University of South Florida

St. Petersburg

Professional Writing

Dr. Francis Tobienne

April 5, 2013

Team Green Exploration

Jessica Arias

Jacob Hamm

Ryan Latta

2013 Going Green

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 2

Green Initiatives at USFSP 3

Green Building 3

Transportation Alternatives 4

Energy & Water conservation5

Student Engagement 5

Conclusion… 6

Glossary 7

Annotated Bibliography 8

Works Cited 10

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Executive Summary

Prior to 2008, the University of South Florida (USF) had focused on sustainability through Smart Growth initiatives, energy conservation, and alternative transportation options for students. It wasn’t until President Judy Genshaft signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in April 2008, that the entire University system began instituting several green initiatives to become substantially more environmentally friendly. Over the past few years the Office of Sustainability was formed, the university system’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building was constructed, and the Student Green Energy Fund was developed. In addition, the university system completed several projects aimed at reducing emissions, increasing recycling, and conserving water on each campus. University wide there are now several student organizations devoted to the green movement and in 2010 the Patel School of Global Sustainability was developed.

Because of these initiatives, USF achieved a gold rating from the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) program in 2011 and was included in The Princeton Review’s 2012 Guide to Green Colleges. In addition, USF received a B+ on its 2011 College of Sustainability Report Card. While much of the recognition USF has received for green initiatives has been at the university system level, this white paper will focus specifically on the green initiatives taking place at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP) campus.

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Green Initiatives at USFSP

Over the past few years, USFSP has invested a considerable amount of time and energy into “greening” the small campus on Tampa Bay. Working with student organizations, corporate citizens, and the local government has enabled the university to offer several programs that teach sustainability, reduce waste, water, and energy consumption, and offer environmentally friendly transportation alternatives. In addition, the university is working with contractors who excel in green building techniques for all new construction projects across campus.

Green Building

In 2010, USFSP opened the doors to the 35,000 square foot Science and Technology building which became the first LEED certified building in the university system. LEED certification, which is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is a national rating system for buildings that are designed to lower operating costs, reduce waste, conserve energy and water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to Josh Bomstein, vice president at Creative Contractors, Inc., the construction process is an important part of qualifying for LEED certification. During construction of the Science and Technology building, Creative Contractors, Inc. was able to recycle eighty-five percent of the construction waste and more than half of the building materials they used were extracted and manufactured from the local community. In addition, the building has a reflective and insulated roof, water-efficient fixtures, and low-emissivity glass windows which are estimated to save nearly $80,000 in energy costs and cut water consumption by 50 percent (Kavanaugh). Because of how the building was designed and constructed, USGBC awarded the building with LEED Gold certification.

The University Student Center which opened in August 2012 was also constructed by Creative Contractors, Inc. The university is seeking LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for this facility as well. The same design and building standards were used so it is widely expected to qualify.

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University Student Center

Transportation Alternatives

In February 2013, USFSP introduced its first car-sharing program that provides affordable transportation alternative for students, faculty and the general community. The membership-based program, operated by WeCar, offers hourly rentals of the Nissan Cube or Fiat 500 automobiles and rental rates for students start at just $8.50 per hour. At the launch of the program, interim regional chancellor Dr. Hogarth stated that he hoped the program would “reduce the need for cars on campus and contribute to our ongoing sustainability efforts” ("WeCar Announcement").

While the car share program is a great step, USFSP falls behind USF Tampa in offering green transportation alternatives. USF Tampa currently offers a car share program, bike share program, and UPASS, a regional mass transit program for faculty, staff, and students. USFSP has no bike share program in place and there is currently no agreement with Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) that offers a discount beyond their standard student rates. This is in stark contrast to USF Tampa which struck an agreement with Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) to allow students to ride for free on most routes they serve.

According to Sara Hendricks, a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at USF Tampa, the Tampa campus has long supported green transportation initiatives by developing long range plans of bicycle and pedestrian networks on campus, supporting HART UPASS that encourages students and staff to use public transportation, and investing in Bull Runner, an on campus bus system. In addition, CUTR has funded Zimride, a ridematching program and hosts WeCar, the car share program on the Tampa campus. When asked what she thought was the most important green initiative that the university should be working on, Sara replied that “a central focus should be to convince local elected officials and the voting population that we need to improve our public transportation system to include better bus and light rail service, managed lanes, and safe convenient networks for bicyclists and pedestrians.”

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Bike storage for Borrow a Bike program at USF Tampa. In addition to borrowing a bike, students can bring their bike to the facility and borrow tools for repairs.

Photo by Daylina Miller, USF

Energy & Water Conservation

While USFSP receives the bulk of its accolades for water and energy conservation by building LEED certified buildings on campus there are several smaller projects geared towards conservation as well. Solar panels are also being used on campus in three locations as digital device charging stations. The stations each have outlets for students to charge their laptops, phones, and tablets and two of them are attached to tables and equipped with LED lighting for use around the clock. An additional solar charging station, built in 1993, is available to charge electric vehicles.

On the water conservation side, pushed by Housing and Residential Education, the university installed low-flow faucets in the existing residence hall saving an estimated 7,000 gallons of water per year. Also, the use of native trees and plants in the landscaping around campus greatly reduces the need of reclaimed water for irrigation.

In 2008, USFSP and Progress Energy collaborated on the Sustainable Electrical Energy Delivery System (SEEDS) project to evaluate the feasibility of collecting and storing electricity obtained from solar power. The goal is to utilize the renewable energy stored in the battery systems to reduce production during peak demand. President Judy Genshaft stated that the project “may well serve as a model for other cities in the U.S. and around the world.” In addition to providing USFSP with renewable energy, this project and the research associated with it is a great educational tool for the students ("Renewable-energy project launched at two St. Petersburg sites").

Student Engagement

Recognizing the importance of green initiatives on campus, the Student Government Department of Sustainability was created to help build “a sustainable campus in which an integrated community of students, faculty, and staff collaborate to make USFSP more environmentally conscious, economically competitive, and socially engaged.” This led to the creation of the Student Green Energy Fund which was created in 2011 to raise funds for the renewable energy and efficiency projects on campus over the course of three years. The fund is expected to accrue approximately $300,000 and has been used to purchase a hybrid truck for Waterfront Adventure Trips and Sailing Regattas, net zero treadmills and electricity producing bicycles and elliptical machines in the campus gym, as well as paying for the solar charging

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FiscalYear

Electrical Use (kWh)

2003-2004 150,433,6162004-2005 162,293,4052005-2006 167,992,6272006-2007 163,800,9432007-2008 177,334,8052009-2010 203,578,646

A summary of the consumption of electricity at USFSP from 2003-2010.

stations around campus. Ideas for use of the funds can be submitted by students, faculty and staff and projects are evaluated by a committee comprised of 50% students ("Student Green Energy Fund").

USFSP has had several groups over the past few years dedicated to green initiatives, but very few seem active today. The Student Environmental Awareness Society (S.E.A.S.) was created to promote awareness of environmental issues on campus and in the community. According to USFSP’s green initiatives website, the group regularly held beach plantings and clean ups along Bayboro Harbor to promote “a sustainable and educational ecosystem that prevents and reduces beach erosion.” The Gardening Club, which had garden on campus, installed a drip irrigation system in 2011 that reduced their water usage by 50%. According to Christian Coffey, the former president of the organization, the purpose of the gardening club is to teach students how to grow their own food in a sustainable manner and to promote healthy eating habits. Very little current information is available on USFSP’s website about these organizations.

Conclusion

The University of South Florida achieved a low score on the College Sustainability Report Card in 2008 but has instituted several green initiatives involving students, faculty and the community over the past few years. Recently, USFSP has been recognized for its commitment to building LEED certified buildings and for its work with harnessing and storing solar power. These projects combined with several other green initiatives across the university system have contributed to the University achieving a B+ score on the College Sustainability Report Card in 2011.

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Glossary

LEED Building - (Leadership in energy and environmental design building) is a voluntary, consensus-based, market driven program that provides third-party verification of green buildings

LED - is a light-emitting diode light which are much more energy efficient than incandescent and florescent light bulbs

PSTA - Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority provides public transportation for Pinellas County, Florida

SEEDS - The Sustainable Electrical Energy Delivery System

S.E.A.S. - (Student Environmental Awareness Society) is an organization open to anyone interested in promoting awareness of environmental issues, outdoor activities, and taking steps towards a greener campus, community, and world

CUTR - The Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida, established in 1988, is an internationally recognized resource for policymakers, transportation professionals, and the public.

HART - The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority was created in October of 1979 to plan, finance, acquire, construct, operate and maintain mass transit facilities and supply transportation assistance in Hillsborough County.

STARS - The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.

UPASS - University of South Florida students showing a new valid USF ID can ride HART Local, Limited Express and Flex routes FREE.* And it isn't just students who are in on the deal. USF faculty and staff pay just 25¢ with their new valid USF ID card.

USGBC - The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

WeCar - Founded by Enterprise car sharing provides a totally automated, membership-based and environmentally friendly transportation solution, whether it is for an hour, a day, a weekend or longer.

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Annotated Bibliography

Radeka, Haley. Office of Sustainability: USF is going green. St. Petersburg: THE DIGITAL BULLPENTHE ONLINE NEWS SERVICE OF THE USF SCHOOL OF MASS COMMUNICATIONS, December 9, 2011. Web. <http://digitalbullpen.com/2011/12/09/office-of-sustainability-usf-is-going-green/>.

This article talks about how the USF is trying to become one of the most sustainable schools in the country through an initiative lead by university president, Judy Genshaft, and USFSP students. USFSP has installed low-flow faucets and implemented a recycling program in the residential halls.

USF solar charging station. TAMPA BAY: TBO.com Tampa Bay Online, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Web. <http://video.tbo.com/v/30615365/usf-solar-charging-station.htm>.

According to Tampa Bay Online, Solar charging stations have been built around the St. Petersburg campus with the purpose of supplying electricity to students for their digital devices such as laptops, phones, and tablets.

Scherberger, Tom. Tag Archives: sustainability USF St. Petersburg introduces car-sharing program. St. Petersburg: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, ST. PETERSBURG, February 12, 2013. Web. <http://www.usfsp.edu/blog/tag/sustainability/>.

This article mentions how USFSP has introduced a car- sharing program to provide an affordable transportation alternative for the students, faculty and the general downtown community.

Patel College of Global Sustainability. Tampa: 2013. Web. <http://psgs.usf.edu/usf-office-of-sustainability/>.

This website published by the University of South Florida provides a great deal of system wide data about sustainability initiatives.

The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges. 2012. The Princeton Review, Inc., 2012. 172. eBook.

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This book provides a brief overview of the initiatives taking place on hundreds of college campuses across the United States and provides statistical data for various categories.

"Solar power stations come to USF St. Petersburg." 13 News [St. Petersburg] 07 February 2013, n. pag. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. <http://ww.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/2/7/solar_power_stations.html>.

This links to a Central Florida News 13 story about how two solar-powered power stations have been built around the St. Petersburg campus for students to charge their cell phones, tablets, and laptops, etc.

Creative Contractors, Inc. n.d. Web. 1 April 2013.<http://www.creativecontractors.com/what-we-do/sustainable/usf-science-technology-building >

This links to the general contractor’s website that constructed both the Science and Technology building and the University Student Center.

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Works Cited

Creative Contractors, Inc. n.d. Web. 1 April 2013.<http://www.creativecontractors.com/what-we-do/sustainable/usf-science-technology-building >

Kavanaugh, Missy. "83 Degrees Media." USF St. Petersburg Boasts LEED-Certified Science And Technology Building. 83 Degrees Media, 18 May 2010. Web. 5 Apr 2013. <http://www.83degreesmedia.com/devnews/usf051810.asp&xgt;

"Renewable-energy project launched at two St. Petersburg sites." . University of South Florida, 28 May 2008. Web. 2 Apr 2013. <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=671>.

Sara, Hendricks. E-mail Interview. 02 April 2013.

Shriner, Mark. University Beat. 2010. Video. Blip TV, Tampa. Web. 31 Mar 2013. <http://blip.tv/university-beat/usf-st-pete-leed-building-3199245>.

"Solar power stations come to USF St. Petersburg." 13 News [St. Petersburg] 07 February 2013, n. pag. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. <http://ww.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/2/7/solar_power_stations.html>.

"Student Green Energy Fund." . University of South Florida St. Petersburg, n.d. Web. 1 Apr 2013. <https://sites.google.com/a/mail.usf.edu/sgef-usf-st-pete/>.

“University of South Florida Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory FY 2009‐2010." Sustain-A-Bull-USF. School of Global Sustainability. Web. 26 Mar 2013. < http://rs.acupcc.org/site_media/uploads/ghg/963-2010-inventoryreports.pdf >.

"University of South Florida Report Card 2011." THE COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT CARD. Sustainable Endowments Institute, n.d. Web. 26 Mar 2013. <http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2011/schools/university-of-south-florida>.

USF solar charging station. TAMPA BAY: TBO.com Tampa Bay Online, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Web. <http://video.tbo.com/v/30615365/usf-solar-charging-station.htm>.

"USF Science & Technology Building Earns LEED Certification." Patel College of Global Sustainability. Univesity of South Florida, 24 Jan 2010. Web. 3 Apr 2013. <http://psgs.usf.edu/news/article/usf-science-technology-building-earns-leed-certification>.

"WeCar Announcement." . University of South Florida St. Petersburg, 12 02 2013. Web. 2 Apr 2013. <http://www.usfsp.edu/blog/2013/02/12/usf-st-petersburg-introduces-car-sharing-program/wecar-press-event/>.

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