TeamGreen Bulls White Paper

8/2/2019 TeamGreen Bulls White Paper

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VOLUME 1 MARCH 2012 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS

PRESENTED BY TEAM GREEN BULLSFor ENC 3250: Professional Writing (Dr. F. Tobienne, Jr.)

INSIDE THIS REPORT

Executive Summary.2

Introduction..3

Sustainability in Progress:

Administration and Academics.. 4

Global Sustainability5

Recycling & Waste Management...6

Green Building..7

Energy.......8

Water.9

Student Initiatives...10

Sustainability Partnerships.11

Works Cited12

Annotated Bibliography.13

Conclusion..14

In April 2008 President Judy Genshaft signed the

American College and University Presidents Climate

Commitment. USF also hosted the 2009 statewide Campus and

Community Sustainability Conference.

The University of South Florida has pledged its

commitment to implement and promote environmentally

sustainable renovations and practices on all campuses. Theinstallation of the Office of Sustainability has inspired and

unified several effective external partnerships with agencies such

as the American Water Works Association, the Center for Urban

Transportation Research, the Clean Energy Research Center,

Engineers without borders and the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for

Global Solutions. The university is valiant in the development of

university-wide initiatives to advance its strategic goals and

become a hallmark of Green University.

CONTRIBUTORS: SHAVRAN GUPTA, CHEYENNE QUAILEY, COURTANY BALKCOM, ANDRIA SPENCE


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The University of South Floridas Office of Sustainability isReady to communicate its programs on Sustainability

Set to promote campus awareness and resourcesTo Go Green implementing eco-friendly practices campus-wide.

The University of South Floridas (USF)

transition to a greener future is a movement that is part

of something much bigger than the school alone; its a

sensation is gripping the nation. Going green and

working towards a sustainable world is a goal shared

not only by USF but the faculty students alike. In its

efforts towards this future, the University has taken

several initiatives that help to reduce its carbon

footprint on campus.

These initiatives are diversified across many

fields to include the reduction of water consumption,

encourage recycling programs, promote environmental

education and stewardship through the advancement

and practice of sustainability as demonstrated at the

individual and institutional level.

This white paper was purposed to inform and

advance awareness of some of the key implementations

brought about by USFs green initiatives.

Many of Americas higher

education institutions are proactively

becoming incubators of sustainable

solutions to counteract the myriad of

environmental problems we face today.

The University of South Florida has

pledged its commitment to regulate on its

campuses eco-friendly practices to reduce

negative environmental impacts through its

global Sustainability Initiatives.


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As globalization makes the world become smaller, it

becomes increasingly easy to see how the lives of people (plants

and animals and ecosystems) everywhere are closelyintertwined. For example, toys made in China can affect the

quality of life in Europe, pesticides used in Argentina can affect

the health of people in the U.S., and greenhouse gas emissions

from Australia can affect a diminishing rainforest in Brazil. (Why

go Green: Tree Hugger).

There is an increasing concern about human impact on

the environment; negative behaviors and practices have resulted

in increase environmental degradation to include climate

change, pollution, and depletion in natural resources and much

more. The good news is that each individual has the power and

opportunity to control most personal choices.

INTRODUCTION

THIS WHITE PAPER AIMS TO PROVIDE A BLUEPRINT OF THE UNIVERSITYS SUCCESS AS A HALLMARK

ADVOCATE AND PARTICIPANT IN THEGREEN MOVEMENT.

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, nor is it limited to local

recycling campaigns or tree-planting ceremonies. Sustainability has

become a growing sector in our economy... that is stimulating

freethinking, creativeentrepreneurs and opportunities to develop new

products and systems with the potential for world-wide demand is the

ultimate benefactor.-- PSCG Director, Dr. Kala Vairavamoorthy.

~~~

Social responsibility encourages sustainability, embracing a greener

lifestyle not only helps to reduce carbon foot, preserve biodiversity and rain

forests, it will also improve health, increase moral, savings and ultimately,

improve the overall quality of life. The benefits are far more enriching

when individual habits become more sustainable.


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USF SUSTAINABILITYIN PROGRESS

ACADEMICS

USF is an anchor for faculty involvement in sustainability

programs and initiatives. The Patel Center for Global Solutions

building is not only one of the more visible sustainable

accomplishments, it is also home to some of the more renowned

Research Fellows. The academic community fosters cutting-edge

research that generates sustainable innovations for cities around the

world, particularly in developing countries.

In January 2010, a new School of Global Sustainability was installed at USF offering a Master of

Arts (MA) in Global Sustainability with concentrations in Water, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable

Tourism, The program is designed to prepare students to address complex regional, national, and global

challenges related to sustainability and the ability to innovate in diverse cultural, geographic, and

demographic contexts.

In 2011, the Patel School of Global Sustainability achieved one of many milestones. It presented its

first graduates to earn a Master of Arts in Global Sustainability.

ADMINISTRATION

The University of South Florida has long sought to improve upon sustainable goals and practices,which have been described in the USF Tampa Campus Master Plan with ongoing updates since 1995. In

2006, Provost Ralph Wilcox and Dr. Linda Whiteford, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and

Strategic Initiatives, identified campus and community sustainability as one of the key target areas for

development and investment. In 2007, Dr. Whiteford convened a Sustainability Initiative Steering

Committee consisting of 30 faculty, staff, and students. In 2009 Dr. Christian Wells was hired as the

inaugural Director of the Office of Sustainability on to oversee USFs climate impact assessment and

reporting, as well as to serve as the single point of contact for sustainability programs and activities for the

USF system.

USF Administration has joined select universities such as ASU, UCLA, Penn State, and others to

be a Charter Participant of the AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System - a

voluntary, self-reporting framework for gauging progress toward sustainability for universities.


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GLOBALSUSTAINABILITY

RESEARCH FELLOWS & GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY

Some of the more popular efforts supported by the USF research fellows and faculty include

collaborative and interdisciplinary research, designed to influence and enhance higher education, and

directly impact and improve the host communities and environments locally and internationally. Some of

USF stalwart faculty include influencing GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY include:

RESEARCH FELLOW, JOCHEN ECKART who specializes in integration of spatial planning

and infrastructure management in cities and urban communities.

RESEARCH FELLOW, DR. KERAB GHEBREMICHAEL is a civil engineer with a focus on

sustainable and low cost water treatment systems (indigenous and bio-processes).

DR. FENDA AKIWIUMI presents a wealth of information and approach to understanding

resource utilization in sectors such as water, minerals, and forests. Her ongoing research projects

are in Sierra Leone (environmental deterioration, sustainable livelihoods of women, and water

conflicts in mining areas).

PROFESSOR ROBERTA BAER, whose research interests include health and health disparities in

Latin America and the United States. She was recently awarded an NSF grant to investigate

cultural and class issues in understandings of H1N1 in Mexico and the United States.

JOSEPH DORSEYS research interests include brownfield redevelopment and greenfield

protection, resource use and environmental degradation in developed and developing nations;

corporate environmental decision making for pollution management effectiveness and eco-

efficiency.

FRANK MULLER-KARGERconducts oceanographic research using satellite remote sensing,

large data sets, networking, and high-speed computing that helps in the location and monitoring of

large-scale phenomena, understanding climate control and climate change, and in theinterpretation of numerical models of the ocean.

DANIEL YEHS interests are related to water treatment, wastewater reuse and nutrient recovery,

bio-energy (methane and algae biofuel) from wastes, rainwater harvesting, desalination, green

building net-zero water strategies, sustainable urban water management, and adapting the

infrastructure of coastal cities to climate change.


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DINING SERVICES

A No Styrofoam movement has been implemented in dining services at all four campuses

Styrofoam have been replaced with reusable to go containers. As a result, the university has reported a

cost saving of about twenty-three thousand dollars per year from non use of styrofoam containers and an

approximate one third reduction of its overall trash production.

Other improvement and eco - practices implemented includes trayless dining, a water and energy

conservation effort that saves the university over 32, 992 gallons of water per academic year. The

universitys dining services is also a member and participant of the Water Program for

Restaurant Outreach (WaterPRO), which encourages replacing spray nozzles with sink

Another way USFcampuses are implementing sustainability reform is in its replacement of

inefficient equipment and appliances. The new procurement standard includes the purchase of Energy

Star rated equipment, fixtures and appliances; flex fuel purchases for the university fleet. The Physical

plant department that is responsible for the upkeep of university topography and building maintenance

currently purchases Green Seal Certified cleaning products. Since the 1990s, the recycling effort of

Physical Plant has improved in concert with campus-wide campaigning efforts.

In 2010, through the partnership of USFs Office of Sustainability, USF Dining and the USF

student Environmental Association, USF enrolled as a competitor in the tenth annual RecycleMania

contest, a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to

promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. USF competed against several other

Florida Universities, including UF, FSU, MU, FGCU, FIU and UCF. Placement results included second

in Florida and 25th out of 199 universities in the United States.

For most faculties, use of the digital drop-box feature on Blackboard has been an excellent

transition. Virtual office and affiliated digital storage, communication increases efficiency and time

management, also reduce paper waste. Students also enjoy the use electronic capabilities over print, since

this benefit offers reduced printing costs, informal feedback and communication, convenient and safe

document sharing.

Electronic equipment and construction waste is also increasingly being

recycled. All LEED projects require records to be submitted as evidence and is

herefore enforced campus-wide.

RECYCLING AND

WASTE MANAGEMENT


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In the February 2011, the University of South

Floridas Sustainability Initiative announced the

achievement of an impressive Gold rating, thus

positioning the university among a handful of

universities nationwide to meet the criteria of the

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in

Higher Education, the nation's leading advocacy group

for the green campus movement.

Other Green renovations include roof replacements with very high insulation values and high

reflectivity SRI (Solar Reflective Index) of 94 are being used. Fifteen roofs have been replaced over the

past three years, covering a total square footage of 410,865.

The university

anticipates

extending green

renovations to as

many buildings as

possible on all

campuses.

GREEN BUILDING

RAINWATER HARVESTING

The new Patel Center for Global

Solutions Building will be the first

building on campus to incorporate

rainwater harvesting by collecting

rainwater into a cistern and then

plumbing it separately for toilet and

urinal flushing. Three additional

cisterns are in the planning process.

The 'Running of the Bulls' fountain at

the Marshall Center reuses wastewaterfrom the HVAC system.

LOW FLOW WATER FIXTURES

A significant portion of past faucets

and flushing devices has been

replaced with low-flow motion-

sensing automatic sensors (e.g., 1.6

gal/flush, minimum).

DUAL PLUMBING

Use of harvested rainwater to be

used for the flushing of toilets and

urinals reduces the need to withdraw

water from the aquifer for that

purpose.


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MONITORING

Through the commissioning

efforts of Facilities Planning

and construction, the use of

the Florida Energy Code,

USF has implemented

standards in building

insulation values for walls,

roofs, windows, motor and

equipment efficiencies,

mechanical systems

insulation and controls for

both HVAC and lighting. Life

cycle cost analysis and

FLACOM (Florida

Commercial Building Energy

Computational Program) are

required as part of the

Building Construction

Document process.

CONSERVATION

An eco-friendly frenzy is a afoot.

Energy conservation and

recovery are now implemented

into design where appropriate.

The Greenlights Program has

replaced inefficient light fixtures

across campus. High efficiency

chillers have been installed. Heat

pipes on high OA systems have

received additional insulation.

Roof replacements, with new

highly reflective surfaces, have

been ongoing. The conversion of

the chilled water distribution

system from primary/secondary

to variable primary has

recovered lost energy. Heat pipe

heat recovery systems in air

handling units with 100%

outdoor air have been installed.Return ducts are insulated even

though not required by Florida

Building Code.

There is exciting news in the area of Energy. Through a series of energy conservation

initiatives, USF campuses are undergoing massive changes.

RENEWABLES

The Solar Energy Charging Station

(at the College of Engineering) was

established in 1995 and represents

the first 20,000-watt solar charging

station in the U.S. A solar golf cart

retrofit for existing gas-powered

carts is currently under evaluation.

The Clean Energy Research Center

at USF has received over $15

million of funding in the last 10

years for renewable energy project

research, design, and development,

including: electric vehicles,

photovoltaics, microturbine landfill

gas, battery development and

management, and hydrogen

production/storage and conversion

to fuel cells. The Power Center for

Utility Explorations at USF has

secured a prestigious Smart Gridproject worth more than $15

Million to work with local utilities

to create, test, and develop smart

grids.


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Every living organism on this planet relies on water to survive itself. Water is an essential molecule

in several biochemical pathways that all organisms carry out in order to derive energy from food and

sustain life. Just as a unwatered plant withers and dies, humans consume water on a daily basis.

The University of South Florida has recognized the drastic need for action, in the field of

reducing water consumption. Over the past few years it has enacted many changes across campus that

help address this issue. These changes not only change how the University uses water itself but they help

to reduce the carbon footprint of the students use of water.

The University has implemented two major programs that help to reduce the wastage of water

across the campus. Two of which have been enacted in all of the dining halls across campus. The first

policy is the switch to a tray-less dining system. This system removes trays from the dining equation

having students carry plates to their tables directly. Not needing to wash about 400 trays just once per day

saves about two hundred gallons, considering the large volume of dining patrons each dining hall receives

in a day; this policy helps to reduce thousands of gallons of

water waste. The second of the policies is the 15 addition of

water bottle refill stations all across campus.

This change not only helps to reduce water consumption but

waste product in the form of plastic bottles. The water wasted

in the production of water bottles is almost

incomprehensible, it takes three times the amount of water

to produce the bottle as it does to fill it says Dr. Christian

Wells the Director of Sustainability. Each refill station has a

counter, which keeps track of how many bottles worth of

water have been dispensed. In only one month the totals

reach over a hundred thousand, thats well over a million

bottles per year!

Water Cmpu

CAMPUS WATER

INITIATIVES

Water Consumption

Storm water Management

Waterless Urinals

Building Water Metering

Non- Portable Water Usage

Xeriscaping

Weather-Informed Irrigation


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STUDENT INITIATIVES

STUDENT CAMPUS INITIATIVES

Student Government, Housing and Residential Education

Student Environmental Association, Students in Free Enterprise,

Emerging Green Builders

Engineers for a Sustainable World, Engineers without Borders

Alliance of Concerned Students, Necessary Improvements to

Transform our Environment.

Student- funded and operated groups are increasing their participation in sustaining theirenvironment. Student group, Emerging Green Builders partnered with Physical Plant, the USF

Sustainability Initiative, and USF Housing and Residential Education, to host ConservaBull, an energy

savings program that resulted in reduced energy consumption and average savings 25 percent for the 14

residence halls that participated over a nine-week period.

Student government promotes eco-friendly practices by distributing information to all first-year

students during Week of Welcome activities. The materials include reusable shopping bags and water

bottles along with sustainability related literature from the Office of Sustainability

Tray-less dining, biodiesel fuel production and use of locally sourced food options as well as leftover food

donation are all eco-friendly practices underway.


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Continued

SUSTAINABILITY

PARTNERSHIPS

USF is committed to engaging and encouraging partnerships beyond the scope of the universitycommunity that will enhance teamwork to mutual benefits. Listed below are just a few sustainability

collaborations.

American Water Works provides a bridge between the students of the University of South Florida, the

Florida Section of the AWWA, and the public and private entities related to drinking water, through

education, networking, and professional development.

Bicycle Club at USF promotes safe cycling and will pertain to all aspects of cycling including but not

limited to commuting, touring, touring events, recreational riding, bicycle safety equipment, racing, racing

events, volunteering for community bicycle events, and proper bicycle maintenance.

Botanical Gardens fosters appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of our natural and cultural

botanical heritage through living plant collections, displays, education, and research.

Clean Energy Research Centerdevelops, evaluate and promote commercialization of new

environmentally clean energy sources and systems such as hydrogen, fuel cells, solar energy conversion,

biomass utilization, etc., that meet the needs of the electric power and the transportation sector through

multi-disciplinary research, technical and infrastructure development and information transfer.

The Patel Center for Global Solutions promotes and support nonpartisan, independent applied research

that leads to the discovery, dissemination and application of new knowledge about the sources of and

solutions to problems of global concern.

Emerging Green Builders creates a mutually beneficial relationship among USF students, the Tampa Bay

community, and local business leaders in the area of green building and sustainability.

Engineers for a Sustainable World engages a multidisciplinary group at the University of South Florida

in actively reducing poverty by improving environmental, social, and economic sustainability worldwide.

Engineers Without Borders partners with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their

quality of life.

Florida Water Environment Association protects Florida's clean water environment by serving,

supporting, and uniting water quality professionals through public education, professional development,

and promotion of sound public policy.


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ContinuedWORKS CITED

Cash, Jacqui. "New Office of Sustainability." - University of South Florida. 29 July 2009. Web. 18 Mar.2012. .

"Marshall Student Center." Marshall Student Center. 3 Oct. 2007. Web. 18 Mar. 2012..

Whiteford, Linda. "University of South Florida Sustainability Initiative Report." Water, Health andSustainability. 13 Oct. 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. http://www.msc.usf.edu/newmsc/pdf/sustain01.pdf

Looking at USF's no styrofoam policy. Tampa Bay Online. http://video.tbo.com/v/43293948/looking-at-usf-s-no-styrofoam-policy.htm. March 18, 2012

Going green means going trayless for USF. The Oracle. http://www.usforacle.com/going-green-means-going-trayless-for-usf-1.775008#.T2fqf3hJ_ZU. October 7, 2008.

Malatesta, Frank Michael. "University of South Florida - Office of Sustainability." University of SouthFlorida. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. .

University of South Florida. USF Office of Sustainability. 1995. 6 March 2011


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ContinuedANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cash, Jacqui. "New Office of Sustainability." - University of South Florida. 29 July 2009. Web. 18 Mar.

2012. .

This article offered a summary of the new sustainability office at the University of South Florida.

The article maps out the plans that will ensure that the university continues to pursue a sustainable

university.

"Marshall Student Center." Marshall Student Center. 3 Oct. 2007. Web. 18 Mar. 2012.

.

This article offered information about a particle building on campus that supports the sustainability

goals of the university. The United States Green Building Councils Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design Certification Program followed the concept behind the building

Whiteford, Linda. "University of South Florida Sustainability Initiative Report." Water, Health and

Sustainability. 13 Oct. 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. http://www.msc.usf.edu/newmsc/pdf/sustain01.pdf

The sustainability steering committee wrote this article to provide a sustainability imitative report

mapping out the plan for a green university.

Looking at USF's no styrofoam policy. Tampa Bay Online. http://video.tbo.com/v/43293948/looking-

at-usf-s-no-styrofoam-policy.htm. March 18, 2012

USF has implemented a new policy in their dining halls to eliminate Styrofoam waste. The new

policy has replaced the use of Styrofoam to go containers with reusable plastic ones.

Going green means going trayless for USF. The Oracle. http://www.usforacle.com/going-green-means-

going-trayless-for-usf-1.775008#.T2fqf3hJ_ZU. October 7, 2008.

USF along with several other universities has implemented a dining hall policy, which saves over

200 gallons of water per day.

Malatesta, Frank Michael. "University of South Florida - Office of Sustainability." University of South

Florida. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. .

The Students have voiced their opinions about the Renewable Energy Fee.


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There are still so many stories and evidences of

successful efforts of eco-friendly practices and advocacy

not contained in this report. The university is not only

concerned about environmental issues theoretically, but is

quickly emerging as a leader in sustainability reducing

negative human impact on the environment and better

managing its natural resources. These are the efforts that

have allowed the University of South Florida to received

gold ratings from the association for advancement of

sustainability in higher education. Steps taken has

allowed positive ratings however there are major strides

still needed to be taken as shown in the green report card.

These efforts extend beyond the administrative role and

incorporates student initiatives and students daily habitat

when implementing sustainability efforts. Encouraging

sustainability and social responsibility is challenging,

nonetheless, the University of South Florida is committed

to changing its the lives of students, campuses, localcommunities and even purporting global sustainability

CONCLUSION

The Universitys has proven it efforts and have yielded substantial results in changing the general

perception and adaptation to improve the management of the universitys natural resources. It has

managed to create options available everywhere to make the sustainable decision; such as providing

recycling bins, promoting drinking less bottled water, tray free dining, purchasing local produce and

creating student initiatives through organizations. The University of South Florida is working with their

community through student initiatives in order to become more green-friendly. This university is truly

dedicated in being a sustainable campus and community; however there is plenty of room to grow and to

increase the campuss and communitys sustainability through more initiatives.

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