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Energy Sustainability: USF is Reducing its Carbon Footprint
Executive Summary:
The global rise in the pursuit of sustainable energy alternatives has changed not only how
we live our lives but how the governments and companies all over the world view our
societies. As the Green Movement becomes more prevalent in advanced countries like the United
States, the more changes we begin to see across the board. From the manufacturing of vehicles,
appliances, lightbulbs and more everything is slowly becoming more energy efficient. The
same is applicable to architecture and the manufacturing process of many of the pieces that go
into putting together a building. With this is government intervention. The US government not
only awards green initiatives, but also encourages individuals and businesses to strive to reduce
their carbon footprint.
This article is designed to highlight how this movement toward greater energy
sustainability has changed the University of South Florida, and the University of South Florida
St. Petersburg, herein referred to as USF and USFSP respectively. The goal of this paper is to
demonstrate that both USF and USFSP have both made great accomplishments when it comes to
sustainable energy. 1) Through their LEED certified building initiatives, 2) their continued
efforts in promoting green campuses, 3) and finally, their strong efforts made both by the school
administration, but also through the student governments to ensure a strong impact is made by
USF and USFSP in its green initiatives.
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Energy Sustainability: USF is Reducing its Carbon Footprint
Table of Contents
1: Group Introduction and Cover Page
2: Executive Summary
3: Table of Contents
4: Introduction
What is energy sustainability?
Part 1: Where does sustainability stand?
5: Global stance on energy sustainability
The perception of sustainability
6: USFs stance on energy sustainability
Think globally act locally
Part 2: What has been done for the going green cause?
7: Initiatives undertaken by USF and USFSP campuses
Patel College of Global Sustainability
Sustainable energy projects at USFSP
8: Student Governments role
Clean Energy and Resource Conservation Commission (CERCC)
Part 3: Why?
9: Why go green?
Benefits outweigh the costs
11: Conclusion
Part 4: Bibliography
12: Annotated Bibliography
Part 5: Glossary of Terms
16: List of Terms
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Energy Sustainability: USF is Reducing its Carbon Footprint
Introduction
What is Energy sustainability?
Sustainability is the key to our survival on this planet and will also determine success on all
levels. Arison, Shari
Energy sustainability in recent years has become a growing topic as information on the
subject has significantly grown. Sustainable energy is defined as any alternative to the
consumption of nonrenewable fossil fuels that pollute the environment and utilize a more
renewable or efficient method of harvesting energy. These may include things like: wind
turbines, photovoltaic cells, hydroelectric dams, etc. Other methods of sustainability include the
usage of electric power stations to charge electric vehicles or the use of efficient materials that
reduce the loss of efficiency like insulation.
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Energy Sustainability: USF is Reducing its Carbon Footprint
Part 3: Why?
Why go green?
Going green and using renewable,
sustainable energy sources has become one
of the largest, if not the largest, topics being
discussed in the past decade. Sustainable
energy refers to the ability of the energy to
be used infinitely, such as solar power or
wind. Things like Fossil-Fuels are not
sustainable because they are non-renewable,
meaning that there is a finite amount of the
substance on Earth. The fact that fossil fuels
are so widely used today and that people are
so heavily dependent on it have raised
questions about the usage itself. It is a finite
substance, which means that at the rate of
consumption today, the substance will
eventually run out in the future. This fact is
what has stirred talks and debates on what
types
of renewable energies we can
use,
and how to use sustainable
energy practices in order to
make up for this inevitable
shortage. The debate has
proponents and opponents
alike, and will most likely be
hotly debated and discussed for
years to come. A lot of parts of the
sustainable / renewable energy debate stem
from multiple different sub-topics including
pollution, quantity, and Safety & Reliability.
Pollution has been a large detriment
of the modern day energy sources, and have
sparked wide uproar concerning the after
effects and dirty leftovers created by these
energy methods. Fossil Fuel-powered
transportation pumps more than 1.7 billion
tons of carbon equivalent emissions into the
air annually, (Matthews, par. 5). These
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Energy Sustainability: USF is Reducing its Carbon Footprint
Conclusion
Efforts toward energy sustainability are something that has taken the forefront at the
University of South Florida and University of South Florida St. Petersburg. Both campuses have
taken significant initiatives toward energy sustainability. As previously stated, the student
government at USFSP have helped start numerous projects to help reduce the USFSPs carbon
footprint, which also helps the environment. The efforts by the student government is not where
it stops though. Both USF and USFSPs administrative bodies have gone to great lengths to
ensure that adequate measures are taken to make both campuses more energy efficient and
sustainable. This includes, but is not limited to, water refill stations for water bottles, energy
efficient buildings and a green energy initiative funded by tuition. By going green USF and
USFSP no longer have to waste as much energy to keep the campuses many buildings running,
nor do they have to leave such a heavy carbon footprint.
Part 4: Bibliography
Annotated Bibliography
Boatwright, Josh. "Duke Energy unveils solar power project at USF St. Pete." n.d. TBO.
<http://www.tbo.com/pinellas-county/duke-energy-unveils-solar-power-project-at-usf-st-pete20150520/>
This article provided helpful information about the Duke Energy grant that provide USF Tampa
with a solar voltaic system.
Simply used for the definition of carbon footprint to inform readers of the meaning if they are
unfamiliar with the term or were unaware of the actual meaning.
"Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division." Sustainable Energy Systems. Berkeley Lab, 2015.
Web. 27 Nov. 2015. https://eaei.lbl.gov/group/sustainable-energy-systems
Used for some basic information and to cite a picture taken from the webpage.
This article provides valuable information about climate change which helps the reader
understand how much we have raised the levels of greenhouse gases in recent years which helps
solidify how important the green movement is.
Matthews, Mike. "Do Nonrenewable Resources Cause Pollution?" Home Guides. SFGate, 2015. Web. 18
Nov. 2015. <http://homeguides.sfgate.com/nonrenewable-resources-cause-pollution-79346.html>
This article helps provides information on how much harm fossil fuels have done to the
environment and helps answer the questions, Why Go Green?
Moll, Eric. "Importance of Renewable Resources of Energy." Home Guides. SFGate, 2015. Web. 18 Nov.
2015. <http://homeguides.sfgate.com/importance-renewable-resources-energy-79690.html>
While this article is not focused on USF or USFSP specifically, it does discuss the LEEDership
Awards given by the U.S. Green Building Council - and what they strive to achieve through their
awards. It discusses that they were holding the award ceremony at USFSP's University Student
Center, which is a LEED Gold-certified complex. I think it is helpful that how the ratings and
awards for environmental sustainable architecture works is helpful, and it is also important to
show that USFSP has been recognized by this ratings boards.
There is a wealth of information that comes directly from the USF office of sustainability
website. Information about the past and future initiatives are explained all throughout the text.
Also, by providing details on initiatives like the "Solar Energy Charging Station" helps readers
recognize USF as an active member of the green movement, and has been as far back as 1995. In
addition to that, as the source comes directly from USF, this is a good source to use in the early
parts of the document and can be easily paired with future references.
Sandler, Neal. "Shari Arison Shares Her Green Vision." Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P., 18 Nov. 2009.
Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/nov2009/gb20091118_704349.htm>
Shari Arison is a very influential Israeli businesswoman; that while controversial at times in her
homeland - has made great efforts in promoting environmental sustainability. Her words are a
great starting point for the paper as they provide the reader with a good insight as to what to
expect when reading this paper. It gives a good look into the content without requiring the reader
to go through the entire paper.
Provided information about how the Patel College of Global sustainability helps reduce the
ecological footprint around the world through their research, community involvement, as well as
through education.
In addition to the information provided by the energy source provided, this source goes further
by explaining how the actual building materials of a few campuses and renovated buildings now
have better roof insulation to help make the buildings more energy efficient. The roof materials
have a 94/100 Sun Reflective Index (SRI) which aids in the conservation of energy when using
cooling systems.
"University of South Florida Archives - EV News Report." EV News Report Site Wide Activity RSS. EV
News Report, 21 May 2015. Web. 27 Nov. 2015. http://evnewsreport.com/tag/university-ofsouth-florida/
This article gave us more information about sustainability on the USFSP campus, and also
granted us a picture to use in our report.
Helpful information about the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design that the University
of South Florida intends to implement in all future designs.
USFSP. "USFSP Promotes Campus Expansion, Sustainability." University of South Florida St.
Petersburg. University of South Florida St. Petersburg, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.usfsp.edu/home/2015/10/14/usfsp-promotes-campus-expansion-sustainability/>
Since the white paper project holds emphasis on USFSP, we had to look on the website
specifically for the St. Petersburg campus. The Kate Tiedemann College of Business campus
expansion page details that they look to hold events explaining what the new building was to
feature in regards to energy sustainability. It provides information on what the environmental
impact the building will have on the surrounding area, as well as how USFSP plans on decreasing
the impact it will inevitably cause through its energy sustainability initiatives. The meetings
posted on the webpage have already passed, however, any future meetings could provide more
information that could be used for this white paper project.
"USFSP University Student Center - Creative Contractors, Inc." Creative Contractors Inc. Creative
Contractors, Inc., 2015. Web. 27 Nov. 2015. http://www.creativecontractors.com/usfsp-universitystudent-center-2/nggallery/page/2/
Used this website for a few very small details about the University Student Center at USFSP, and
also for a picture.
David is the Secretary of Sustainable Initiatives in the Executive Branch of Student Government,
as well as the Chair for the Clean Energy & Resource Conservation Commission, the Chair for
the Student Green Energy Fund committee, and a member of the Student Environmental
Awareness Society.
This article provides information on Hurricane Patricia which is believed to have been caused due
to the unnaturally warm waters.
Alyssa used to be the Director of Sustainable Initiatives in Student Government, and was also the
Chair of Clean Energy Resource Conservation. Along with these positions, she was also a voting
member in the Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF).
Definition of Terms
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