SUSTAINABLE
FLORIDA TECH
Presented by the Green
Campus Group
OBJECTIVES




What is sustainability?
What are other campuses doing?
Why should we aim for a sustainable
campus?
What should we do and how can we make it
happen?
SUSTAINABILITY

Meeting the needs of
the present without
compromising the
ability of future
generations to meet
their own needs
http://www.japanfs.org/images/cartoon/23sustainability.jpg
SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS/GREEN
CAMPUS INITIATIVES

University of Minnesota, Morris

University of Florida

Harvard

University of British Columbia
http://www.sustainablecampus.org/universities.html
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, MORRIS





Wind power supplies over
60% of electricity needs
First large-scale wind
research turbine ever
constructed at a U.S. public
university
Biomass District Heating
and Cooling System
Pride of the Prairie Local
Foods Initiative
Recycling
http://www.mrs.umn.edu/greencampus/
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA



Environmental Purchasing Policy
Formal recycling program began in 1989
LEED criteria
–

emphasizes state of the art strategies for
sustainable site development, water savings,
energy efficiency, material selections, and indoor
environmental quality
Green Fleet
http://www.sustainable.ufl.edu/operations.asp
HARVARD




Biodiesel is now used in all
Harvard owned buses
Waste Management and
Recycling Service achieving
42%+ recycling rate
Ongoing expansion of local &
organic produce in Harvard
University Dining Service
Building energy assessments to
identify and implement building
upgrades. Recent building
energy upgrades have
achieved energy use reductions
of 30%
http://www.greencampus.harvard.edu/


Addressing energy
conservation in existing
buildings. Invested $6.5
million in 85 different projects
achieving an average
payback of 3.4 years
Green Campus Loan Fund
–
an interest free revolving
loan fund made available to
anyone within Harvard who
has a project that both
demonstrably reduces
Harvard environmental
impact and directly
generates associated utility
or operating savings to pay
back the loan within a five
year period
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA



In 1997 UBC became Canada's first
university to adopt a sustainable
development policy
Vision
To earn the respect of future generation for
the social, ecological and economic legacy
we create
Mission
To create a culture of sustainability at UBC
UBC continued

Simple actions
–
Despite a 24-percent increase in students since 1998-99,
UBC has reduced:




Energy use in core and ancillary buildings by 10 percent. This
represents financial savings of $2.5 million in 2004/5.
CO2 emissions from buildings by 11 percent. However, since
1990, they have reduced the CO2 emissions per square meter
of building area by 27 percent.
CO2 emissions from buildings and transportation combined by
nine percent.
Water use in core and ancillary buildings by 32 percent—that’s
enough water to supply 14,700 Vancouver residents for one
year.
UBC continued



Green Energy certificates
LEED certified buildings
Green building
–
–
–
–
Many reused and recycled materials
Natural ventilation
Composting toilets
Use of high-volume fly ash concrete

This is an important innovation because the manufacture of
cement in Vancouver produces almost as many greenhouse
gas emissions as all of the city's vehicles combined
http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/
WHY SHOULD WE AIM FOR A
SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS?




FLORIDA TECH will become a leader among
universities in sustainable and green practices
A sustainability program will draw the attention of
new students
Programs implemented will save money in the long
run
Programs implemented will be beneficial to the
environment
WHAT SHOULD FLORIDA TECH DO?





Encourage students and faculty to become aware of
their actions and how their actions affect the
environment
Increase the amount of recycling on campus with a
UNIFIED campus effort
Decrease Styrofoam usage at campus dining
facilities
Implement an Environmental Purchasing policy
Require new buildings/construction projects on
campus to meet specifications set by LEED
HOW CAN FLORIDA TECH MAKE THIS
HAPPEN?

Encourage environmental awareness
–
–
–
Purchase of bikes that would be painted maroon/gray/black
and be available to students via an honor policy
Post signs around campus that remind students to turn off
lights, computers, and faucets when not in use
Educational opportunities


Movie-nights
Educate student leaders, namely Resident Assistants
HOW CAN FLORIDA TECH MAKE THIS
HAPPEN? continued

Unified recycling effort
–
–


Currently 2 organizations on campus with limited recycling
programs
Cost for recycling: $25.00 for one 90 gallon bin for one
month
Reduce Styrofoam use by making it more
inconvenient
Environmental Purchasing
–
When purchasing items, buy “environmentally preferable”
products, recycled products, and practicable products
HOW CAN FLORIDA TECH MAKE THIS
HAPPEN? continued

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design)
–
5 Key areas:





–
sustainable site development
water savings
energy efficiency
materials selection
indoor environmental quality
For both new building construction and existing buildings
http://www.usgbc.org/
QUESTIONS?
Contact: Gwen Valentine, gvalenti@fit.edu
Frank Leslie, fleslie@fit.edu