Team Green Machine

Amber Armentrout Alessandra Deeb

Angel Garcia Christine McDonald

Amanda Upton

Seeing Green at the University of South

Florida

Prepared for Professor Francis Tobienne November 26, 2010

Table of Contents

Cover Page 1

Table of Contents 2

Executive Summary 3

Background 4

History 4

Education 4

Why Go Green 4

Education 4

What can universities do 5

Kirei Board 6

USF Involvement 7

School of Global Sustainability 7

Office of Sustainability 7

Science and Technology Building 8

USF Report Card 9

Princeton Review 9

Student Involvement 10

Interview with Joseph Michalsky 11

Works Cited 12

Annotated Bibliography 13

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Executive Summary “Going green relates to the pursuit of knowledge that can lead to environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations” (Duggan). In today’s society the phrase “going green” seems to ooze from the mouths of every public speaker, politician, and business owner. Years ago, environmental proclivity was a fad for the likes of the EPA and their following. Environmentalism, however, is not a fashion trend. The standard of living in the future will be determined by the conservation of the earth’s natural resources today. Adopting a “green” way of life has become increasingly important to rectify decade’s worth of excessive waste, pollution, and global warming. As the world’s population continues to grow, that need intensifies. The answer to these problems is for society to develop sustainable practices and implement them into everyone’s daily lives. Sustainable activities are those which educate and involve the people of this world in practices that help protect and preserve our environment. The government, businesses, schools, and individuals all begin the process of “going green” with learning, teaching, and engaging in sustainable activities at an early age. In this white paper, the focus will be placed on the changes that can be made at the university level. Educating young minds about environmentalism and the potential consequences of apathy has an immense impact on involving society in “green” practices. Globally, universities can make a difference. This paper will explore the success of the University of South Florida in their efforts to educate students and the community about environmental conservation, how they compare to other schools across the nation, and how they make a difference in the environment through education and participation.

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Background It wasn’t long ago that terms such as environmentally friendly, recycling, and global warming were considered vogue, and most believed the trend wouldn’t last. However, as the earth’s natural resources become more and more diminished, and the population continues to grow at an alarming rate, going green is becoming a part of daily life. Global sustainability is the call for policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (EPA). Increased focus on preserving our future has become a necessity of today’s society. By 2050, the global population is expected to rise to 9 billion. If resources were distributed equally, people would only have 25% of the resources per capita that people in 1950 had (Go). Staggering figures such as these are a call to take action. History In 1962, Rachel Carson’s publication, Silent Spring first appeared in the New Yorker. Carson informed readers about the uncontrolled use of pesticides and the declining species of birds due to the contamination of the air. Readers began to become concerned, not for the birds, but for the people that were affected by the air pollution as well. Later, U Thant of the United Nations spoke about the impending environmental disasters that would befall the planet, essentially blaming the United States. Shortly thereafter, the first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. Millions of Americans gathered to show their support for environmental reform. This onslaught of attention forced the government into action. On December 2, 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency was formed after President Nixon announced a 37-point environmental action program, which included topics such as water conservation and air pollution. The “green” movement had been born. Why go green? 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, and enough electricity to power the average house for six months can be saved for every ton of paper that is recycled. A 100-watt light bulb can be powered for just less than 5 hours by recycling one glass bottle. A television can be run for 6 hours with the same amount of electricity saved by recycling one aluminum can (Go). Participating in “green” acts saves money, improves one’s health, and preserves the planet’s natural resources for today and future generations. If one person can help to accomplish these feats, what can an entire community achieve? Education The Going Green Initiative was created in 2002 by Jill Buck in order to help schools ranging from Pre-K to Colleges and Universities “go green” and create a culture of sustainability on campus. According to the website, The Going Green Initiative is the fastest growing fully comprehensive environmental action plan for schools in the nation. It seeks to defend human health through environmental stewardship while involving not only schools, but businesses, local governments, and the community as well. Over 1.5 million teachers and students are at this time registered with The Going Green Initiative. This nonprofit organization provides free training and resources to any school who wishes to participate in going green process. On November 12th, 2010, Jill Buck provided a slide show presentation involving information on the initiative of the program and statistics regarding the positive outcomes it has provided. Since 2005, schools participating in the Going Green Initiative have achieved in the following:

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o Conserved 27 million gallons of water o Conserved 67 billion BTU’s of energy. A BTU is a “British Thermal Unit”, which is the

quantity of required heat energy to hoist the temperature of one pound of H20 by 1 degree, Fahrenheit.

o Conserved 3,836 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions o Conserved 14,104 cubic yards of landfill space o Conserved 34,500 barrels of oil

What can universities do? Educating today’s youth plays a giant role in perpetuating the green movement. Universities nationwide are demonstrating to their students that participating in sustainability efforts is a priority and students are responding. The Sustainable Endowments Institute publishes the College Sustainability Report Card annually, which provides the individual environmental efforts of various colleges and universities nationwide. These results are an opportunity for students to evaluate which colleges are more environmentally friendly and for universities to learn from others’ experiences. Schools that participate are evaluated in nine categories including climate and energy, green building, food recycling, and student involvement. The Princeton Review also teams up with the United States Green Building Council, citing the most sustainability dedicated colleges and universities in the country in their popular secondary education review books. Students looking to further their education have an abundance of options, and colleges and universities who want to attract students must make themselves part of the green movement. In addition to the somewhat commonplace recycling and changing of lighting to more energy efficient light bulbs and fixtures, the top twenty green campuses have initiated some of the following:

o ALL buildings are LEED Gold Standard (University of Colorado) o Fleet of electric vehicles (Evergreen State College) o Solar heated water in dorms o Moisture-sensitive sprinklers o Solar panels (Arizona State University has more than any US campus)

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Kirei Board: The Future of Interior Design

Kirei Board is a sturdy and durable, yet lightweight, wood substitute that is environmentally friendly. It can be used to make vanities, tables, walls, bars, or surfboard fins. Kirei board may also be used to make wall panels, such as the ones at USF. This product is manufactured from reclaimed stalks of the sorghum plant. The remaining stalks after harvest are heat-pressed with a non-toxic adhesive to produce this unique product. Previously, these remains were being discarded, adding to the planet’s extensive waste and pollution. Toxic formaldehyde will not emit from this product’s adhesive and it will help in gaining LEED credit toward new construction projects being done. Kirei board will now help reduce the waste and make homes, school and offices look more modern. “Kirei Board can help your projects gain credit toward LEED Certification under the following LEED Credits:

• Materials and Resources – Credit 4 – Recycled Content • Indoor Environmental Quality – Credit 4.1 Low-emitting adhesives and sealants • Materials and Resources – Credit 6 – Rapidly Renewable Resources”

(“DwellSmart”) USF St. Petersburg received a LEED certification by using kirei board as wall panels in the new Science and Technology building. They also received a gold rating from the US Green Building Council due to their eco-friendly construction. Below are some pictures of the kirei board wall panels used at USF, a new and fresh design.

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USF Involvement In an article she wrote about the start of the School of Global Sustainability, USF President, Judy Genshaft, spoke about global sustainability as this “generation’s space race, and the University of South Florida is answering the call” (Genshaft). While USF may have joined the race later than some, the call was answered with the pioneering of a School of Global Sustainability. USF has overcome budget obstacles and the boundaries set by the standard four-walled classroom to achieve this “sustainable” success. Office of Sustainability While USF had formed a Sustainability Initiative Steering Committee, the Office of Sustainability was created in July, 2009 to directly manage USF sustainability programs and activities, and whose goal is to create a “sustainable campus environment” (Office). In addition to Director, Christian Wells, the office is staffed with four graduate assistants and two undergraduate interns who have compiled a tremendous amount of research available on the office website. When asked in an interview with Jen Hiatt about the accomplishments of the Office of Sustainability, Wells replied with the following: “Some of the bigger things we’ve been doing…the big Going Green Expo and the Sustainability Conference. That was a huge success, it brought in thousands of people and a lot of people from the community showed up. It was really a great sign, very healthy. Right now, we are working on the Climate Action Plan. This is an obligation that we have because President Genshaft signed the American College and Presidents Commitment, so it obligated the university to find out how are we messing with the environment and what might we do to change our behaviors, technology and resource use in the future. The big push right now is developing that plan.” School of Global Sustainability The School of Global Sustainability (SGS) was designed help students gain a better understanding about environmental, economical, historical, health, and engineering issues that relate to global sustainability. These students will also learn to develop and lead others in increased environmental efforts. This program will help students to achieve their goals in obtaining “hot green careers in environmental design and engineering, hydrology, solar energy and transportation system planning” and more (Peterson). The school has no walls and no dean, and most classes are taken online. The school forced USF to “rethink some of [their] own learning traditions, given [their] declining public financial support and tuition burdens on…students” (Genshaft). Currently, the school offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Global Sustainability, designed to

Key Characteristics of the School of Global Sustainability

o The School is rooted in our geophysical as well as intellectual capital– Tampa Bay’s coastal shorelines, with two thirds of the State of Florida being surrounded by water. Florida has a critical need for fresh water, and a need to sustain our environment;

o USF offers renowned researchers in climate change, coastal environments, sustainable cities, health and society, education, and STEM areas related to sustainability;

o SGS will bring it all together, providing an online MA program, along with an on-campus intellectual center for shared engagement, facilitating the creation of integrated, interdisciplinary research teams;

o The School will become a magnet attracting USF scholars and students to work together on transdisciplinary research, curricular development, innovative collaborative teaching, and partnerships with universities in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean;

o The initial emphasis will be on global sustainability and water, but the School will evolve to reflect a broader focus on Sustainable Communities

From the Brochure for USF School of Global Sustainability

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help students engage in sustainability issues from a miniature to a global level. The inaugural class began in the fall of 2010, with a focus on water. Future topics, including health, economics and engineering will be developed as the program continues. The Science and Technology Building The newest addition to USF St. Petersburg is the Science and Technology Building. It is the two-story 35,000 square foot building that cost about $12 million dollars. One-half or more of the resources used to build the Science and Technology building were manufactured. Most of the waste from the building was recycled instead of being disposed of in the landfill as most other construction sites do. This building alone could save the school over $80,000 yearly on cooling and heating. Almost 94,000 gallons of water will be saved yearly due to the water fixtures place inside of it. This building is the most environmentally friendly on the USF campus. The building has been awarded “high LEED certification for its environmentally friendly planning, design and construction materials” (tampbay.com). “The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the benchmark for the nation for environmentally friendly construction of green building. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: Site Planning, Water Management, Energy Management, Material Use, Indoor Air Quality and Innovation & Design Process”(facilities.com).

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USF’s Report Card

The Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors developed the Sustainable Endowments Institute in 2005, which later initiated The College Sustainability Report Card. The Report Card is designed to identify colleges and universities that are leading by example in their commitment to sustainability. The goal is to provide a compilation of accessible information for schools to learn from one another's experiences. This allows the schools enabling them to establish more effective sustainability policies. Grades are determined by assessing performance across 43 indicators in nine main categories. According to The College Sustainability Report Card, this year USF has earned a “green” grade of B+, improved from a C last year. Some of the contributing factors are listed as follows:

B+ “We are very pleased to see the outcome of the Sustainability Report Card this year, which recognizes USF for its efforts toward creating a cleaner, greener campus environment. Since President Genshaft signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, sustainability has taken off at USF with rocket speed,” said Christian Wells, director of USF’s Office of Sustainability. (Chachere) The Princeton Review This year USF was presented in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges, due to the school’s movement in sustainability. The university website contains many of the sustainable goals USF has attained, some of which include the following:

o In the 2010 Recycle Mania waste minimization contest, USF ranked 25th nationally, and 2nd in the state. The contest included the amount of municipal solid waste generated per person on campus.

o The following 3 (there are a total of 5) environmental student groups in which USF is involved include: Emerging Green Builders, Engineers for a Sustainable World, and the Student Sustainability Initiative.

o There were creations of award-winning projects for sustainable building practices created through The School of Architecture and Community Design.

o The USF team was 1 of 6 to receive a competitive Phase II Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Category Participation

Administration Sustainability Initiative Steering Committee

Green Building

LEED criteria buildings; low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets; LED lighting in all buildings

Student Involvement

Emerging Green Builders; USF Student Community Gardens; Student Environmental Association;

sustainability interns

Transportation UPASS (allows students to take public transportation for free); BullRunner (free travel around campus)

Climate and Energy

Energy-efficient lighting fixtures; renewable energy through solar panels

Food and Recycling

28% of food budget spent on local products; hormone and antibiotic free ice cream; trayless dining

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Student Involvement Not only are the Office of Sustainability and the SGS making an impact of USF’s contribution to the green movement, but students on all USF campuses have found numerous ways to put the “Bull” in sustainable. ConservaBull The students of Emerging Green Builders hosted a competition involving fourteen residences halls who participated in reducing energy consumption. 2010 EPA Game Day Challenge Sponsored by the EPA and USF’s Office of Sustainability, students participated in collecting recyclable material from Raymond James Stadium for USF’s homecoming game against Syracuse. The competition goals were to reduce waste and increase community involvement. Those who volunteered collected trash before the game in the tailgate areas, at then entrance where recyclable materials are often confiscated, and in the stadium for two hours after the game. Adopt-A-Road The Student Government Association at USF Sarasota-Manatee was honored for their participation in cleaning up stretch of road they had adopted that leads to the Education

Corridor.

Recycling Drive Hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, recycled goods were collected at various home soccer and volleyball games at the USF Tampa Campus. Recycled goods included those that were brought in and those that audience members were using. Prizes were awarded to the people who provided the most recyclable material.

USF unveils developed solar energy technology.

What is USF up to other than

creating eco-friendly buildings and less hazardous cleaning supplies?

They have created a new solar energy technology. This has been

accomplished through the development of small, supple solar cells that can produce solar energy through see-thru glass windows that

are competent of generating electricity as light passing through

the panels. This was first unveiled on campus through a public

demonstration and later showcased in USF’s Science Center. According to the website, “Electrical power is

generated on see-thru glass through cell coatings which are sprayed onto

surfaces. This patent-pending process enables researchers to

spray SolarWindow ™ coatings onto glass at room temperature,

eliminating expensive and often cumbersome high-temperature or high-vacuum production methods commonly used by current solar

manufacturers.”

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Interview with Joseph Michalsky, Student Government Chief Sustainability Officer What are your goals as Student Government Chief Sustainability Officer? What have you been able to accomplish thus far? As sustainability, or “going green,” is becoming a greater priority at most universities around the country, Student Body President Cesar Hernandez created this position to handle sustainability-related initiatives, promote more environmentally-friendly policies and practices, and communicate the importance of making sustainable choices to the student body. Student Government sustainability initiatives:

• Completed o Proposal for more bicycle racks around many buildings, to accommodate the increase in bicycle presence

on campus o Sustainability head-to-head comparisons between USF and rivaling universities for some of the football

games o Sustainable Transportation Roundtable – to discuss alternative transportation programs, how to promote

them, and campus planning for a more sustainable transportation • Current

o Assessing university offices, starting with the SG office, to implement practices that reduce energy and paper consumption

o Assessing paper consumption by university departments for promotional material, to explore areas for improvement

What USF affiliated organizations can students get involved with? There are several sustainability-related student organizations on campus:

o Student Environmental Association (SEA) o Net Impact at USF o Bicycle Club at USF o Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS) o Student Community Gardens at USF o Students Protecting the Environment and Animals thru Knowledge (SPEAK) o Botanical Gardens Club o Emerging Green Builders at USF o Engineers for a Sustainable World

How can students learn about “green” events and activates at USF? Right now, the best way to hear about sustainability-related events on campus is to sign up to get emails from the above student organizations on Blackboard. There are also events posted on the Office of Sustainability website (usf.edu/sustainability) and School of Global Sustainability website (sgs.usf.edu). I understand that USF recently participated in a trash pick up at Raymond James Stadium for the Syracuse game. How successful was this? Yes, the Office of Sustainability, with volunteers from the Student Environmental Association, participated in the 2010 EPA Game Day Challenge, in which waste minimization measures were practiced at one home football game in October. For this competition, we used the homecoming game. For two hours before the game, we rolled wheeled recycling bins throughout the tailgating areas. Confiscated beverage containers from the security checks (at the stadium entrances) were also recycled. Then, for two hours after the game, we had a team of 18 volunteers sweep half of Raymond James Stadium for recyclables. (We only got through half of the stadium, with the time given to us by the stadium manager, because there were so many beer cups, partially-consumed bottles, etc.) In total, 30344 people attended the game, and 4038lb of mixed recyclable materials were collected. Where do you see USF’s participation in the “green” movement in the future? Great strides have been made by the university in the past three years to become more environmentally friendly. In this year’s campus master plan update, green building considerations were the focus of discussion. (The campus master plan is a rough layout for future short-term and long-term construction on campus, updated every 10 years.) Universities in America are supposed to be the engine for innovation, and while it’s taken a little longer for USF to get on board with sustainability initiatives, I believe USF will be a great force in promoting sustainability throughout the Tampa community, Florida, and other universities.

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Works Cited DeVore, Jaclyn, ed. "How Green Is USF?" The Oracle (2008): 1-2. The Oracle. Web. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://www.usforacle.com/2.5741/how-green-is-usf-1.619308>. Duggan, Michael. "What is the Definition of Going Green?" Ezine (2010): n. pag. Web. 17 Nov 2010. <http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Duggan>. Gadsden, Sandra. "New Science and Technology Building helps transform USF St. Petersburg." Tampabay.com. N.p., 1/24/2010. Web. 7 Nov 2010 <http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/new-science-and-technology buildinghelps-%C2%A0%20transform-usf-st-petersburg/1067467>. Genshaft, Judy. “The New Space Race: Global Sustainability.” USF School of Sustainability. 2010. <http://sgs.usf.edu/linked_content/pdf/jg%20The%20Presidency%Sustainability.pdf>. 10 Nov. 2010 Go Green Initiative. n.p. 2007-2010. <http://www.gogreeninitiative.org/> 10 Nov. 2010. "Kirei board." DwellSmart. Dwell Smart, n.d. Web. 15 Nov 2010. <http://www.dwellsmart.com/Products/Lumber-and-Wood-Products/Kirei-Board.> Lewis, Jack. “The Birth of EPA.” US Environmental Protection Agency. EPA History, 10 Sept. 2009. <http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/epa/15c.htm> 15 Nov. 2010. McDonald, Gene. "LEED Projects." Refresh Interiors Inc. N.p., 2007. Web. 7 Nov 2010. <http://www.gotgreencountertops.com/LEED_Projects.html> Peterson, Lindsay. “USF Offering New Green Degree.” Tampa Bay Online. 7 Dec 2009 <http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/dec/07/na-usf-offering-new-green-degree/>. 25 Oct. 2010

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Annotated Bibliography Most students attending universities across the nation hope to further their education to lead them into successful careers. However, these students must understand that to have a future they must actively participate in saving the present. This paper has used the following resources to educate readers about the efforts in global sustainability that USF has been and is currently taking. These efforts include the development of a School of Global Sustainability and the savings made by the USF Science and Technology building. These sources also support research on the evaluation of USF’s “green” participation in comparison to that of other campuses across the nation. Chachere, Vickie. “USF Earns a B+ on National Sustainability Report Card.” (2010): n. p. Web. 16 Nov 2010. <http://usfweb3.usf.edu/absoluteNM/templates/?z=38&a=2917>. This article specifically addresses the rating University of South Florida received on the National Sustainability Report Card, an independent assessment of university sustainability developed by The Sustainable Endowment Institute. Specific categories, such as student involvement, administration, and recycling, among many others, are discussed to show USF’s progress towards becoming a more eco-friendly campus, and the achievements they have made over the past two years. Cash, Jacqui. “USF One of Nation’s Top Green Colleges.” University of South Florida. 5 May 2010. 7 Nov. 2010. <http://usfweb3.usf.edu/absoluteNM/templates/?a=2295&z=45>. The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges is a compendium on collegiate information including information on only those colleges who participate with above average commitment in the global sustainability effort. This article posted on the USF News website gives data on the requirements for recognition and a list of USF’s efforts to “go green.” While the article is brief, it is extremely useful for anyone looking for specific information on how USF is making efforts in global sustainability. The College Sustainability Report Card. 2007-2010. Sustainable Endowments Institute. 2 Nov. 10. <http://www.greenreportcard.com>. This site allows for research of various universities, providing sustainable profiles, critiquing each school’s administration, food and recycling, green building and more. Each category contains survey data, and the site allows for comparisons between two or more colleges. This source is extremely informative and is invaluable to any report on the “green” activity of any participating university. Hiatt, Jen. “Q&A with Christian Wells, Office of Sustainability.” Sustain-a-What? 27 Jan 2010.

Web. 16 Nov 2010. <http://tampabaygreenproject.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/qa-with-christian-wells-office-of-sustainability/>.

This website was designed by a student at the University of South Florida for a research project focusing on sustainability in the Tampa Bay Area. The question and answer interview this student conducted offers insight into the Office of Sustainability from the director, Christian Wells, himself. Questions included in this interview include the challenges of developing the Office of Global Sustainability, the progress of this department, what types of goals have been met, as well as the approaches of USF in comparison to other universities.

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Kavanaugh, Missy. "USF St. Petersburg Boasts LEED-Certified Science and Technology." 83 Degrees Media. N.p., 5/18/2010. Web. 7 Nov 2010. <http://www.83degreesmedia.com/devnews/usf051810.aspx> This website talks about how efficient the new science and technology building is. It informs us of how much of the building was built with recycled materials and how much water it saves yearly. The source informs the reader of the advantages of the going GREEN concept, and one of the awards being given to the school due to the environmentally friendly project. Office of Global Sustainability. 2010. University of South Florida. 16 Nov. 2010. <http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Sustainability/>

This website was designed for the Office of Global Sustainability at the University of South Florida. It has an extensive amount of information related to this department at USF, including the mission and history, available programs, staff, and affiliates. Through this website, one can gain information on the various programs USF is engaged in. It also includes resources for students who want to learn how to get involved and offers extensive information on how USF is involved in the green initiative through transportation, academics, and waste management. School of Global Sustainability. 2010. University of South Florida. 27 Oct. 2010. <http://www.sgs.usf.edu>. This website is dedicated to the newly developed School of Global Sustainability at USF. Links not only include information about the courses and staff, but also included is a paper from USF president Judy Genshaft revealing her thoughts about the new program. Other links include news on USF’s partnership with Zimride, encouraging students to rideshare as a social activity. While the site has limited information, the links provided are extremely useful in researching USF’s efforts in sustainability. "10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green." Worldwatch Institute. Worldwatch Institute, 2010. Web. 15 Nov 2010. <http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green>. This website informs viewers of the many ways we can all conserve energy and ways to go green. It goes into how to save energy, water and gas to help the environment. "University of Florida "LEED"s by Example." Facilities Planning and Construction University of Florida. University of Florida, 2007. Web. 15 Nov 2010. <http://www.facilities.ufl.edu/sustain/>. This website gives information regarding LEED. It explains what LEED stands for, what it means, what it gives and what it provides for anyone planning on starting some sort of construction project. It also shows the credits one can receive by getting a LEED Certification. Whiteford, Linda. "ACAD University of South Florida." Sustainability Newsletter. N.p., 07/2008. Web. 15 Nov 2010. <http://www.acad.usf.edu/Office/Strategic-Initiatives/docs/2008-07 Sustainability-Newsletter.pdf>. This website talks about USF and how they are going green and how they are joining other universities on being more sustainable in our environment. It explains some short terms goal that they will try until they can come up with better long term ones. It tells us ways to travel besides driving our cars and talks about how we can carpool instead of having two cars on the road.