VOLUME 1 MARCH 2012

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS
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. The installation 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.

PRESENTED BY TEAM GREEN BULLS For ENC 3250: Professional Writing (Dr. F. Tobienne, Jr.)
CONTRIBUTORS: SHAVRAN GUPTA, CHEYENNE QUAILEY, COURTANY BALKCOM, ANDRIA SPENCE

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The University of South Floridas Office of Sustainability is Ready to communicate its programs on Sustainability Set to promote campus awareness and resources To 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 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. 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.

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INTRODUCTION

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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 closely intertwined. 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.

THIS WHITE PAPER AIMS TO PROVIDE A BLUEPRINT OF THE UNIVERSITYS SUCCESS AS A HALLMARK ADVOCATE AND PARTICIPANT IN THE GREEN 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, creative entrepreneurs and opportunities to develop new products and systems with the potential for world-wide demand is the ultimate benefactor.-- PSCG Director, Dr. Kala Vairavamoorthy.

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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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issue, USF SUSTAINABILITY date IN PROGRESS

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.

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.

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issue, date GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY

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 ecoefficiency. FRANK MULLER-KARGER conducts 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 the interpretation 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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RECYCLING AND issue, date WASTE MANAGEMENT

Another way USF campuses 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.

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

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GREEN BUILDING

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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.

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 wastewater from the HVAC system.

LOW FLOW WATER FIXTURES A significant portion of past faucets and flushing devices has been replaced with low-flow motionsensing 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.

The university anticipates extending green renovations to as many buildings as possible on all campuses.

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There is exciting news in the area of Energy. Through a series of energy conservation initiatives, USF campuses are undergoing massive changes.
CONSERVATION An eco-friendly frenzy is a afoot. Energy conservation and recovery are now implemented into design where appropriate. 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. 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. 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 Grid project 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- funded and operated groups are increasing their participation in sustaining their environment. 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. 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.

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issue, SUSTAINABILITY date PARTNERSHIPS

USF is committed to engaging and encouraging partnerships beyond the scope of the university community 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 Center develops, 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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WORKS CITED

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Cash, Jacqui. "New Office of Sustainability." - University of South Florida. 29 July 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=1589>. "Marshall Student Center." Marshall Student Center. 3 Oct. 2007. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://www.msc.usf.edu/newmsc/sustain.html>. 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 Looking at USF's no styrofoam policy. Tampa Bay Online. http://video.tbo.com/v/43293948/lookingat-usf-s-no-styrofoam-policy.htm. March 18, 2012 Going green means going trayless for USF. The Oracle. http://www.usforacle.com/going-green-meansgoing-trayless-for-usf-1.775008#.T2fqf3hJ_ZU. October 7, 2008. Malatesta, Frank Michael. "University of South Florida - Office of Sustainability." University of South Florida. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. <http://usfweb2.usf.edu/sustainability/academics/research.html>. University of South Florida. USF Office of Sustainability. 1995. 6 March 2011 <http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Sustainability/>

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ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Cash, Jacqui. "New Office of Sustainability." - University of South Florida. 29 July 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=1589>. 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. <http://www.msc.usf.edu/newmsc/sustain.html>. 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 and Environmental 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/lookingat-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-meansgoing-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. <http://usfweb2.usf.edu/sustainability/academics/research.html>. The Students have voiced their opinions about the Renewable Energy Fee.

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CONCLUSION

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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, local communities and even purporting global sustainability 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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