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This is a white paper explaining some of the initiative USFSP is taking to go green.
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UniversityofSouthFloridaSt.PetersburgTheBullsGoGreen!
TheGreenTeam
RachelRohr.........................ProfessionalWritingLucasMichalski.......................ProfessorTobienneDianaPhandara..............................ENC3250VictoriaMercer............................15June2015
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TableofContents
Summary3
Introduction3
CampusInvolvement6
GreenInitiatives7
DifferentCampusesSameGoals12
GoingGreenSavesGreen$ 12
NationalComparison13
Glossary14
Conclusion14
WorksCited16
AnnotatedBibliography17
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SummaryTheUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburghasbeenincorporatinggreeninitiatives
intoeveryaspectoftheschool.Fromstudentinvolvement,suchastheStudentGreenEnergy
FundandtheStudentEnvironmentalAwarenessSociety,tolocalinvolvementsliketheir
partnershipwithDukeEnergy,USFSPistrulymakingadifference.Theuniversityhasmanaged
toincorporateawiderangeofinitiativestopromotesustainability.Thiswhitepaperwilldiscuss
theimportanttopicofGoingGreenanddelineatewhyUSFSPhasbeensuccessfulthusfar.It
willalsoelaborateonsubjectsthatwepracticeatouruniversity.
Introduction
WhatdoesitmeantoGoGreen?EverydaytheU.S.throwsawayenoughwastetoequaltheweightoftheEmpireStateBuilding.
EveryhourAmericansthrowaway2.5millionplasticbottlesanduseenoughofficepaperto
builda12footwallfromLosAngelestoNewYorkCity.EveryyeartheU.S.willfillenough
garbagetruckstostretchhalfwayfromtheEarthtotheMoon.(Steph)TheUnitedStates
containingonlyabout5percentoftheglobalpopulationisestimatedtoaccountforroughlya
quarteroftheworldscarbonemissionsfromfossilfuels.Thetimeofstablefuelpricesis
dwindlingtoacloseandwearerunningoutofresources.Thesestatisticsonlybegintodescribe
whatisgoingwrongwithsocietyandthepanicandurgencyofthegreenmovementasawhole.
Peoplehavegottenusedtoconsumingbuthavenotyetfullyrealizedtheconsequencesof
pollutingandtheprojectionsarefrightening.Theincreaseofgreenhousegasesandtheonsetof
globalwarmingisoneconsequenceinparticularthathasforcedsocietytowakeupandrealize
theneedtoreduce,reuse,andrecycle.Theobjectiveofthiswhitepaperistoconsiderthevarious
methods,systems,proposals,implementations,andideasthatUSFSPhasexploredtopromote
thegreenmovementandreduceaportionofitsimpactontheenvironment.Wewilldiscussthe
manyinitiativesUSFSPhastakenineffortstoreducetheircarbonfootprintonthisplanet.
USFSPhasfoundwaystopromotesustainabilityfortheirstaff,students,andlocalsurroundings
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andareactivelyexploitingthebenefits.Bymakingthesechangesnow,USFSPwillsavemoney
andenergyfordecadestocomewhilepromotingtheneedtoGoGreen.Thisdocumentseeks
toeffectivelyinformandeducateindividualsandorganizationswhohavenotactively
participatedinthemovementandthatthepositiveexamplesetbyUSFSP,andother
environmentallyconsciouscollegesandorganizations,willtranslateintoachangeofperspective
andendthestagnance.
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CampusInvolvementTherearemanythingsdonesolelybythestudentsoftheUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburgtopromotesustainabilityandbegreen.Thebutterflygardenlocatedattheentranceoftheschoolwassolelydesignedandpaidforbystudentsalone!ThisgardenonlyfeaturesnoninvasiveFloridaplantsandiscertifiedinbothaNorthAmericanButterflyAssociationButterflyGardenandaWildlifeHabitatthroughtheNationalWildlifeFoundation.Thisgardenwasinstalledineffortstopromoteenvironmentalappreciationinanurbansetting.
Therearetwoclubsattheuniversitywhoprioritizesustainability.
TheStudentEnvironmentalAwarenessSociety(SEAS)strives
foragreenerworld.Thisclubisopen
toanystudentorfacultymemberwho
sharesthedesiretomakeadifference.
SEASholdsmonthlybeachcleanups
andorganizeseventsliketheEarthDaycelebration.
TheGardeningclubstrivestoeducatestudentsandfacultyaboutsustainableurbanfarming.This
clubmanages19braisedgardenslocatedoncampus.Thisclubalsoisresponsiblefor
maintainingthebutterflygarden.Lastly,thiscluborganizeseventsthatpromotefarming,local
shopping,andhealthyfoods.
planisreevaluateEvenifastudentwantstocontributebutisunsurehowto,thereistheStudentGreenEnergyFund.Thisfund,establishedin2007,isanominalstudentfeeof$1percredithour.Thefundisusedtoassisttheuniversityinreducingenergycoststhroughconservation,promoting
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powergenerationusingclean,renewableenergytechnologies,andloweringgreenhousegasemissions.Everythreeyearsthedwhenlookingattheprocesstheuniversityhasmade.
GreenInitiatives
EnergyConsumptionTheUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburgsustainabilitywebsiteisawellfullof
easilynavigatedinformationthatinformsthepublicaboutitscurrentandupcomingprojectsas
wellasitssustainabilityobjectives.Energyconsumptionisahugeaspectofconsiderationin
everythingtheUniversitydoes.USFSPcurrentlyutilizesBuildingOS,awebbasedcollectionof
automatedtrackingsthathelpsorganizationsprioritizesavingsgoals,trackenergyexpenditures,
andengagesustainability.OntheUniversityofSouthFloridawebsitethereisaEnergySolar
meterthattracksthenetofkilowattsperhourusedeveryday.Someoftheimmediatestepsbeing
takentopromotethegreenmovementareAdoptinganenergyefficientappliancepurchasing
policywhichwouldrequirethepurchaseofENERGYSTARcertifiedproductsinallareasfor
whichsuchratingsexistand
Establishingapolicythatall
newcampusconstruction
projectswillbebuilttotheU.S.
GreenBuildingCouncils
LEEDSilverstandardor
equivalent.Bypurchasing
lowenergyappliancesand
lowenergylightbulbsthe
universityissavingenergyas
wellassavingmoney!
Oneofthemajorenergysavinginitiativesrecentlyputintoplacewasthesolarcells
installedontopoftheparkinggarage.ThispastyeartheuniversitypartneredwithDukeEnergy
toutilize$1milliondollarsworthofsolarcells!The100kilowattsystemwillcollectenergy
through318solarpanels.Themostimpressiveaspectofthisistheabilityfortheuniversityto
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storetheenergy!DukeEnergyhasalsoinstalledabatteryonthebottomfloorwhichiscapable
ofstoringupto200kilowattsofenergy.AlthoughtheUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburg
isnotthefirstschoolthatDukehasgivensolarenergyto,itisthefirstschoolwhichhas
managedtofindabatterycapableofstoringthissustainableenergy.Bydoingthis,theuniversity
isnotonlysavingmoneybutalsopromotingsustainabilitywithinthecityofSt.Petersburg.
GreenBuildings TheUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburgiswellknownforitsbuildingsbeing
efficientinmanywaysandespeciallythenewestadditionssuchatheUniversityStudentCenter,
theScienceandTechnologyBuilding
andthenewestadditionthatisunderway
rightnow,TheKateTiedemannCollege
ofBusinessbuilding.Allofthese
buildingsareLEEDGoldCertified.the
LEEDcertificationthatisbestowedby
theUSGreenBuildingCouncil.Theyre
manydifferentapplicationsandstepsto
gothroughinordertogetyourbuilding
certifiedbythiscouncil.someoftheattributesthatthesebuildingshavetogetthiscertification
arehavingparkingspotsspecifiedforlowemissionemittingcars,usingsrecycledmaterialsas
partsofthebuildingmaterials,Waterefficientlandscaping,andusingsroofmaterialsthatreduce
theurbanislandheateffect.Thesearesomeofmanydifferentspecificationsthatthesebuildings
havethatmakethemsoappealingtotheUSGBC.
AlthoughtheUniversityStudentCenter(USC)doesnothaveaLEEDCertificationitstill
hasmanygreenqualities.Someofthefeaturesincludestormwaterrunoffmanagement,water
efficientlandscaping,indoorairqualitymonitoring,andlowemittingmaterialsthatreduceair
pollution.20%ofthematerialsusedtobuildthisbuildingwereretrievedwithin500miles.BY
keepingmaterialsclosebyUSFSPreducedtheneedforexcesstransportationgasoline.
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Astheuniversityexpandsinsizetheschoolwouldalsoliketoexpandsustainably.Green
buildingsareabletohelpstudents,faculty,andmostimportantlytheenvironment.
Recycling
TheUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburghasalso
purchasedrecycledpaperandrecyclingusedforallcampus
computingincludingpayforprintprintersusedbystudents.The
ideasofrecyclingatUSFSPcamefrom
theinitiativeofstudents.Thecampus
has20recyclingbinsallaround
campus.Thesebinsaresplitintotwo
sections.Onesideisforregulartrashandtheothersideisfor
aluminumandplastic.90%ofthefundingcamefromtheSGEF
andtheother10%camefromtheStudentGovernment.They
managedtocreatethesebinsfrom937recycledmilkbottlesand
placeabouttwentyrecyclingcontainersaroundcampusforstudentsandfacultytobringtheir
homerecyclingaswell.Thesecontainersholdupto96gallonseach.Byplacingrecyclingright
nexttoatrashbinlabeledlandfill,studentsbecomementallyencouragedtorecycle.When
interviewingonestudentshesaid,Ifeelbadthrowingawayanythingwhenimremindedwhere
itwillendup.Somanyrecyclableitemsareplacedinlandfillseachyear.Thiscaneasilybe
prevented.Thestudent,KeelyTaylor,isaSophomoremajoringinBiology.
Speakingofwaterbottles,justthisyearUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburg
startedanewprojectwheretheyrecycledoldwaterbottlesandturnedthemintograduation
gowns.Itwasanexcitingtimeforthestudents.Itwasalsoaninterestingfacttoknowthatyour
graduationgownsweremadeof23waterbottleseach.Agraduatingclasshasthepotentialto
recycle200,000plasticbottles.ItwasaunanimousvotebytheStudentGovernmentand
althoughitcosts45dollarsmore,it'seconomicallysustainableandsomebelieveit'sbetterfabric
too.StudentbodypresidentJeanCoccosaid,"USFisallabout'green'sowhynotmoveinthat
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direction.ProtectingFlorida,TampaBayandtheenvironment.Keepitcleanandpristinemake
sureitistherefornextgenerationsandafterthat."
WaterConsumptionUSFtooknoticeofthethousandsofdisposableplasticwater
bottlescirculatingcampusandhasreducedwastebydesigning
reusablesteelwaterbottlesthatcanbepurchasedincampusstores
aswellascollaboratingwithPhysicalPlant,thedivisionresponsible
fortheoperation,maintenance,andrepair
oftheeducationalbuildingsoncampus,and
installingover62refillablewaterstations.
Thereisenoughoilintheproductionof
bottledwatereveryyeartofuelamillion
carsandbyusingrecycledorreusablewater
bottlesandutilizingthenewsystemUSF
anditsstudentsareactivelypreventingmassquantitiesofthesebottles
fromendinguppollutingalandfillorbeingincinerated.Tofacilitatea
deeperawarenessoftheplasticbeingsaved,thereisameterlocatedat
thetoprightofeverysystemwhichkeepstrackofeachrefill.Inaddition,USFutilizesmotion
sensingrestroomfaucets.Bydoingthisafractionofthewaterusedinrestroomscanbe
preserved.ThelandscapingattheUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburgalsoutilizes
recycledwaterforirrigationofthegrassandplants.Notonlydoesthiswaterbecomereusedbut
thelandscapealsohelpsdecreasenoiseoncampuswithtrees,andthegrasshelpstoprevent
runoff.
Transportation
Theyrearemanyinitiativesthatthecampushassucceededatwhentryingtomakingour
campusmoresustainableinregardstotransportation.OnehugepartofitistheEnterpriseCar
Shareprogram.Thiswasstartedbackin2013whenwhenfinishedthenewparkinggarage.The
programisforpeoplewholiveoncampusanddon'townavehicle.Astudentmustfirstgeta
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membershipwithEnterprise,afterthatthecostisanannualfeeplus$8.50perhourforeachhour
ofuse.Thisdealisappealingbecausegasis
includedinthemembershipandstudentsdonot
havetofillupthetankwhentheyuseit.This
practiceoriginatedattheUniversityofSouth
FloridacampusinTampa.TheUniversityand
theDepartmentofTransportationwereableto
coordinatewithEnterpriseanddesignthis
systemtodecreasetraffic,lowerthepercentage
ofcampusfuelemissions,andcreatesomethingthatisbeneficialtonotonlytheenvironmentbut
tostudentsaswell.Thisisagreatwayforstudentstotoabletogetoffcampusiftheyneededto
runerrands,gotothemallwithfriends,ortravelanydestinationconvenientlywithoutworrying
aboutthemaintenanceofhavingtheirowncar.Thisisaprogramthatisalsoopentothegeneral
publicandisnotjustforUSFstudents.
BikeaBullisanotherbiginitiativethattheywereabletoaccomplishwhilebecominga
greenercampus.thisprogrambeganJanuary14th,2015.Thisisstillafairlynewprogramthat
wasstartedbutithasbeenverysuccessful.Thisprogramisforbothfacultyandstudentsandall
youneedisyourstudentIDandyouareabletorentthebikeoutfromthewaterfrontfor24
hours.ThisisagreatwayforstudentstogooutarounddowntownSt.Petersburgandexerciseor
enjoyourbeautifulcity.
TheUSFSt.PetersburgCampusisalsoelectricvehiclefriendly.Onthecampusthereare
atotaloffourparkingspacesdesignatedforelectriccarcharging.Thiswasmadepossibleby
DukeEnergy.Therearebothfastchargersandleveltwochargersforcars.Spacesarefoundboth
intheparkinggarageandoutsideSTG.AllfourofthemuseSunSenseenergybyDukeEnergy.
Anotherlargepartofthetransportationsectorofthesustainabilityprojectatthecampus
isthepartnershipwiththePSTA(PinellasSuncoastTransitAuthority).EveryStudentisableto
rideonanybusortrolleyforforthroughoutthecounty.alltheyhavetodoisdisplayyour
StudentIDandgofromtheretoride.ThePSTAhasastopthatisrightoncampustoitiseasily
accessibleforstudentstoridethebustoandfromcampus.
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WasteManagement
UniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburgdoestheirbesttoreduceourowncarbonfootprint.
Wepracticemanyexercisestoheightenourownenvironmentalresponsibility.Herearesome
examplesofwhatwepracticehereatUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.Petersburgwedeliver
batterydisposalatourlocalbatteryrecyclingcenters,aswellasourcomputerpartstoourlocal
recyclingcenters.Also,weprogramedour
computersintheclassroomsandlabsto
automaticallyidleratherthanconstantly
running.Notonlydowehaveautomaticshut
offonthecomputersbutwealsooffermobile
phone,battery,andprintcartridgerecycling.
UniversityofSouthFloridaalsopromotesand
purchaseslowpowercomputerhardwareand
peripherals.Byrecyclingphones,batteries,and
inkcartridgesUSFSPisdecreasingtheamountoftoxicwastewhichbuildsupinlandfills.The
topicchemicalsdepositedinlandfillshavetheabilitytopolluteairwaysaswellasgroundwater,
harmingthehabitatforanimalsandeventuallyhumansaswell.Inadditiontothepreventionof
topicchemicalsinlandfills,USFSPhasutilizedgreencleaning.Theuniversitymustmeetor
exceedtherequirementsmadebyUSGBCLEEDinordertocleanthepropertyinasustainable
way.
DifferentCampusesSameGoals
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Asyoucanseeinthediagramabove,therearemanysimilaritiesbetweenthetwo
campuses.ItisnosecretthatUSFvaluessustainabilityandcampusinvolvement.Some
initiativesaremoreeasilyattainablethanothers.Forexample,USFTampahasacollege
dedicatedtoglobalsustainabilitywhereasUSFSt.Petersburgonlytwoenvironmentalmajor
programs.Anotherimportantaspectistheneedforfunding.TherearemanywaysUSFreceives
fundingforgreeninitiativessuchastheStudentGreenEnergyFund,Dukeenergy,government
funding,andevenprivateinvestments.RegardlessofthecampustherearemanyUSFstudents
whowishtogetinvolvedandmakeadifference.Whetheritsthroughsustainablegardeningor
beachcleanups,studentsareencouragingUSFtobegreen.
GoingGreenSavesGreen$
Didyouknowthatourschoolcouldsavemoneybygoinggreen?TheUniversityofSouth
Floridahasalreadystartedsavingimmenselybyinstallingrestroomlightstobeautomatic.They
onlyturnonwhensomeoneopensthedoor,whichisagoodfactoringoinggreenandsaving
moneybynotwastingelectricity.Inadditiontothelightsintherestroom,theuniversityhasa
librarythatstudentsuseeverysingleday.Oneotherhugeinitiativethatwehaveaccomplishedis
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thesolarpanelsthatwereinstalledonthe7thflooroftheparkinggaragethatareusetopowerall
ofthelightsthroughoutthegarage.Alsothelightsintheparkinggaragedimwheneverthereis
nooneinacertaindistance.Onceyouoryourvehiclearewithindistanceofthemotionsensor
thelightsbecomebrighter.Thiswillhelpconservetheenergyinthesolarbatterycellstokeepit
longer.ManyAmericanswastemoneyonbooksandmagazines.Whybotherpurchasingwhen
youcanrentandreturnwithoutspendingmoney?Anotherwaytosavemoneybygoinggreenat
USFSPistoencouragecarpoolingifyoumeetnewfriendsinclassortopurchaseafuelefficient
vehicleifyouhavealongcommutetoclass.
NationalComparison
Asyoucanseeonthegraphabove,theUnitedStateshasbeenincreasingtheiroverall
energyconsumptiondrasticallysincethe1990sbegan.Unfortunately,thethreemajorfossil
fuelspetroleum,naturalgas,andcoalarethenonrenewableresourcescausingthedepletionof
theozonelayerandglobalwarming.Animportantthingtonotice,however,istheincreasinguse
ofhydroelectricandotherrenewables.
Thankfullytherearemanyschoolsandbusinessesstrivingtoeducatethepublicofthe
importanceofgoinggreen.BestColleges.comhasrankedtheGreenestUniveritiesanditisno
surprisethattheUniveristyofSouthFloridamadeitontothelist.Amongthetop50universities,
USFisranked#36.TheuniversitywiththehighestratingwasgiventoGeorgiaInstituteof
Technologybecauseofitsimpressiveinitiativesandproposals.Georgiatechrecyclesabout600
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tonsofwasteperyear,vastlyutilizespublictransportation,andhasmanagedtocutwaterusage
by30%.
GlossaryofTerms
CarbonFootprintdescribeshowmuchaparticularpersonorgroupemitsgreenhousegasesfrom
theirconsumptionoffossilfuels.
OzonelayerisalayerinEarthsstratospherewhichabsorbsmostoftheultravioletradiation
fromthesun.
StudentEnvironmentalAwarenessSociety(SEAS)isanorganizationopentoanyoneinterested
inpromotingawarenessofenvironmentalissues,outdooractivities,andtakingstepstowardsa
greenercampus,community,andworld.ThisincludesUSFSt.Petersburgstudents,faculty,
staff,affiliates,andmembersofthesurroundingcommunity.
SGEFistheStudentGreenEnergyFund.Thisisafundwheremoneyistakenoutofstudents
tuitionthatisusedtoaccomplishsustainableinitiativesaroundcampus.
Conclusion
InconclusionitisclearthattheUniversityofSouthFloridaisactivelyattemptingtobe
moreawareoftheimpactithasontheenvironment.Theinitiativeslistedabovetakentopromote
greenawarenesscannotbeignored.USFisdoingworkonasmallscalebyfacilitatinganOffice
ofSustainabilityoneachcampusthatcaterstotheuniqueneedsofeachlocation.ThePatel
CollegeofGlobalSustainabilityStudentGreenEnergyFundisworkingonanevenlargerscale
toresearchandimplementnewtechnologiesthatwillaidcitiesinreducingtheirecological
footprintwhilesimultaneouslyimprovingtheirefficiency.Thebiggesteffortsaredirected
towardstheareassuchaswastemanagement,energyconsumption,waterconsumption,
transport,recycling,andoverallhealthoftheplanet.Eachorganizationandprojectwithin
USFSPcanbetracedbacktotheseeffortssuchastheStudentGovernmentsplanforthe
conversionofplasticbottlestograduationgownsorthepartnershipestablishedwithDuketo
installamilliondollarsworthofsolarcells.Theabjectprojectionssciencehasconcludedare
difficulttoface.Theonlywaywecanattempttoalterthedirectionofwellbeingourglobal
environmentistravelingdownistomakeeffortstoutilizethenewresourcesandtechnologies
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wehavethatarenotonlyconvenientbutalsocomplementarytotheeffortsofsustainability
societyhasonlybeguntotapinto.
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WorksCited
"SEAS."EnvironmentalSciencePolicyGeography.N.p.,n.d.Web.19June2015.
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AnnotatedBibliographyBoatwhright,J.(2015,521).DukeEnergyunveilssolarpowerprojectatUSFSt.Pete.Retrieved611,2015,fromTheSt.PetersburgTribune:http://tbo.com/pinellascounty/dukeenergyunveilssolarpowerprojectatusfstpete20150520/ThispastMay,USFSt.PetersburgpartneredwithDukeEnergytoinstall$1MillionworthofsolarpanelsontopoftheParkinggarage.The100kilowattsystemwillcollectpowerthrough318solarpanelsandthenstoreupto200kilowattsofenergyinabatteryonthegaragesgroundfloor.AlthoughDukeenergyhasfundednumerousothersolarenergyprojectswithvariousotherFLcolleges,thisisthefirstonetoincorporateenergystoringbatteries!Cash,J.(2010,510).USFOneofNation'sTopGreenColleges.Retrieved611,2015,fromUSF:http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=2295GreenPowerPartnership.(2014,822).GreenPowerIncentives.Retrieved611,2015,fromEPA:http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/pubs/incentives.htmUSFhasbeennamedbyThePrincetonReviewGuidetoGreenCollegesasoneofthe286TopGreencollegesintheUnitedStates.USFalsorankssecondinFloridaand25thnationallyinthe2010RecycleManiawasteminimizationcontestbasedontheamountofmunicipalsolidwastegeneratedperpersononcampus.SustainabilityisacampuswideconcernintheUSFsystemandbecauseofthatPresidentJudyGenshaftsignedtheAmericanCollegeandUniversityPresidentsClimateCommitment,whichisapledgefortheentirecampustoneutralizegreenhousegasemissionsandaccelerateresearchonhighereducationontheissues.Hagen,S.(2015,325).USFgraduationgownsmadeofplasticbottles.Retrieved611,2015,from10News:http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/local/2015/03/25/waterbotlegradgowns/70441424/Thispastspringgraduatingclassworegraduationgownmadeoutofplasticbottles.Thestudentgovernmentdecidedunanimouslythattheywouldhaverecycledgownratherthanregularones.Thegownscostanextra$45ratherthan$20,its$65.Eachgownis23bottles.USFSP.(2012,328).Freeelectricchargingstationsinstalledoncampus.Retrieved611,2015,fromUSFSP:http://www.usfsp.edu/blog/2012/03/28/freeelectricchargingstationsinstalledoncampus/
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In2012twoelectricvehiclechargingstationswereinstalledintheSt.Petersburgparkinggarage.Thechargingstations,paidforwithaU.S.DepartmentofEnergygrantawardedtoUSFSPbyProgressEnergy,werefreetothepublicduringthetwoyearsofoperation,andavailable24hoursaday.Weareverypleasedtoaddanothersustainableenergyopportunityforourstudents,facultyandstaff,saidDr.AshokDhingra,RegionalViceChancellorforAdministrativeandFinancialServices.USFSPisdedicatedtominimizingourphysicalimprintontheplanetwhilefosteringstewardshipoftheenvironment.USFSP.(2013).GreenInitiatives.Retrieved611,2015,fromUSFSP:http://www.usfsp.edu/undergrad/green/OnthissiteUSFSPmajorgreeninitiativesarelisted.OurScienceandTechnologybuilding(STG)isthefirstLEEDCertifiedGoldbuildingintheUSFSystemandtheUniversityStudentCenterhasalsoreceivedLEEDGoldCertificationinFallof2014.TherearemanyactionsUSFSPtakestobesustainablesuchasrecyclingbatteriesatlocalplants,properlydisposingcomputerparts,automaticallypoweringoffcomputersandlabs,phone/battery/printcartridgerecycling,andusingrecycledpaperincomputerlabs.Intheparkinggarage,lowemissionvehicleshavedesignatedpriorityparkingspotstoofferanincentive.AtUSFSPtheStudentGovernmenthasitsowndepartmentofSustainabilitywhichisalwayslookingforinnovativewaystomakethecampusmoregreen.atUSFtheGreenEnergyFundmakesitpossibleforeverystudenttocontribute.Theprogramwasestimatedtoreceive$300,000everythreeyears.Thismoneyisputtowardsrenewableandenergyefficientprojectscampuswide.USFSP.(2015).GreenPurchasing.Retrieved611,2015,fromUSFSP:http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability/greenpurchasing/USFSPisapartoftheAmericanCollegeandUniversityPresidentsClimateCommitment(ACUPCC)whichmeansUSFSPadoptedthepolicytoonlypurchaseEnergyStarappliancesfortheuniversitytoreducegreenhousegasemissions.USFSP.(2015).Waste.Retrieved611,2015,fromUSFSP:http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability/waste/Recyclingoncampuswasactuallytheideaofstudents.Ofthe20recyclingbinsaroundcampus,thereisasectionforregulartrash,aluminumandplastic.Thesebinsweremadeof937recycledmilkjugs.90%ofthebinswerefundedbytheSGEFandtheother10%werefundedbyStudentGovernment.Notonlydowehaverecyclingoncampus,studentsandfacultycanalsobringtheir
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homerecyclingtodropoffaswell.Therearetwenty96galloncontainersthattheycanuseallaroundcampus.Winter,J.(2015).LEEDCERTIFIEDBUILDINGS(GREENBUILDINGS).Retrieved611,2015,fromUSFSP:http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability/greenbuildings/ThescienceandTechnologybuilding(STG)isthefirstLEEDCertifiedGoldbuildingintheUSFSystem!InFallof2014,UniversityStudentCenterhasalsoreceivedLEEDGoldCertification.TheKateTiedemannCollegeofBusiness,isalsoplannedforLEEDGoldCertification.Eachgreenbuildinghasitsownlistofgreenfeaturesherearesomethattheyhaveincommon.someotherattributestothegreenbuildingswehaveoncampusisthattheyareclosetopublictransportation,equippedwithefficientirrigationsystems,thebuildingsweremadefromrecycledmaterialsand20%materialscamefroma500mileradius.Winter,J.(2015).Transportation.Retrieved611,2015,fromUSFSP:http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability/transportation/BikeabullshareprogramofficiallyopenedonJanuary14,2015.ThisprogramallowsstudentswhobringtheirstudentIDsbytheWaterfrontbetweenthehoursof115torentabeachcruiserfor24hours.Eachstudentreceivestrafficrules,alock,ahelmet,2lightsandtheyhavetheoptionofabasket.Thereisalsotheoptionforfreebusridesforourstudentsandfacultymembers.OurPSTAUPassprogramallowsustoshowourIDonanybusandpayaflatrateforunlimitedrides!USFSPalsooffersfourelectricvehiclechargingstationsforoureconomicefficientcars.InadditiontoallofthesegreatalternativesUSFSPalsooffersacarshareprogram.Thereareenvironmentallysustainablecarsthatwecanrentfor8.50anhour.Studentsmustbe18orolderandnonstudentsmustbeatleast21.
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