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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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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
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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.
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Energy Sustainability: USF is Reducing its 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.
Dictionary. n.d. Dictionary.Reference. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/carbon-footprint>
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.
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responsible for many different legislations enacted by the Student Government body about
different sustainable initiatives.
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Definition of Terms
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