Dr. Wells not only works hard at his commitment to USF’s mission of building a sustainable campus, but he is also a member of many other anthropological groups. His positions of title in these groups include: - Associate Editor for the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences - Archaeology Division Secretary-elect of the American Anthropological Association - Executive Board Member of the Society for Economic Anthropology Additionally, Dr. Wells has written six books and journal issues, as well as over seventy other articles on the topics of anthropology, archeology, and ritual economy. To educate USF students on his scholarly interests and passions, he currently teaches courses in Sustainability, Soil and culture, and Economic Anthropology.

Morgan Wells

Above: An advertisement for the new BullTracker program. Image courtesy of the University of South Florida

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*SPOTLIGHT*
USF EARNS “GOLD” RATING
The University of South has performed great strides in becoming more environmentally sound on their campuses. With efforts in replacing cleaning supplies, lights, water pumps, vegetarian dining, and a focus on solar power, the school has certainly made its mark in becoming one of the most “green-friendly” schools in Florida. Through exhaustive efforts in their sustainability initiatives, the school received a “gold” rating courtesy of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, one of the nation’s leading advocacy groups for green campus living. The USF Office of Sustainability, according to Dr. E. Christian Wells, Director of USF’s Office of Sustainability, is only 500 days old and yet they have managed to fulfill many of their goals, such as an increase in recycling efforts and the changing of light bulbs for energy conservation. However, Dr. Wells states that there is still an important need to “focus on the bigger picture, what a sustainable campus should look like over the longer term.” (Maddux Press) USF first joined the STARS rating program in 2010 and, according to their website, as of December 11, 2009, USF has a status is “Complete” and the prestigious rating of “Gold” for the initiatives they have implemented in sustainability for the Tampa campus (STARS Institutions). Even with the positive rating, USF continues to face challenges with transportation and energy use, though they do continue to urge other commuter alternatives such as carpooling, biking, and public transportation. A survey by the Center for Urban Transportation at USF’s College of Engineering found that nearly 72 percent of USF’s students and nearly 86 percent of USF’s employees drive alone to campus (Maddux Press). However, the honor bestowed upon USF has marked a chapter in which it encourages USF toward further endeavors in ecological advancement for the USF campuses. The report submitted to STARS highlighted USF’s efforts regarding their continuous “going green” movement. Some highlights include: - In 2005 the university recycled, reused or resold nearly 847 tons of trash and other materials, last year that number had climbed to 1,511 tons. - USF ranked 25th out of 199 universities in the United States in RecycleMania, a friendly competition for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities (Maddux Press). The steps also taken that mentioned in the report is dining services introducing trayless dining, cooking oil for biodiesel fuel, and deriving meals from locally grown produce. Student organizations such as Student Government, Engineers without Borders, Emerging Green Builders, and USF Community Gardens have taken their own initiatives in introducing sustainability through distributing sustainability-related material to first year students during the Week of Welcome, as well as hosting Conserva-Bull, managing student -run gardens and a farmer’s market on campus, and supplying water to underdeveloped communities. The University of South Florida is discovering not only how to apply sustainability, but how to incorporate it into daily activities and make it part of our present day reality. With the STARS report offering perspective on which schools participate in sustainability, there is most certainly a friendly competition in becoming more green-friendly. Becoming more sustainable is not only beneficial; it is practical as we leave our carbon footprints behind on the planet.

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WORKS CITED
Braham, William. "Penn Greenhouse Gas Report." 17 January 2008. Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. 6 March 2011 <http://www.aashe.org/documents/resources/PennGreenhouseGasReport.pdf>. Fliegler, Caryn Meyers. "Going Green While Saving Green: Higher Education Sustainability Stars." n.d. Professional Media Group. 6 March 2011 <http://www.universitybusiness.com/viewarticle.aspx?artideid=291>. Frey, Christine. "College Campuses are Going Green." 23 August 2006. Seattle PI. 6 March 2011 <http://www.seattlepi.com/ local/282232_greencampus23.html>. Nocity, Andrea. "Renewable Energy." 30 April 2009 . Matter Network. 6 March 2011 <http://www.matternetwork.com/2009/4/greenschools-update-colleges-universities.cfm>. Regonini, Sue. "Office of Sustainability." 2007-2010. University of South Florida. 5 March 2011 <http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Sustainability/ >. University of South Florida Office of Sustainability. 2010. 16 March 2011 <http://usfweb2.usf.edu/sustainability/>. Wells, Christian. Sustainability at USF Morgan Wells. 21 March 2011. Whiteford, Linda. University of South Florida Sustainability Initiative Report. University Committee Report. Tampa: University of South Florida Sustainability Steering Committee, 2009.

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Team Go-Go Green

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Braham, William. "Penn Greenhouse Gas Report." 17 January 2008. Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. 6 March 2011 <http://www.aashe.org/documents/resources/PennGreenhouseGasReport.pdf>. This is a study of the carbon footprint on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The research covers the period of 1998 through 2006. It analyzes emission factors and carbon producers. The report highlights the university's progress in reducing their carbon footprint by lowering their energy consumption. They also provide energy efficient transportation around the campus. The key factor to sustaining a reduced carbon footprint has been creating a "green" culture on campus. Chachere, Vickie. "University of South Florida: "Green" Patel Center Opens at USF." 21 January 2010. University of South Florida. 18 March 2011 <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=3086&z=127>. This article highlights a major project that was undertaken by the University of South Florida. It discusses the creation of USF’s Patel Center for Global Solutions, which is the Universities’ first building to be completely green and serves as an example of the institutions determination to not only incorporate sustainability into the institution’s culture, but to limit the impact on the environment through responsible building. Fliegler, Caryn Meyers. "Going Green While Saving Green: Higher Education Sustainability Stars." n.d. Professional Media Group. 6 March 2011 <http://www.universitybusiness.com/viewarticle.aspx?artideid=291>. This article highlights 10 universities that serve as models in the effort to obtain maximum sustainability. When reviewing current and future plans for USF in this effort, it is worthwhile to review the efforts of others in order to review already existing best practices and/or to model existing successful programs. Frey, Christine. "College Campuses are Going Green." 23 August 2006. Seattle PI. 6 March 2011 <http://www.seattlepi.com/ local/282232_greencampus23.html>. This article highlights the "green" spirit of the students and faculty at the University of Washington. It provides insight into the fundamental changes they have made in order to sustain their Silver rating from the United States Green Building Council. The university intends for their students to continue their "green" efforts in the real world. This source also provides information on the students of Williams College, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It is the mission of the students at this college to reduce the consumption of energy on campus. They have designed many practices to curb excessive energy consumption. Lewin, Adrienne Mand. "Going Green on College Campuses." 6 April 2006. ABC News. 6 March 2011 <http://abcnews.go.com/ Technology/US/story?id=1872703&page=1>. This article highlights the benefits that a university gains when they go "green." Universities like Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and California State University, East Bay, have realized true benefits to going "green." Nocity, Andrea. "Renewable Energy." 30 April 2009 . Matter Network. 6 March 2011 <http://www.matternetwork.com/2009/4/greenschools-update-colleges-universities.cfm>. This source gives insight into what students have committed to in order to lower their carbon footprint.

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Team Go-Go Green

Regonini, Sue. "Office of Sustainability." 2007-2010. University of South Florida. 5 March 2011 <http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Sustainability/>. The Office of Sustainability portion of the University of South Florida’s website provides a comprehensive review of past, current, and future efforts of the Universities vision and work to promote the sustainability of the university, as well as, the local and global community. University of South Florida Office of Sustainability. 2010. 16 March 2011 <http://usfweb2.usf.edu/sustainability/>. This website is the main hub of information on the topic of global sustainability at the University of South Florida. it offers the reader valuable information on all of the people who have had an impact of making these "green" changes happen. It also offers the viewer information on all of the projects that the campus has implemented to conserve. The website is very easy to navigate as well, because it is set up where people can view what they want by sub-topic and then topic under that tab. It is a valuable website to have for this project because it aids in answering all of the essential questions associated with this project. Wells, Christian. Sustainability at USF Morgan Wells. 21 March 2011. Dr. Wells has been an invaluable source for this team. He is the Director of Sustainability at the University of South Florida Tampa campus and agreed to answer a few of our questions about this topic. We are conducting an email interview on topics such as what future sustainability projects are in the works, what some of the costs associated with these projects are, and where he sees our campus in the next 5, 10, or even 20 years in terms of sustainability. Whiteford, Linda. University of South Florida Sustainability Initiative Report. University Committee Report. Tampa: University of South Florida Sustainability Steering Committee, 2009. This report is the result of a detailed analysis of the University of South Florida’s efforts to promote and sustain maximum impact on sustainability efforts. It details past, current, and future projects and policy, to include additional report from subcommittees formed to review specific aspects of sustainability.