USFSP: Taking Initiative of Going Green

The Green Team

Lucy Robson, Project Manager

Sean Ramdat, Researcher

Lyndsey Shaw, Editor

Andrew Schneider, Citations/Bibliography

Allie Martin, Interviewer

Heather White, Compiler

ENC3250.796F14
Dr. Francis Tobienne, Jr.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................3
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................4
WHAT IS THE GREEN MOVEMENT? .....................................................5
GREEN PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES AT USFSP ..................................5
THE STUDENT GREEN ENERGY FUND ............................................................ 6
THE LEED BUILDINGS ................................................................................ 6
USF EFFORTS TO SPREAD SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS.................................... 7
USF DINING SERVICES BECOMES MORE ECOLOGICALLY FRIENDLY ...................... 7
USFS OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY ACTIVITIES ................................................. 8
USFSP COLLABORATION WITH DUKE ENERGY ................................................ 8
OTHER GREEN PROGRAMS ......................................................................... 9
INTERVIEWS ..................................................................................... 10
INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER WINTER ........................................................... 10
INTERVIEW WITH MONICA GONZALEZ ........................................................ 13
CONCLUSION ................................................................................... 18
APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY OF TERMS .................................................. 19
WORKS CITED .................................................................................. 20
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................ 22
ARTICLES ............................................................................................... 22
BOOKS .................................................................................................. 23
REPORTS ............................................................................................... 23
WEBPAGES ............................................................................................ 23

Executive Summary
When The University of South Florida (USF) talks about going green,
they are talking about taking action to promote and practice
sustainability. The University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP)
has implemented many programs to "go green". USFSP has been
recognized in The Princeton Review's Guide to 286 Green Colleges,
which means they are just one of 286 schools currently participating in
the green movement. With renewable resources becoming more
limited we are investigating what green initiatives are taking place at
USFSP. We look at the Student Government committee formed to
promote these initiatives and some projects they have recognized.
These include the LEED buildings, spreading awareness to the
community, changes in Dining Services, the projects with Duke Energy
and additional projects implemented by the Office of Sustainability at
the main campus. Included are interviews with the Sustainability
Coordinator and the Chair of SGEF that continue to detail additional
efforts made at USFSP.

Introduction
To "Go Green" means
practicing a lifestyle that is
environmentally friendly and
ecologically responsible. It
involves making conscientious
decisions to help protect the
environment and therefore
helps to prolong natural
resources to promote
sustainability. There are a
limited amount of natural
resources available in the world
and unfortunately, as the world's
population rapidly increases, we
are consuming them at a rapid

rate in order for future

generations to enjoy the same
standards of living that we are
currently experiencing,
immediate action should be
taken. Many colleges and
universities across the country,
including Florida, have brought
national attention to the
importance of the "Going Green"
movement. At USFSP, green is
more than just one of our school
colors; it is a lifestyle that is
being practiced, here and now.

What is The Green

Movement?
The green movement has
evolved drastically throughout
the years. The modern
environmental movement began
shortly after World War II,
resulting in a swift revolution
from an agricultural society to an
industrial one. The green
movement is distinguished today
from earlier movements in its
emphasis on science and
research. The saying, Going
Green, means practicing a
lifestyle that is environmentally
friendly and ecologically
responsible. It involves making
conscientious decisions to help
protect the environment and to
help sustain natural resources
for current and future
generations. The natural
resources we use every day are
limited and as the worlds
population rapidly increases,
these resources are being

consumed at an astonishing rate.

There are many reasons other
than the decline of natural
resources to consider going
green, such as the damage being
done to the ozone layer, air and
water pollution, greenhouse
gases, and saving money.

Green Programs and

Initiatives at USFSP
USF President Judy
Genshaft signed the American
College and University
Presidents Climate Commitment
for the Tampa campus in 2008,
and USFSP has already started
taking the initiative to make the
campus eco-friendly. To date,
647 presidents of universities
and colleges have signed this
commitment. 434 have
submitted an action plan on how
they plan to implement green
initiatives.

The Student Green Energy

Fund
The Student Green Energy
Fund was started in 2011 and is
led by USFSP Student
Government. The Green Energy
Fund is overseen by a board
composed of four students, four
faculty members, and one
student chair. The meetings are
held once a month during the
Fall and Spring semesters, and
once during the Summer. The
fund supports renewable energy
and efficiency projects on
campus. USFSP students pay a
one-dollar fee per credit hour for
the fund, with over $53,000
collected so far.

constructed, maintained and

operated across the globe
(LEED). LEED represents
leadership in energy and
environmental design,
recognizing the correct way to
build an economically friendly
and sustainable building without
leaving a vast carbon footprint
when completed.

The LEED Buildings

At USFSP, our science and
technology building is the first
Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED)
building. The University Student
Center is another green building
that is not falling far behind and
is currently seeking LEED
certification. LEED is
transforming the way we think
about how buildings and
communities are designed,

USF Science and Technology Center,

Company photograph, Wintergreen
Construction Services, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL,
Web, 18 Nov 2014,
<http://wintergreenconstruction.com/p_educat
ion.cfm>
2
USF St. Petersburg Student Center, Company
photograph, Wintergreen Construction
Services, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL, Web. 18 Nov
2014,
<http://wintergreenconstruction.com/p_educat
ion.cfm>
6

USF Efforts to Spread

Sustainability Awareness
For USF, it was an honor just
to be included in the newly
published Princeton Reviews
Guide to Green Colleges. To be
one of only 286 schools (now
332) to qualify for the national
list was a great accomplishment
for USFs Office of Sustainability.
Dr. Christian Wells, the Offices
director, singled out some of the
activities that he believes make
substantial steps towards a
greener, more ecological and
sustainable campus at USF.
Hosting events such as
RecycleMania, the Campus and
Community Sustainability
Conference, and Going Green
Tampa Bay Expo, means not only
promoting the idea of a green or
eco-friendly campus; the events
also lead the way to showcasing
sustainable products and
services that are already
available in Tampa.

USF Dining Services

Becomes More
Ecologically Friendly
Dr. Wells made a
significant ecological impact at
USF in 2010 when in conjunction
with Jenna Burns at USF Dining
Services. Dr. Wells was able to
remove the use of Styrofoam
containers from the campus and
replace them with
Eco-Takeouts from G.E.T., a
provider of washable and
reusable to-go containers. In the
four years since 2010, more than
one million containers have
been eliminated from the
campus garbage removal,
accounting for 30% of the total
waste generated at USF. Though
there is a temporary refundable
hold charge of $5 each time a
student uses an Eco-Takeouts
container, it is clear that it has
not deterred students from
taking part in and helping
advance the green movement.

Not all institutions place such

a heavy emphasis on ecologically
friendly practices. Companies
like Starbucks use recyclable
containers for to-go orders but
also use them in the restaurant
itself. When asked why they
dont use washable mugs and
plates, the staff said that they
were available to all customers
but that the customer had to
request it first. Other companies
such as Panda Express,
Chick-Fil-A and Subway do not
even provide recyclable
containers. By educating
students on green initiatives
USFSP has the potential to affect
positive change in these
organizations in the future.

USFs Office of
Sustainability Activities
USF hosts a Green Jobs Fair for
students seeking employment
that supports their
environmental goals.

USFs physical plant lowers

campus water usage by
reducing watering duration
times.
The USF Golf Course uses
non-potable storm water for
irrigation.
Sustainability issues are often
included in required general
education courses.
In January 2010, a new School
of Global Sustainability was
created at USF.
By buying Eco-Takeouts, USF
Dining Services is saving at
least $6000 per year.
The USF Tampa Campus runs a
biodiesel-fueled fare-free
campus bus service, the Bull
Runner Transit.

USFSP collaboration with

Duke Energy
USFSP recently received a 1
million dollar grant from Duke
Energy to explore the integration
of storing solar energy in new
battery systems. USFSP is the
fourth school to be awarded this

grant from Duke Energy. The

grant permits for a 100kW solar
photovoltaic system to be
installed on the top of the
Universitys 5th Ave South
parking garage. Energy produced
by the new solar PV system will
be stored in new battery
systems and high-resolution data
will be collected on all aspects of
PV and energy storage,
maximizing synergy between the
two systems. The new energy
storage system would operate in
conjunction with two existing
USF storage systems.

Other Green Programs

At USFSP, there is also
priority parking for low-emission
vehicles to encourage their use,
which is a great motive for
people to consider driving
low-emission vehicles. Each
earth day the Student
Environmental Awareness
Society (SEAS) plants about 200
native trees, promoting a

sustainable ecological system

and also preventing erosion.
Several initiatives and
partnerships have been formed
by USFSP to strive to offer a
more environmentally friendly
computing experience and to
reduce their own carbon
footprint. Examples of practices
that are exercised to improve
their own environmental
responsibility include:
Battery disposal at local
battery recycling centers.
Disposal of our computer parts
at local recycling centers.
Automatically powering off idle
lab and classroom computers.
Mobile phone, battery and
print cartridge recycling.
Promoting, purchasing RoHS
compliant low-power
computer hardware and
peripherals.
Purchasing recycled paper and
recycling used paper for all
Campus Computing needs,
including student pay-for-print
printers.
9

Interviews
Interview With Jennifer Winter
Position: Sustainability Coordinator
Allie: What reasons did the school have to take a green initiative?
Jennifer: Students are always interested in sustainability and going
green, so it just made sense.
Allie: What benefits and consequences have occurred as a result of the
school beginning this initiative?
Jennifer: I dont really think there are consequences; obviously
somebody could get frustrated if something theyre working on doesnt
get moving. But there are a lot of benefits, most of these things from a
facilities side or SGEF side is were putting money into the campus,
which is also saving money and saving energy. Not just for the
environment its good, but for the school as well. These lights after four
years, we are making money. The solar panels that we wrote the grant
for, thats a sustainability effort to write grants for renewable energy,
creates about $15,000 worth of energy every year. So thats a benefit
for the university to get money back.
Allie: What recent sustainability efforts have you arranged for the
school?
Jennifer: So a lot of recent efforts, we have the solar project, thats a
100kw installation that was Duke grant. We also have the battery back

up system, which is a Tesla battery at 200kw storage. Then we have the

LED lighting project in the garage, which was two-part project financed
by SGEF, CERCC and admin.
Then we have another project with Duke that will probably go in
Harbor Hall, using software called demand response. We have an
energy manager and he controls the building with building
management systems, he can change thing remotely. This demand
response is basically software that you put on top of the software to
save more energy. Duke Energy will also install two charging stations
but it will be able to charge three cars, so three spots in the garage by
the battery will be used for car charging stations. Im also working on
right now with a few other people trying to get a Tesla charger as well,
so possibly 4 cars could be charged. Then one of the charges is a fast
charger so its a half hour charge time.
We have a greenhouse gas inventory that we will be conducting;
we signed the American College and Presidents Commitment, so that
requires us to do one. Also a Climate Action Plan, by signing that we
also have to say by this year we are going to go be Carbon neutral, so
we have to pick a date. We are trying through CERCC to hire a
consultant to help us with it. So that will be conducted from January to
about April 15th or so. There are also student initiatives; student clubs
are working on different beach cleanups.
We have two Gold buildings, and hopefully with the new College
of Business, we are working for the LEED for that. Lighting retrofits are
planned, so facilities we are doing Davis and Coquina, its green to save
energy but it also saves energy for the university and saves
maintenance. So we are working on switching out the lights to LED
ones.

11

Then theres the initiative of creating a Sustainability major and

minor program. We are putting together a committee to research this.
We are also getting five additional kiosks from Duke Energy, where we
are going to be putting the kiosks in the SLC, USC, and hopefully the
library. For the solar project we also ordered a kiosk, which is basically a
touch screen computer where you can see what the garage is using,
what the batteries are charging, what the solar panels are producing,
and all that youll be able to pull up in your classroom or on your
phone. We will be getting research out of this.
Allie: Do all the departments have their own green projects or does the
campus work together to achieve these goals?
Jennifer: For the future creating an Office of Sustainability where we
have a website, newsletter, and people know these are all the things
going on and starting to connect people. SEAS does their own thing,
CERCC does their own thing, SGEF does their own thing, then theres a
gardening club and theres all these different clubs. They may be
applying for the same things and doing the same things but instead of
coordinating their resources, theyre just struggling on their own. On
this campus, its the students and facilities side that are pushing the
environmental movement. There are some campuses where admin is
doing a top-down approach, where here its more of a grass roots.
Students are getting their own money, [students] are going to buy
lights, going to buy recycling bins, so its definitely a student push over
here.
I dont know what every department is doing, I know the
Environmental Science department have a sustainability tract, and I

12

know they put out a newsletter. Departments assist us, and we do have
professors in each of the groups, so theyre all willing to assist us, but
we are the ones that do the sustainability.

Interview With Monica Gonzalez

Position: Vice Chair of the Student Green Energy Fund
Allie: What are the most important projects that USFSP has completed
or are currently working on to help towards the going green initiative?

Monica: Solar powered

charging stations
These are the picnic tables
by the water near Coquina
Hall and the library. There
is also a bench outside of
the Science and
Technology building. Joe
Kobus, owner of
Enerfusion, Inc., invented
these solar powered
charging stations. The
stations are equipped with solar powered outlets to plug in your
electronic devices, solar panels, and LED lights. The two Solar-Doks
and the Solstice are self-sustaining, made from recycled materials, and
provide off the grid green energy. 3
3

Picture Source: Solar Powered Charging Stations, USFSP. N.d. Photograph from Interviewee. JPEG file.
13

Hybrid truck
This proposal was submitted by
Karla Infazon, a member of the
Waterfront program and
student at USFSP. She came to
SGEF with the Waterfronts
proposal on buying a bi-fuel
truck that can operate on
either gasoline or natural
compressed gas. The hybrid truck is used to transport people and
equipment for the Waterfront program.4
Energy-efficient LED lighting to all the
floors in the parking garage
LED Daylight and Motion Sensitive
Lighting on the First Floor of the
Parking Garage.5
The sustainable cardio equipment
NetZero Treadmills and Electricity
Producing Bikes & Ellipticals in the
Cardio Loft of the Gym6

4
5
6

Picture Source: Hybrid Truck, USFSP. N.d. Photograph from Interviewee. JPEG file.
Picture Source: LED lighting in Parking Garage, USFSP. N.d. Photograph from Interviewee. JPEG file.
Picture Source: Sustainable Cardio Equipment, USFSP. N.d. Photograph from Interviewee. JPEG file.
14

The recycle & trash

bins/containers on campus.

The refillable/quantifiable
water bottle filling stations.

7
8

SunSense Project
So, some projects currently going on at school in going green...
Currently, SGEF has been focusing
on one big project that has been
going on for a while now. I'm not
sure if you have noticed recently
that the 7th floor of the USFSP
garage building has been blocked
off from students for construction
purposes? We are installing a
100kW solar array with the help of Duke Energy! Duke Energy provided
a grant for us and the project will be for us to manage and use for
research.9
7
8

Picture Source: Recycle & Trash Bins, USFSP. N.d. Photograph from Interviewee. JPEG file.
Picture Source: Refillable Water Stations, USFSP. N.d. Photograph from Interviewee. JPEG file.

Allie: How many proposals are there currently that the SGEF committee
is considering and if possible, what do some of them entail?
Monica: Since the fall semester is coming to an end soon and a new
chair was appointed, no proposals have been made at the moment. We
decided to work on finishing our current assignments and preparing for
the spring semester.
Allie: Where do most of the proposals come from (students, local
community, or businesses)?
Monica: Most of the proposals come from students. Their ideas are
sometimes even brought up because of a project they were working on
for class!
Allie: How long does it take for most proposals to become
implemented projects?
Monica: It depends on the committees time line. Sometimes they have
the proposals turned in and then a week later well have the
presentation and then two weeks later a vote. Or it could just be done
in two weeks based on the dates set by the committee in the beginning
of the semester.
Allie: Have there been any projects that didn't work as well as
anticipated? If so, have there been any changes to help achieve better
results?
9

Picture Source: SunSense Project, USFSP. N.d. Photograph from Interviewee. JPEG file.

16

Monica: There have been a couple projects that did not work out this
year. This is mostly due to proposals needing to be re-edited and
re-approved because they either did not follow the proposal
requirements, or students graduating/moving away before they were
able to follow through with their project. We have been trying to work
with student government to solve some of these issues, and we created
Working Group meetings for anyone needing help with creating a
proposal or just wanting to come in and present their ideas!

17

Conclusion
The University of South
Florida, including the Saint
Petersburg campus (USFSP), has
taken the initiative in going
green. The Saint Petersburg
campus has a plethora of
eco-conscious projects and
programs that are in full effect
today. These initiatives include
establishing LEED certified
buildings; promoting
sustainability among students,

staff and community; solar

energy projects and so many
more activities and programs. By
implementing these initiatives
the school is working to reduce
their carbon footprint. The
University continues to work
toward progressing established
projects and developing new
ones. The University of South
Florida has taken many large
steps in making our campus and
community eco-friendly and
efficient.

18

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms

Clean Energy Resource Conservation Commission (CERCC) a
committee at USF that uses the American College and University
Presidents Climate Commitment as a directive in implementing
sustainable efforts.10
Going Green pursuing knowledge and practices that can lead to
more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions
and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its
natural resources for current and future generations.11
Green Building buildings that have a much smaller carbon footprint
than conventional buildings.12
Greenhouse Gases chemical compounds in the Earths atmosphere
that allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely then absorb the
infrared radiation and trap the heat.13
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) a green building
certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies
and practices.14
Sustainability the principle that everything that the population needs
for survival and well being, depends on our natural environment
whether its directly or indirectly.15
10
11
12
13
14
15

Source: Standard Operating Procedures (CERCC).

Source: Going Green.
Source: What is Green Building
Source: What Are Greenhouse Gases?
Source: LEED
Source: Sustainability
19

Works Cited
Blias, Jessica. Duke Energy to Invest $1 Million in USFSP Research Project. USFSP.edu. USF St.
Petersburg, 18 Sept 2014. Web. 10 Nov 2014.
<http://www.usfsp.edu/blog/2014/09/18/duke-energy-to-invest-1-million-in-usfsp-rese
arch-project/>
Cash, Jacqui. News: USF One of Nation's Top Green Colleges. USF.edu. University of South
Florida, 5 May 2010. Web. 10 Nov 2014.
<http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=2295>.
Computer Disposal. USFSP.edu. USF St. Petersburg, n.d. Web. 10 Nov 2014.
<http://www.usfsp.edu/computing/standards-policies/computer-disposal/>
Going Green. Middletown Thrall Library, n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2014.
<http://www.thrall.org/special/goinggreen.html>
Gonzalez, Monica. Re: Interview Request. Message to Allie Martin. 17 Nov 2014. E-mail.
Green Initiatives. USFSP.edu. USF St. Petersburg, n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2014.
<http://www.usfsp.edu/undergrad/green/>
Lallanilla, Marc. What Is the Green Movement? About. About.com, n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2014.
<http://greenliving.about.com/od/greenprograms/a/What-Is-The-Green-Movement.ht
m>
LEED. Usgbc.org. U.S Green Building Council, n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2014.
<http://www.usgbc.org/leed>
The Princeton Reviews Guide to 332 Green Colleges. The Princeton Review. TPR Education IP
Holdings, LLC., n.d. Web. 10 Nov 2014.
<http://www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.aspx>
Sara. A Brief History of the Modern Green Movement in America. Momtastic Web Ecoist.
TotallyHer Media, LLC, n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2014.
<http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2008/08/17/a-brief-history-of-the-modern-green-mo
vement/>
Standard Operating Procedures: Student Government Clean Energy & Resource Conservation
Commission (CERCC). OrgSync.com. USFSP Student Government, Spring 2013. Web PDF
file. 19 Nov 2014. <https://orgsync.com/61608/files/369445/download>

20

Sustainability. EPA. United States Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 19 Nov 2014.
<http://www.epa.gov/Sustainability/basicinfo.htm>
Tips for Going Green. USA.gov. U.S. Government, 8 Oct 2014. Web. 10 Nov 2014
<http://www.usa.gov/topics/environment-agriculture/going-green-tips.shtml>
USF Science and Technology Center. Company photograph. Wintergreen Construction Services,
Inc., St. Petersburg, FL. Wintergreen Construction Services, n.d. Web. 18 Nov 2014.
<http://wintergreenconstruction.com/p_education.cfm>
USF St. Petersburg Student Center. Company photograph. Wintergreen Construction Services,
Inc., St. Petersburg, FL. Wintergreen Construction Services, n.d. Web. 18 Nov 2014.
<http://wintergreenconstruction.com/p_education.cfm>
USFSP Should Sign Commitment to Go Green: Guidelines for Making Campus More
Eco-friendly Could Push the University. The Crows Nest. The Crows Nest, 25 Jan 2012.
Web. 10 Nov 2014.
<http://crowsneststpete.com/2012/01/25/usfsp-should-sign-commitment-to-go-greenguidelines-for-making-campus-more-eco-friendly-could-push-the-university/>
What are Greenhouse Gases? EIA.gov. Energy Information Administration, 2 Apr 2004. Web.
19 Nov 2014. <http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/ggccebro/chapter1.html>
What is Green Building. Green Resource Council. Green Resource Council of the National
Association of REALTORS, n.d. Web. 10 Nov2014.
<http://www.greenresourcecouncil.org/green-resources/what-green-building>
Why Go Green. Green Resource Council. Green Resource Council of the National Association
of REALTORS, n.d. Web. 10 Nov 2014.
<http://www.greenresourcecouncil.org/green-resources/why-go-green>
Wilma. Going Green and Saving Green: University of South Florida Celebrates One-Year All
Ecos Anniversary. Ecotakeouts. N.p, 8 Apr
<http://ecotakeouts.com/reusable-to-go-blog/?p=136>
Winter, Jennifer. Personal interview. 20 Nov 2014.

21

Annotated Bibliography
Articles
10 Easy Ways To Be Green. OurEarth. OurEarth.org, Inc., 2010. Web. 10 November 2014.
<http://www.ourearth.org/education/greentips.html>
This article suggests 10 easy ways to be green in your daily routine. The techniques OurEarth
lists include reducing consumption by trying to use less energy, water, and other resources. It
also lists unplugging unused electronics, fixing leaks, recycling and buying recycled items, along
with buying locally. The article uses statistics for support to show the impact that could happen
when adapting the use of these tips in your lifestyle.
Cash, Jacqui. News: USF One of Nation's Top Green Colleges. USF.edu. University of South
Florida, 5 May 2010. Web. 10 November 2014.
<http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=2295>
In this news article, it highlights some of the ways USF is going greener and how The Princeton
Reviews Guide to 286 Green Colleges recognized their efforts. Few sustainable activities that
USF has done to promote a green lifestyle is getting students involved in environmental student
groups and learning about sustainability issues by requiring it as a general education course. It
also mentions that USF is helping spread awareness to the community by hosting conferences
and expos showcasing sustainable products, services and demonstrating practices that
influences Floridas future.
Greenfield, Paige. 70 Easy Ways To Be A Little Bit Greener. Prevention. Rodale Inc., n.d. Web. 10
November 2014.
<http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/70-easy-ways-green-your-life>
This article has 70 little ways to help become green in your life so that you can help the
environment and save money. One tip stated was swapping out items to ones without harmful
ingredients like soap. Another says replacing vinyl shower curtains can help avoid more than
108 chemicals from being emitted into the air. Other tips include use of safer pesticides, skip
hand-washing dishes, using energy controls on electronic devices, and using a carwash instead
of washing your car at home.
Tips for Going Green. USA.gov. U.S. Government. 8 October 2014. Web. 10 November 2014.
<http://www.usa.gov/topics/environment-agriculture/going-green-tips.shtml>
This web article is another one that states ways you could be a more conscious consumer. It
mentions making greener product choices, reusing and recycling and verifying green marketing
claims. It gives an example of being a green consumer by turning your thermostat down two
degrees in the winter and up in the summer, along with switching from conventional

22

incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs. It also mentions to look for certain
product labels established by the EPA like EnergyStar and WaterSense.
Why Go Green. Green Resource Council. Green Resource Council of the National Association of
REALTORS. 2013. Web. 10 November 2014.
<http://www.greenresourcecouncil.org/green-resources/why-go-green>
This article mentions why you should go green, mostly concerning with green buildings. Green
buildings are important to USF since they notably have at least one green building on each
campus. Reasons included in the article in favor for green buildings include that the amount of
resources are limited and that these buildings can help reduce the use of these resources.
Implementing a green practice is good for the environment since it will improve both air and
water quality and conserve natural resources. Green building can save money by reducing
energy consumption and the value of your asset will increase. It is also healthier for people
since the environment will be improved therefore increasing the quality of life.

Books
Armentrout, David; Armentrout, Patricia; Britannica Digital Learning. Going Green. Chicago:
Britannica Digital Learning, 2013. Ebook Library. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
This short educational book talks about going green and the different renewable energy
sources available. It goes into some detail about solar power, wind power, hydrogen power,
geothermal energy and the use of water. It later talks about how to make a difference while
conserving electricity and using the three Rs; Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Reports
Not Available. Clean Cities Helps Fleets Go Green (Fact Sheet). N. p., 2009. Web.
doi:10.2172/963162.
This report is about states like Ohio and Illinois that use green fleets which is vehicles that use
alternative fuel sources or advanced technology vehicles. Included this source because of USFSP
use of the hybrid truck.

Webpages
PCGS. PCGS: Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Global Sustainability . USF.edu. University of South
Florida, n.d. Web. 10 November 2014 <http://psgs.usf.edu/usf-office-of-sustainability/>
Linked to this main website is multiple websites that note the Patel College of Global
Sustainabilitys efforts in having USF go green. Webpages include sites that demonstrate the
initiatives and programs that USF is implementing in their stride to go green. The initiatives and
programs include a campus-wide recycling program, student groups that help with promoting
sustainable practices and work towards making the community more environmentally friendly.
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It also includes listing initiatives dealing with the water, transportation, designed environment,
academics, and energy.

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