Final White Paper- Bulls for a Better Future

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Going Green USF Saint PetersburgUSF Tampa BayProfessional WritingDr. Francis TobienneMarch 28, 2013

Bulls for a Better FutureJennifer AriasSuzanne PiercyRobert Erwin Jodi HarrisJoshua Wykell

Page | 2 Executive Summary....................................................................................3

Introduction.................................................................................................4

Science and Technology Building and LEED ..........................................5

What is LEED...............................................................................................5-6

The purpose of LEED certified buildings....................................................7

Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF).......................................................7

USFSP’ Gardening Club...........................................................................8

College Sustainability Report Card 2011.................................................8

Conservation Policies................................................................................ 9-10

Conclusion..................................................................................................11

Glossary of Terms......................................................................................12

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

Works Cited................................................................................................14

Table of Contents

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Purpose of This Report

Environmental conservatism has become a growing part of the American culture in the past few years. The University of South Florida has been undergoing major and minor changes to make its campuses greener and more environmentally friendly. The purpose of this report is to examine the ways in which USF has successfully made changes to a more environmentally sustainable campus.

Research and Analysis

This report is based on the extensive review of past literature, mainly including local news pieces, on the subject of USF’s green movement.

Key Findings

USF has made environmentally greener progress by undergoing million-dollar projects, such as the LEED Certified building on campus, as well as by incorporating simpler projects around campus that contribute towards sustainability, like the community gardens and investing in solar energy. They have gained recognition by the community through their efforts.

Conclusion

USF has made major stride in becoming more sustainable, increasing its sustainability grade from a “D” to a “B+”. The large and small projects being taken on by students, faculty and staff have all contributed to its success.

Executive Summary

Page | 4The overall objective of this white paper is to discuss how the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus is becoming greener and more energy efficient. Some topics we will be discussing are the relatively new Science and Technology building, a new program that allows students to rent an energy efficient car, and other ways that USFSP is going green, including small attempts solar energy. This paper will touch on what USF has been doing and what the university plans to do for a more sustainable future for the campus and surrounding areas.

Introduction

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Science and Technology Building and LEED

According to The Crow’s Nest (2012), The University of South Florida (USF) President, Judy Genshaft, made a commitment for an environmentally green campus in 2008. In 2010, USF built the Science and Technology Building at the USF St. Petersburg (USFSP) campus and is USF’s first LEED-certified building.

But what is LEED?LEED is a building certification process created by the U. S Green Building Council (USGBC) and refers to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The USGBC has developed the LEED certification process so that architects and building contractors can be environmentally conscious to design and build energy-efficient and water-conserving buildings with sustainable or green resources and materials.

The LEED certification process employs different rating systems to determine the environmental merits of a building. Depending on the number of points that a project has earned, the project can be classified as Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.

LEVEL POINTS

Platinum 52-69

Gold 39-51

Silver 33-38

Certified 26-32

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In Addition to the USF’s first LEED-certified building, the cover costs of the Science and Technology building was $12 million. Building materials and energy usage was kept in mind while building this structure and keeps this outstanding building energy efficient and green. Because of its planning, construction materials and design, the building earned enough credits for Gold LEED certification. Also, the LEED certification building brings to USF a positive image. The University of South Florida is adamant about its green movement.

The U.S Green Building Council describes a LEED-certified building as one designed and built to lower operating costs and increase land value, cut down on waste that is sent to landfills, conserve water and energy, and be safer and healthier for occupants. Due to its design, building materials and high efficiency, the Science and Technology building met all of these requirements and earned the Gold LEED Certification.The new, 35,000 square foot building not only has made an impact on the environment, community and school, it has also allowed for the facilitation of research and learning. The College of Marine Science utilizes the building for classrooms and laboratories, and also hosts their summer’s oceanography camp for young girls, ensuring the future of the green movement and the local environment.

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The purpose of LEED certified buildings:

Lower operating costs and increase asset value

Reduce waste sent to landfills

Conserve energy and water

Be healthier and safer for tenants and occupants

Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions

Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF)

USF has participated in the Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF) which is a statewide campaign led by students that promotes the use of green energy. This fund has came up with the money to provide the USFSP campus with new technology focusing on a green lifestyle such as solar panel charging stations for students to charge their cell phones and tablets and vehicle electric charging stations in order for students to charge their cars on campus.

A few years ago, Goswami came to the conclusion that solar power would have to become an important role in our energy needs. Creating power 24 hours a day is the goal that Goswami and his team were trying to reach, "even when the sun is not available" (Mooren). In order to reach this goal, they have come up with a plant which uses curved mirrors that follow the sun from east to west, this collects the heat which produces power for longer periods of time; these devices are known as parabolic trough collectors (PTCs). The phase change materials (PCMs) store energy when they are heated and release energy when they are cooled with an outside shell that does not melt where it encapsulates the energy and helps the plant run 24 hours a day. The U.S. Department of Energy gave Goswami and his team a $3.9 million grants for the storage system that they have created. "According to enVision Magazine, produced by the College of Engineering, the amount of power produced from the plant will be 'enough to power about 10-20 homes'" (Mooren). This plant is not only a major step towards USF becoming ecologically friendly, but the USF community also has an effect from the plant.

Page | 8USFSP Gardening ClubThe USF St. Petersburg Gardening Club is also taking hold of some energy efficient ways to grow plants. They are partnered with Sodexo, the university’s food services provider, to collect used coffee grinds and other biodegradable foods and items to use as gardening materials. The club, for now, is only able to grow enough food to sustain the club’s members, but they are looking into the future to be able to supply enough food for the Reef, a local bar and restaurant.

College Sustainability Report Card 2011According to USF’s own Digital Bullpen, the University of South Florida has been hard at work over the past five years to become more efficient and has been active in the “green” movement. In 2008, USF was scored at a D+ by the College Sustainability Report Card website, a site that rates colleges on how sustainable they are. After making changes, USF was rated at a B+ in 2011. The College Sustainability Report Card notes on its most recent rating of USF that the university has installed water metering technology, light sensors, and LED lighting, which uses less electricity than normal bulbs.

In addition, USF’s President has signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). To conserve water, USF has also installed low-flow shower heads and dual-flush toilets in some of its buildings. Another way that USF is going promoting the green initiative is by giving parking priority to low emission vehicles around campus. There are dedicated parking spots around campus for these vehicles.

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Conservation PoliciesUSF St. Petersburg Campus has

specifically addressed conservation in their campus master plan. The USFSP Master Plan highlights seven conservation objectives with specific policies for each objective. These objectives and policies are centered around the USFSP campus location along Bayboro Harbor. Bayboro Harbor is a manatee habitat, and has been designated an Outstanding Florida Water. This creates certain specific regulations for the campus. The overriding goal of the conservation objectives and policies in the University of South Florida St. Petersburg Master Plan is, “ to be a model for conservation policies to improve the environment and improve air, water and open space quality in the vicinity of the campus including Bayboro Harbor.” (13,1).

In an effort to achieve that overall goal the University has made it an objective to mitigate air pollution from automobiles, construction, and buildings. To due this USFSP has put in place policies to reduce dependence on personal vehicles and encourage the use of alternative forms of transportation including bicycling, walking, and public transportation. The University has policies in place mandating the University’s participation in local transportation management associations. The air quality policies also include instructions to minimize the storage of hazardous air pollutants, as well as appropriate filters for campus building ventilation systems. There are also

guidelines in place to measure indoor and outdoor air quality to insure that there is no accidental or unknown air pollution occurring on campus. USFSP also provides policy for alternative energy on campus vehicles. When the school builds new parking policy is to design such parking for quick egress so that vehicles are not idling and degrading air quality.

In order to maintain the quality and quantity of potable water on or near the campus USFSP maintains daily and monthly potable water testing, as well as provisions to prevent contamination. There is also policy to adhere to storm water run off regulations so that the University does not contaminate potable water through storm runoff. This includes monitoring what chemicals the university uses in its on campus maintenance. These chemical policies tie in to the USFSP’s policies concerning Bayboro Harbor as well. Since the Harbor is a manatee habitat the USF has many policies in place to ensure the viability of the Harbor as a manatee habitat. These policies include the handling of storm water runoff by way of the chemicals USFSP uses as well as the environmentally sound construction of new runoff facilities, which will treat the runoff before it enters the Bayboro Harbor, and will be designed with Bioretention Landscape and Structures in mind. Due to the University’s position in relation to the Harbor any new or

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replacement structures must be reviewed for their impact on the manatee habitat, especially in terms of creosote, copper, chromium and arsenate.The University has energy conservation as a goal. To this end the school has as policy to consider the layout of new structures in relation to the surrounding environment. New structures are to be designed with courtyards and plant shade, as well as airflow to help reduce energy costs. It is university policy to use solar energy whenever possible. New buildings are to use energy efficient air-condition, light fixtures, motion sensors, and timers, which ties in to LEEDS certification. Low flow toilettes, xerescaping, and sprinkler timer’s are to be used to reduce water usage.USFSP makes commitments to native vegetation in its master plan as well. The school pledges to use only native or non-invasive plants in it’s landscaping. USFSP plans to remove any invasive non-native plants from its campus, and has a policy to do a joint study of campus plants with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service. It is also policy to amend the campus master plan based on the joint study. Any new structures must be planned in consideration with local vegetation. In fact it is also an objective to identify lands on campus that need protection based on the Endangered Species of Florida Flora and Fauna list, and any new structure must have a census of the flora and fauna located on its purposed site.

The last objective of the University of South Florida Master Plan 2010 is to essentially continue to look for ways to ensure that USF classes and activities do not negatively impact the environment. This includes policies that emphasize continuing evaluation of current policies based on improved research and technology.

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ConclusionThe National Renewable Energy Laboratory website has reported that 85 percent of the energy that we use here in the United States are non-renewable resources (fossil fuels) which means that by some point in the future these fossil fuels "will be too rare, expensive or too damaging to retrieve" (Mooren).

Our entire country is filled with universities who are making a difference by creating energy-sustainable campuses. USF is one of the many universities to make such a huge difference. Not only has the USFSP science and technology building become LEED certified, but "In attempts to replace dwindling fossil fuels with the Sunshine State's namesake resource, USF professor D. Yogi Goswami and his team are building a solar plant” (Mooren).

Smaller projects, such as USFSP’s Gardening Club and an organization called Student Green Energy Fund have also contributed to USF’s success of increasing its sustainability report card. With projects like these being supported by the community, efforts of environmental conservatism will be increasingly seen around USF.

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Glossary of TermsCollege Sustainability Report Card: The GreenReportCard.org is the first website to provide in-depth sustainability profiles for more than 300 colleges in all 50 U.S. states and eight Canadian provinces.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)- Refers to the certification process created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGCB). This certification process guides architects and building contractors in being environmentally conscious to design and build energy-efficient and water-conserving buildings with sustainable green resources and materials.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory website:   The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) focus on creative answers to today's energy challenges. From fundamental science and energy analysis to validating new products for the commercial market, NREL researchers are dedicated to transforming the way the world uses energy.

Phase Change Materials (PCMs): store energy when they are heated and release energy when they are cooled with an outside shell that does not melt where it encapsulates the energy and helps a solar plant run 24 hours a day.

Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTCs): curved mirrors that follow the sun from east to west which collects the heat and produces power for longer periods of time.

St. Petersburg Gardening Club:  Their mission is to form a unified force to move USF ST. Petersburg campus towards sustainability. The Coalition works hand in hand with the SustainaBull Alliance to achieve tangible outcomes related to campus sustainability.

Student Green Energy Fund: At the USF ST. Petersburg, the Student Green Energy is financed through a nominal student fee of $1.00 per credit hour. The fund is used to assist the university in reducing energy costs through conservation, promoting power generation using clean, renewable energy technologies, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGCB): is made up of tens of thousands of member organizations, chapters and student and community volunteers that are moving the building industry forward to a more ecologically friendly future.

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Annotated Bibliography

Booth, Julie. "USF St. Petersburg: Changing the future by becoming LEED now." Tampa Bay Green Living Examiner. (2010): n. page. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. http://www.examiner.com/article/usf-st-petersburg-changing-the-future-by-becoming-leed-now.

This article is about the LEED-Certified Science and Technological building that was built at the University Of South Florida St. Petersburg in 2010.

Cash, Jacqui. “USF One of Nation’s Top Green Colleges.” news.usf.edu/article/templates/. 5 May 2010: USF News. Web. 18 March 2013.

There is a significant amount of evidence throughout this piece regarding the USF Green movement. The author includes a list of the going green accomplishments made by USF.

Gadsden, Sandra J. “A True College Campus Emerges”. St. Petersburg Times 24 January 2010: Neighborhood Times. Web. 18 March 2013.

This article discusses how the new science and technology building has changed USFSP’s campus and how it will affect students. It will be used to supplement information available from USFSP regarding the STG building.

Lorena, Rabago. "USF St. Pete introduces car-sharing program. St. Petersburg." Ten News [St. Petersburg] February 13 2013, n. pag. Web. 19 March 2013. http://saintpetersburg.wtsp.com/news/news/166631-usf-st-pete-introduces-car-sharing-program

This article is about the installation of two electric charging stations and the introduction of the car-sharing program for its students and faculty at the University Of South Florida St. Petersburg in 2012 and 2013.

“Solar battery project unveiled in St. Petersburg.” WMNF 88.5 FM Community Radio 07 May 2008. Radio. 18 Mar 2013

This article was provided on WMNF’s site in the forms of print and a broadcast segment. It provides information on the SEEDS project, the Sustainable Electric Energy Delivery System, and delves into the solar projects being taken on at USF St. Pete.

U.S. Green Building Council Family of Sites. usgbc.org 2013. Web. 18 March 2013.

The U.S. Green Building Council monitors and awards leeds certification. This site includes the standards for leeds certification and background on how these standards are formed.

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Works Cited

Division of Financial and Administrative Services University of South Florida St.Petersburg.

USFSP Master Plan 2010 (Updated November 2011). Web. 26 March 2013.

http://www1.usfsp.edu/adminservices/projects.htm.

"Green Initiatives." University of South Florida St. Petersburg. N.p., n.d. Web.

<http://www.usfsp.edu/undergrad/green/

Lallanilla, Marc. "What is LEED?." Green Living. About.com. Web.

<http://greenliving.about.com/od/architecturedesign/g/What-Is-LEED-Green-Building-

Certification.htm>.

Mooren, Heather. "Solar power coming to USF." The Oracle: USF Student Newspaper. 26 Jan

2011. Web. 25 Mar 2013. <http://www.usforacle.com/solar-power-coming-to-usf-1.24477

88#.UVHZi3DC4UU>.

Parrish, Courtney. "Gardening club looks to the future." The Crow's Nest. Crow's Nest Staff, 03

Dec 2012. Web. <http://crowsneststpete.com/2012/12/03/gardening-club-looks-to-the-future/>.

Radeka, Haley. "Office of Sustainability: USF is going green." The Digital Bullpen. The

onlinenews service of the USF School of Mass Communications, 09 Dec 2011. Web.

<http://digitalbullpen.com/2011/12/09/office-of-sustainability-usf-is-going-green/>.

Sheehan, Keely. “Seeds Sown in Bayboro Garden.” The Crows Nest. 24 January 2011. Web.

http://crowsneststpete.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/CN10-1-24-2011.pdf.

"University of South Florida." The College Sustainability Report Card. N.p., n.d.

Web.<http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2011/schools/university-of-south-florida>