Taking the LEED:

Sustainable Buildings at the University of South Florida

Team RemarkaBULLS: Instructor:

Cameron Wallace Dr. Francis Tobienne

Lead Compiler/Researcher University of South Florida

St. Petersburg

Daniel Casas 140 Seventh Ave. South

Interviewer St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Kyle Kelsh www.usfsp.edu

Researcher 11 April 2014

Table of Contents

Executive Summary .................................................................................. 1

Introduction ............................................................................................... 2

USF Going Green ...................................................................................... 3

LEED: The Fundamentals......................................................................... 5

LEED at USF .............................................................................................. 7

USF Making the Grade .............................................................................. 8

What’s the Catch? .................................................................................. 10

Conclusion .............................................................................................. 12

Annotated Bibliography ......................................................................... 13

Works Cited ............................................................................................. 17

Glossary of Terms .................................................................................. 19

1

LEED at USFSP (Photo: Cameron Wallace)

Executive Summary

In a world with exploding

population rates leading to

increased consumption and

pollution, a “green revolution” is

taking place. People are coming

to terms with the expendability of

our planet, and they are deciding

to do something about it. The

University of South Florida is

taking their own stance with the

implementation of multiple

initiatives in order to do their part

to reduce the impact society has

on our environment.

Among these initiatives are

improvements to the parking and

traffic situation on campus, the

promotion of walking and bicycle

use, energy and water

consumption management, and

recycling. Perhaps the most

ambitious yet costly plan is to

continue efforts to gain LEED

certification on campus buildings.

LEED certified buildings are those

which have been constructed or

retrofitted to meet specific

environmentally friendly criteria

deemed essential by the U.S.

Green Building Council.

The benefits of LEED

certification are obvious.

Environmentally friendly

construction, a reduction in

consumption, a green image, and

dollars saved are all results of

pursuing LEED certification (U.S.

Green Building Council.)

However, there are setbacks to

the process, and with contributions

from student tuition and taxpayer

dollars, those with a vested

interest in the University should be

informed to both sides of the story.

After finishing this article, the

reader will walk away with a better

understanding of how USF is

promoting environmental

sustainability. Most importantly,

they will be more informed about

the LEED certification process

which has the potential to be the

most significant program, but also

the one with the most risk.

2

Introduction

There is a movement gaining

steam, sweeping across our nation

with the force of a landslide. The

“green revolution” is taking hold,

and some of the pioneers at the

forefront are universities and

institutions of higher learning which

are leading by example and

implementing their own models of

environmental sustainability. Take

a stroll across nearly any university

in America and you will see trash

bins made of recycled material,

solar powered lights, and even

hybrid vehicles used by faculty and

staff. The University of South

Florida is no stranger to these

efforts, and they are taking a strong

stance in order to do their part to

protect the environment.

This paper will focus on one

particular facet of USF’s green

effort: LEED certification. LEED, or

Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design, is a program

designed by the U.S. Green

Building Council. The USGBC is a

“nonprofit organization committed

to a prosperous and sustainable

future for our nation through cost-

efficient and energy- saving green

buildings” (U.S. Green Building

Council). With their LEED program,

the USGBC has created a way to

inspire and recognize outstanding

achievements in not only the

construction of new building but in

the retrofitting of existing ones to

meet specific environmental goals.

LEED certification is a

comprehensive process which,

when pursued, results in

environmentally friendly buildings

that will not only be eco-friendly but

can enhance the learning

experience itself. Hannah Debelius

of the U.S. Green Building Council

states that universities achieving

LEED certification often use the

building as a learning tool. LEED

certification, however, is not without

any setbacks. As of now, green

construction is still more expensive

and can be slightly more hazardous

than traditional construction.

Despite this, the benefits far

outweigh the risks, and the

University of South Florida has

made LEED certification a major

part of its green efforts.

3

USF Going Green

At the University of South

Florida, a focus has been put on

exercising a plan to promote

environmental stability. This plan

includes measures beyond just

achieving LEED certification on

many of its new, existing, and

future buildings. The Office of

Sustainability is responsible for

coordinating and building

partnerships across the university

in order to create a sustainable

campus environment (University of

South Florida).

These initiatives are on the

heels of a global effort that has, in

recent years, become a common

thread across many cultures. In the

United States, the trend has

gathered strong momentum as

consumers are becoming more and

more conscious of the impact that

they are having on the

environment. Billion dollar

corporations are teaming up with

environmental organizations, motor

vehicle companies are creating

more fuel efficient and alternative

fuel vehicles, and manufacturers

are constantly designing more eco-

friendly packaging. The goal in all

of this effort is to curb the damage

that we have done to the

environment and to set up future

generations with a system that

promotes the health and longevity

of our planet.

Some of the initiatives that

USF in particular is implementing

are outlined by the Patel College of

Global Sustainability (University of

South Florida):

Transportation

At the USF Tampa campus,

the roads are becoming more

bicycle friendly. An increase in on-

campus dining and housing is

enabling people to stay on campus

and commute less. The

University’s bus system is largely

run on biodiesel fuel, and the fleet

vehicles are increasingly becoming

hybrid and fuel efficient. Even the

parking situation at both the USF

Tampa and St. Petersburg

campuses are promoting fuel

A trash and recyclables box on the USFSP

campus made from 937 recycled milk cartons.

(Photo: Cameron Wallace)

4

efficient vehicles. New parking

garages are reducing heat islands,

and people driving hybrid vehicles

get VIP spots in St. Petersburg.

Water

The University has put in

place efforts for storm water

management. Additionally, many

buildings across all campuses have

been retrofitted with motion sensing

faucet and toilet flush valves.

Lastly, sensors have been put in

place to monitor the weather and

adjust water usage patterns

accordingly.

Energy

Energy conservation and

recovery have become a focal point

at USF. Fluorescent lamps and

LED traffic lights are replacing

outdated and inefficient bulbs. The

Greenlights Program has replaced

inefficient light fixtures, and high

efficiency chillers have been

installed. Additionally, ductwork in

buildings has been improved to

exceed the standards of Florida

Building Code. By simply using

less energy and being smarter with

the energy they use, USF has

reduced its carbon footprint.

Recycling

The University’s Physical

Plant currently purchases cleaning

products that carry the Green Seal

Certified designation. Also on the

Physical Plant purchasing list are

toilet paper and paper towels made

largely from recycled materials.

Recycling bins have been placed

across all campuses, and in 2009

alone the University recycled over

500 tons of paper (University of

South Florida). Lastly, many of the

colleges and departments have

implemented their own systems to

recycle electronic equipment.

Student Involvement

In 2010, the USF Student

Government created the position of

Chief Sustainability Officer. There

is also a Student Environmental

Association, and engineering

students have formed an

association to improve

environmental and economic

stability.

LEED

Perhaps the program which

noteworthy of USF’s green

initiatives is the building design

program known as LEED.

5

The Wounded Warrior Project Batallion

Headquarters, Camp Pendleton, CA. LEED

certified Platinum (Photo: USGBC).

LEED: The Fundamentals

In 1993, the U.S. Green

Building Council was founded by

two men named David Gottfried

and Mike Italiano. Their mission

was to “promote sustainability in the

building and construction industry”

(U.S. Green Building Council). This

creed came at a time when people

in general had not yet become as

environmentally conscious as they

are today.

It was not until the year 2000,

or seven years after the USGBC

was founded, that the organization

rolled out its Leadership in Energy

and Environmental Design, or

LEED, program. With more than

just a clever acronym for a name,

LEED certification has evolved into

a premier and nationally recognized

benchmark in the constant effort for

environmental sustainability.

LEED works on one basic

principle. As a building is either

constructed or renovated, there are

specific prerequisites which must

be satisfied to gain credits. The

number of credits earned will

determine the level of certification

that a building attains. The levels

of certification in ascending order

are certified, silver, gold, and

platinum.

Several of the categories of

credits, deemed by the USGBC as

critical are as follows (U.S. Green

Building Council):

Location and Transportation

These are given for sites in

more densely populated areas with

various transportation options.

Materials and Resources

Credits are awarded in this

category for the use of sustainable

materials and for the reduction of

waste.

Water Efficiency

The goal of this credit is to

promote water conservation by

reducing use through efficient

6

(Image: USGBC)

fixtures and creative water saving

measures.

Energy and Atmosphere

Innovative building strategies

take focus here in order to enhance

better energy performance.

Sustainable Sites

Credits are given in this

category for building sites that

minimize the surrounding

environmental resources.

With such a comprehensive

approach in regards to the variety

of credits available in order to gain

LEED certification, it is hard to

argue the effectiveness of this

program. Whether a building

attains a simple bottom level

certification or they reach the

ultimate goal of platinum, the fact

remains that it will have a

measurably smaller impact on the

environment than a traditionally

constructed one. This sentiment is

shared by organizations across the

globe.

In fact, the USGBC is not only

promoting environmentally

sustainability in America, but

throughout the world as well. In a

graphic published in 2013, the

USGBC details the growth of

environmentally sustainable

building designs from every corner

of the world. America leads the

pack, which is not surprising due to

the resources available. China, the

UAE, Turkey, and Brazil are also

included on this list.

One sector is leading the

charge with LEED projects, and

that is education. Always known for

trend setting in innovation,

institutions of higher learning have

adopted LEED as a way to do their

part in environmental sustainability.

The University of South Florida is

one such institution that has taken

LEED certification seriously and is

undertaking projects to reach that

goal.

7

The Science and Technology Building at USFSP:

LEED Certified Gold (Photo: Cameron Wallace)

LEED at USF

As noted earlier, the

University of South Florida is taking

a strong stance on environmental

sustainability through the

implementation of multiple

initiatives. Among these is the

pursuit of LEED certification across

all of its campuses. To date, the

University has multiple buildings

certified by the USGBC as LEED

compliant. So far, the LEED

program has received a positive

reception. Allyssa Vinson, and

Education Partnership Coordinator

at USF, says “Overall it’s a very

interesting project and the USGBC

does a lot of great work going to

Washington and fighting for green

efforts.”

Science and Technology

Building

In January of 2010, the

Science and Technology Building

was opened at the University of

South Florida St. Petersburg. The

building cost $12 million, and was

funded by tax dollars gathered from

utility services on utilities. Due to

the planning, materials, and design

used in construction, the building

was certified by the USGBC as

LEED level Gold. Gold is the

second highest level of building

certification in the LEED process

Patel Center for Global Solutions

In 2011, the Patel Center for

Global Solutions opened its doors

at the Tampa Campus. Certified

Gold, the building meet stringent

requirements set forth by the

USGBC. It boasts a 30,000 gallon

storage tank designed to collect

rain water and condensation from

the air conditioning system. These

types of innovations are what make

the LEED program unique and

effective in its environmental

sustainability efforts.

In addition to the projects that

have already been completed and

certified, many projects are in the

works at USF which is further

evidence of the University’s

commitment to LEED certification.

8

USF Making the Grade

The University of South

Florida is not unique in its efforts to

achieve and maintain a high level of

sustainability across its areas of

operation. Although Florida did not

even rank in the top ten for LEED

oriented states in 2013, it is useful

to compare USF to others schools

located in the state (U.S. Green

Building Council). In an ever

increasing environmentally

conscious society, students may

desire to attend “green” schools

instead of schools they do not

perceive as such. Some of the

other schools in Florida and their

LEED programs are as follows:

University of Florida

The University of Florida,

located in Gainesville, started their

LEED ambitions several years prior

to USF. In 2001, UF adopted

LEED criteria for the design and

construction of all new renovation

projects and construction. In 2006,

they decided that all new projects

must meet LEED silver standards.

This was further refined to meet

gold in 2009, and by 2013 they

raised the bar even further with an

expectation to meet LEED

certification level platinum. To

date, UF has several LEED certified

buildings completed or in the

process of completion, including

three at platinum, 26 at gold, and

11 at silver (University of Florida).

Florida State University

As part of their program for

campus sustainability, Florida State

University is utilizing the LEED

program in order to enhance

environmentally friendly design and

construction. The first LEED

certified building at FSU was

completed in 2009, and was

awarded silver level certification.

As of 2012, FSU had completed

nine LEED buildings with several

more registered with the USGBC as

in progress (Florida State

University).

University of Miami

The University of Miami has

shown commitment to environment

sustainability through their focus on

the LEED program. Beginning in

2007, UM began the process of

constructing and renovating to meet

the criteria for LEED certification.

Their goal is to meet, at a minimum,

a LEED rating of silver. As of 2010,

they had certified 433,000 square

9

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10

15

20

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University or College

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feet of green building space, and

they are in the process of doing the

same for an additional 700,000

(University of Miami).

University of Tampa

The University of Tampa has

shown its green initiative through

the certification of two buildings

with LEED criteria. Their Dickey

Health and Wellness Center and

Science Annex are certified silver

and gold, respectively. These

certifications were achieved using

recycled construction materials,

efficient lighting, low flow water

fixtures, individual temperature

controls, and high quality paints

and finishes (The University of

Tampa).

St. Petersburg College

St. Petersburg College, with

multiple campuses all across

Pinellas County Florida including

one within 20 miles of USFSP, has

instituted a policy that all new

construction and renovation

projects must meet LEED criteria.

To date, SPC has achieved LEED

certification on three buildings.

These include the Veterinary

Technology center and the Student

Services Center (St. Petersburg

College).

In terms of the number of

LEED certified buildings it has on

its campuses, USF stacks up well.

They exceed the national average

of approximately one per campus

(Hannah Debelius). Although they

are not the state leader in LEED,

USF will remain committed to the

program. According to the Office of

Sustainability at USF, one of the

University’s strategic goals is

“building a sustainable campus

environment” (University of South

Florida.) With this in mind, it can be

expected that many more LEED

certified buildings will be certified

through brand new construction or

through the renovation of existing

buildings.

(Graph: Cameron Wallace)

10

(Image: USGBC)

What’s the Catch?

Pursuing and achieving LEED

certification at the University of

South Florida has numerous

advantages. These include long

term savings on energy and water

usage, protecting the environment,

and enhancing the University’s

“green” image. There are,

however, downsides to LEED which

when studying its use at USF

cannot be overlooked.

Cost

In a down economy such as

the one the United States is facing

now, serious consideration is put

into any new building or renovation

project. This is especially true

when taxpayers are footing the bill.

LEED construction is more

expensive than traditional

construction methods. Materials

such solar panels, insulated

windows, and efficient fixtures all

come at a premium cost. The

additional investment in them

needed in comparison to traditional

construction materials must be

justifiable by long term reduction on

operating and maintenance costs.

Additionally, green buildings cost

more to plan and design which in

turn can cause to total cost to rise

even further (Issa, M.H. et. al. 1).

A group of authors from

several Universities in Canada

conducted research on the long

term costs of construction,

operation, maintenance, and

rehabilitation of green school

buildings built to LEED standards

(Issa, M.H. et. al. 1). Their findings

were that although LEED buildings

were indeed more expensive to

plan for, design, and construct; total

costs over the life of buildings were

projected to be up to 25% lower in

new LEED buildings and up to 11%

lower in retrofitted buildings (Issa,

M.H. et. al. 1).

Worker Safety

Constructing in a manner to

attain LEED credits includes

11

inherent risks. Additionally, these

risks are present in retrofitting

buildings to meet LEED criteria.

One such hazard to workers is the

installation and maintenance of

solar panels on rooftops

(Gambatese and Tyvios 48).

Increased time one the roof leads

to a higher risk of falling.

Additionally, Gambatese and

Tyvios argue that the use of

recycled material poses risks due to

such characteristics as jagged

edges and exposed rebar.

There are, however, some

aspects of LEED construction that

are safer for workers than

traditional construction. Low VOC

paints let off less toxic fumes and in

turn reduce worker susceptibility to

inhaling dangerous chemicals.

Carlos Sanango, a project engineer

at PCL Construction Services in the

Tampa Bay area, agrees. He

states that “LEED paint

requirements will expect much less

[VOC] which is not only better for

the environment, but uses less

dangerous chemical material.”

Slow Return on Investment

One of the primary

expectations of any LEED certified

building is that it will use less

energy and water. This is achieved

through the installation of energy

efficient light bulbs, touch free hand

dryers which shut off automatically,

low flow or waterless urinals, and

other such fixtures. These features

of a LEED certified building cost

more than traditional fixtures, and

some may argue that the initial

investment is not worth the wait it

takes to see long term savings.

Despite the initial cost to

install efficient fixtures, they will

eventually pay for themselves.

How long this takes is unique on a

case by case basis, however the

evidence supports the notion that in

the long run LEED construction and

retrofitting will save USF money. In

a research study done by several

member of the Air Force Institute of

Technology, statistical analysis

showed that the LEED certified

buildings in their study incurred an

average of 31% lower energy costs

(Nyikos, et.al 55). Granted, this

reduction in energy usage will not

be identical for all LEED buildings,

however the evidence is

overwhelmingly in support of

achieving LEED certification from a

long term savings standpoint.

12

Green Initiatives at USFSP (Photo:

Cameron Wallace)

Conclusion

The apparent shift towards a

more environmentally conscious

society is nowhere more evident

than on college campuses across

not only the United States but the

world over. This is no accident.

Hannah Debelius, manager for the

USGBC Students program at their

Center for Green Schools stated

that last year “62% of incoming

Freshman took sustainability into

account when choosing where to

attend college.” For institutions of

higher education, the importance of

going green has never been more

important. This is especially true as

a tool to recruit students for

enrollment.

At the University of South,

students and faculty alike are taking

their own stance on environmental

sustainability. Green initiatives dot

campuses across the entire USF

system of schools. Student

participation is evident through

such programs as SGEF, or

Student Green Energy Fund, which

is funded through a small fee on

tuition. The program with the

loftiest goals in pursuit of

environmental sustainability is

perhaps the University’s

involvement in the LEED program.

LEED, or Leadership in

Energy and Environmental Design,

is a program which, through its

pursuit by USF, yields buildings that

are safer for the environment and

save the University money in the

long run. The program, however, is

not without setbacks. The cost to

plan and build in accordance with

LEED is more substantial than

traditional construction methods.

Additionally, LEED construction

poses unique safety hazards to

workers.

Despite the evident setbacks,

the positives of LEED far outweigh

the negatives. These buildings not

only will save the University money,

but they will support its green

initiatives and bolster its green

image in our ever increasing

environmentally conscious society.

13

Annotated Bibliography

Debelius, Hannah. Personal Interview. 11 Apr. 2014.

This interview provided a valuable inside perspective from the U.S.

Green Building Council. Hannah Debelius is a manager for the

Students Program at the Center for Green Schools at the USGBC.

Florida State University. Sustainable Campus: Green Building. n.d. Web. 9

Apr. 2014.

The website for Florida State University provided information about

their LEED building efforts.

Gambatese, John, and Nicholas Tymvios. “Leed Credits: How They Affect

Construction Worker Safety.” The American Society of Safety

Engineers. (2012) : 42-52. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.

This article provided information about some of the drawbacks in the

LEED certification process. Most notably, the article discussed safety

hazards posed to workers which are associated with LEED

construction.

Issa, M.H., et al. “Detailed Analysis of the Construction, Operating,

Maintenance, and Rehabilitation Costs of Green Toronto Schools.”

14

Journal of Architectural Engineering. 19.1 Mar 2013. Academic

Search Premier. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

This article provided information regarding costs associated with

LEED construction, operation, and maintenance. Although the study

was performed in Canada, LEED criteria are universal. Therefore,

this article was relevant to LEED costs at USF.

Nyikos, David, Alfred Thal, Michael Hicks, and Sonia Leach. “To LEED or

Not to LEED: Analysis of Cost Premiums Associated With

Sustainable Facility Design.” Engineering Management Journal. 24.4.

(2012) 50-62. Academic Search Premiere. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.

This article focuses on one very important part of LEED certification,

and that is the cost of operating LEED certified buildings. The

findings of the authors was that LEED buildings use substantially

lower amounts of energy than traditionally constructed buildings.

Sanango, Carlos. Personal Interview. 01 April 14

Mr. Sanago is a Project Engineer at PCL Construction Services. His

interview provided valuable firsthand insight into the construction

industry and his thoughts on LEED construction. His general attitude

15

towards LEED is positive, and he is of the opinion that the program

saves institutions money in the long run.

St. Petersburg College. Office for Sustainability: Sustainable Design. 2012.

Web. 9 April 2012.

The website for St. Petersburg College provided information

regarding their pursuit of LEED certification and with other general

information regarding their green efforts.

The University of Tampa. Sustainability: LEED Certifications. n.d. Web.

9 April 2014.

The website of the University of Tampa gave insight to their

sustainability efforts. In particular, information was available

regarding their participation in LEED construction.

University of Florida. UF Planning, Design & Construction: Green Building.

n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.

This is the website for the University of Florida which provided

information about the University’s LEED efforts.

University of Miami. UM Projects: Green Building Home. 2010. Web. 9 Apr.

2014.

16

The website for the University of Miami gave insight into their green

efforts and more specifically their pursuit of LEED certification.

University of South Florida. Patel College of Global Sustainability.

2014.Web. 9 Apr. 2014

The website for the Patel College of Global Sustainability provided

information on all facets of USF’s green efforts. This included details

on not only LEED efforts, but student involvement and

U.S. Green Building Council. LEED. 2014. Web. 09 apr. 2014.

This is the website for the U.S. Green Building Council. The USGBC

is the organization that issues LEED certifications. This website

provided essential information regarding LEED as well as the table

located on Page 6 and image on Page 10.

Vinson, Alyssa. Personal Interview. 01 Apr. 14

Alyssa Vinson is an Education Partnership Coordinator at USF. She

was able to provide a perspective from a faculty member at the

University.

17

Works Cited

Debelius, Hannah. Personal Interview. 11 Apr. 2014.

Florida State University. Sustainable Campus: Green Building. n.d. Web. 9

Apr. 2014.

Gambatese, John, and Nicholas Tymvios. “Leed Credits: How They Affect

Construction Worker Safety.” The American Society of Safety

Engineers. (2012) : 42-52. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Mar.

2014.

Issa, M.H., et al. “Detailed Analysis of the Construction, Operating,

Maintenance, and Rehabilitation Costs of Green Toronto Schools.”

Journal of Architectural Engineering. 19.1 Mar 2013. Academic

Search Premier. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

Nyikos, David, Alfred Thal, Michael Hicks, and Sonia Leach. “To LEED or

Not to LEED: Analysis of Cost Premiums Associated With

Sustainable Facility Design.” Engineering Management Journal. 24.4.

(2012) 50-62. Academic Search Premiere. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.

Sanango, Carlos. Personal Interview. 01 April 14

18

St. Petersburg College. Office for Sustainability: Sustainable Design. 2012.

Web. 9 April 2012.

The University of Tampa. Sustainability: LEED Certifications. n.d. Web.

9 April 2014.

University of Florida. UF Planning, Design & Construction: Green Building.

n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.

University of Miami. UM Projects: Green Building Home. 2010. Web. 9 Apr.

2014.

University of South Florida. Patel College of Global Sustainability.

2014.Web. 9 Apr. 2014

U.S. Green Building Council. LEED. 2014. Web. 09 apr. 2014.

Vinson, Alyssa. Personal Interview. 02 April 14

19

Glossary of Terms

LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

USGBC U.S. Green Building Council

USF University of South Florida

USFSP University of South Florida St. Petersburg

VOC Volatile Organic Compound

Green A colloquial term used to describe environmental sustainability

The Bull at USFSP (Photo: Cameron Wallace)