Ranking in Princeton Reviews Green Colleges Guides, is a key indicator to USFSPs strategic

plan of sustainability is working. (htt5) These ratings are evidence to the strategies establish
through Strategic Goal #5: In fracture to meet current and future needs: The goal states that it
plans for growth by supporting designs for an estimated enrollment of students of 10,000. USF
St. Petersburg strives to provide the human capital, facilities communications systems, staff,
faculty and student support needed for our current campus to flourish and to implement strategic
growth. (htt5) The growth is not to any one specific strategic plan, yet attacks various strategies
in one plan and executing them. Another indicator of how effective this plan is the percentage of
expectations met in the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
(htt5) Because USFSP is a signatory institute of the American College & University Presidents
Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), they are committed to establish policies to the construction
for new campus buildings to meet as a minimum of a silver Leed certificate; furthermore,
adopting an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy with a requisite of energy star
appliances. (htt4)
Since 2007 The Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF) was established and led by the
collaboration, the state-wide, and student driven campaigns. SGEF is financed through a very
low cost of $1.00 per credit hour. This gives all the students of USF from each individual campus
the rights to vote, propose new projects, to approve project fees and affirm the following
modifications in their main campus. Every three years there will be an opportunity to confirm the
support of the fee assessed to students for the SGEF. (htt1)
The Student Green Energy Fund is for the universities to use by assisting the universities in
reducing energy cost. SGEF reduces energy cost through the conservations, avocations for
generating clean power, geothermal power technologies, and the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions. SGEF propels in providing a growing experience model that disembowels student
leadership and inspiration towards a greater cause. Such cause would be sustaining the
environment, instructing the students, and community with living a greener life. (htt1)
USF St. Petersburg is one of the campuses that are committed to environmental stewardship and
sustainability. USFSP is acknowledged for their sustainable campus to improve waste
management, climate and energy, transportation, green building, water efficiency, and green
purchasing. The campus has stations for recycling batteries, computer parts, and mobile devices
for the storage and collection of recyclables. USFSP offers preferred parking for those vehicles
that are energy efficient which reinforces students to think twice about buying a vehicle that does
not have those benefits. It is a strategic plan to impact the students to receive a positive
reinforcement for being conscious and educated environmental sustainability. There are also
designated areas for bicycle storage. The green buildings feature roofs that reduce the urban heat
island effect helping with improving the communitys environment and quality of life. An open
space promotes biodiversity; furthermore a well-designed landscape not only adds beauty to the
campus but also reduces your heating and cooling cost. The water efficient landscaping lowers

energy costs in maintaining the buildings cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The
green buildings have been a great success in becoming a more green campus. (htt2)
The first green building to receive the Leadership in Environment and Energy Design (Leed)
Certified Gold was the Science and Technology. The building will provide extensive teaching
for science and research. This achievement came with the collaborations from the faculty
members and administrators. This building was constructed with 20% of recycled content used
for raw materials, 10% of materials used came from within 500 miles of the campus, and 50%
use of Forest Stewardship Council Certified wood. (htt) Because of the materials used during
construction, the planning and design, the Science and Technology building earned the highest
award. The green building opened the gate way to constructing more Fleed Certified buildings.
(htt3) In 2014, the University Student Center received a Fleed Certificate for its construction,
planning, and design. This green building was also built with recycled materials similar to the
Science building. These buildings provide a better environment for students to collaborate and
learn together especially because students play a key role in the green initiatives. (htt)
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability/green-buildings/
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability/sgef/
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability/sgef/
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://psgs.usf.edu/news/article/usf-science-technology-building-earnsleed-certification
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability/climate/
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability/sustainable-campus/