EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

The University of South Florida is dedicated to the process of becoming green
and creating a sustainable campus. In order to accomplish the objective, the university
has been making progress by saving water, managing waste, green purchasing, reducing
carbon footprint, also involving and educating students, faculty and staff about campus
climate. For this white paper project, our team will focus on the University of South
Floridas sustainability achievements, efforts, and strategies to become a green campus.
In the beginning of the paper, we will deliver various definition of sustainability.
Follow by are the reasons why we believe sustainability important and why we care. We
are also addressed the most current environmental issues, that the world is facing right
now. Next, we will discuss about the Universitys achievements and their current efforts
in progress of creating a sustainable campus environment. ..The
University of South Florida has taken many steps towards going green. They are
devoted to developing strategies to improve climate and energy, transportation, green
buildings, waste management, water efficiency and green purchasing. Also, without the
involvement of our staffs and students, our progress in the going green movement
wouldnt be possible.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?

According to United States

Earth, on the surrounding environment
Environmental Protection Agency
to survive. We cannot give back to the
(EPA), sustainability is everything that
Earth what it gave to us; therefore, we
we need for our survival and well-being
believe that we are obligated to create a
depends, either directly or indirectly, on
productive harmony relationship with
our natural environment. (United
the environment, the Earth. And right
States Environmental Protection
now, our Earth, our environment is
Agency) It also is the broad collection of
facing many challenging issues and it
policies and strategies that we use to
needs our helps.
reduce the impact on ecological

environment for future generations. It
The environmental problems
gives people the capacity to gain an
that our Earth is facing right now
accurate and deep intuitive
include the increasing levels of
understanding into
pollution, global
most aspects of the
warming,
world from business
widespread
to technology to
devastation of
environment and the
natural species,
social science.
biodiversity loss,

overpopulation,

In order to
waste disposal,
practice
natural resource
sustainability,
depletion,
building and
deforestation, ocean
maintaining the
acidification, ozone
surrounding
layer depletion,
environment under
water pollution, acid
which individuals
rain, public health
and nature can live in
issues, and many
Photo courtesy of
a beneficial way to
more. These issues
Jameschawke.wordpress.com
each other. The
make us becoming
University of South
more vulnerable to
Florida Office of Sustainability
disasters now and future
coordinates and builds partnerships for
However, there are still plenty of
university-wide initiatives that advance
examples due to increasing recognition
the University of South Floridas
and understanding of global issues, for
strategic goal of creating a sustainable
instances: natural parks preserved,
campus environment. (Patel College of
efforts to save energy and waste
Global Sustainabilty)
management, technical innovations that

have helped the environment and
Why is Sustainability important?
improving our life qualities as well.
And why should we care? First and
Sustainability practices are designed to
foremost, we care about the conditions
help our generations, future generation,
of life including environmental, social,
as well as the world. Sustainability is
economic, and other impacts, which
more than being green; its a way to
would affect present and future
show our appreciations.
generations. Second, we rely upon the

HISTORY OF SUSTAINABILITY AT USF

The University of South Florida
has been committing to sustainability
goals and practices since 1995.
University of South Floridas sustainable
goals and practices have been described
and continuing updated in the USF
Tampa Campus Master Plan since then.
The commitment is also extended to off-
campus local community.

According to the Office of
Sustainability, the major concept of
sustainability, which the University
focused in, is Smart Growth. In the first
10 years of 1995 plan; over 2,000 trees
had been planted. In order to reduce
sprawl, traffic, and level of air pollution,
the University carried out a free off-
campus shuttle system, which powered
by biofuel technology. Moreover, the
University provided bike lanes and
sidewalks to improve pedestrian and
bicycle access as well as safety. The
University took recycle and waste
management seriously. Around the
campus, there are recycled trash bins,
which are sectioned for regular trash,
aluminum and plastic. For the purpose
of reducing green house gas emission,
USF only purchases Energy Star
certified products, which are energy-
efficient appliances. Plus, the office of
Campus computing offers a more eco-
friendly environment to reduce carbon
footprint. They have done so by taking
strong responsibilities in disposing and
recycling computer parts, promoting
saving energy in the classroom, and also
purchasing recycled paper and recycling

used paper. Energy conservation has

also been a priority of the University.
Energy intake has been decreased by
approximately 3% even though there is
a growth in energy demand. Early this
year - 2015, the Solar Battery Project has
been installed on the top deck of USFSPs
garage for energy conversion as well as
research and study purposes. Recently,
several buildings of University of South
Florida have qualified the LEED
certified. The new Kate Tiedemann
College of Business at St. Petersburg
campus is expected to be another green
building on campus.

In 2006, Dr. Linda Whiteford,
Professor of Anthropology, has been
chosen as Associate Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Strategic
Initiatives. The position is responsible
finding target areas for development
and investment by recognizing
sustainability around campus and local
community. In 2007, the Sustainability
Initiative Steering Committee was
founded. In April 2008 University of
South Florida President Judy Genshaft
signed the ACUPCC during the Going
Green Tampa Bay EXPO.


In 2010, the Patel College of
Global Sustainability has been
established. The school promotes the
development of sustainable urban
communities and environments through
collaborative research, education and
community involvement.

USF OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY

Mission: to coordinate and builds
partnerships for university-wide initiatives
that advance the University of South
Florida's strategic goal of creating a
sustainable campus environment (Patel
College of Global Sustainabilty)

The Office of Sustainability encourage students, alumni, faculty and staff, also
local community and partners to join the effort of transforming the University
of South Florida into a Green University, where decision structural and
routine consider both individual and collective impacts to our campus,
economy, community, and environment. (Patel College of Global
Sustainabilty)
The University of South Florida has become one of the small numbers of
universities whose determination is to create a green campus and advance
sustainability efforts. The school has earned a GOLD rating from Association
for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education the nations
leading advocacy group for the green campus movement(Chachere). Plus
University of South Florida is one of the nations tops Green Colleges, based on
Princeton Review.

The gold STARS rating USF received proves that we are

truly green and gold. The STARS system helps us track
our sustainability efforts and allows us to find our weak
spots. While the Office of Sustainability is only 500 days
old, weve managed to address most of the easy targets,
like increasing recycling and changing the light bulbs.
Now we need to focus on the bigger picture, what a
sustainable campus should look like over the longer
term. (Chachere)

Dr. E. Christian Wells

Director of the Office of Sustainability

Works Cited
Chachere, Vickie. "Sustainability Gold." University of South Florida News (2011).
Patel College of Global Sustainabilty. Patel College of Global Sustainability - Office of
Sustsainability. 2010. 17 11 2015 <http://psgs.usf.edu/usf-office-of-sustainability/usf-
office-of-sustainability/history>.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA. 21 9 2015. 17 11 2015
<www.EPA.gov>.