Sharing successes of a student-led ‘green fee’
- June 8, 2015
- / Sean MJ Smith
- / community-dashboard
Things are greening up at the University of West Florida.
Solar-powered umbrella Solar Doks provide shade for students and charge their electronics. Energy-sipping LED lights brighten the massive Health, Leisure and Sports Facility and other high-use areas.
Students at the University of West Florida funded these and other environmentally friendly projects on campus — reducing utility bills and trimming UWF’s carbon footprint through reduced energy consumption.
Talia Smith, a UWF environmental science graduate student who helped drive support for the school’s student green energy fee, is the guest speaker at the next 350 Pensacola program at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bayview Community Center in Pensacola. The program is free and open to the public.
Smith will share the successes, policy changes and impact made by UWF students — and how others can inspire similar actions.
“These students care about the environment, and they are choosing to give back to the university which in turn gives back to them,” Smith said. “These ideas were based on the students proposals — so it’s rewarding to see their ideas turned into real-world action.”
[sidebar]
What: Environmental Initiatives at the University of West Florida
Where: Bayview Senior Resource Center, 2000 E. Lloyd St., Pensacola, 32503
When: Tuesday, June 9, 7 p.m.
About 350 Pensacola
world.350.org/pensacola
facebook.com/350pensacola
twitter.com/350pensacola
[/sidebar]
The fee is 75 cents per-credit-hour, and it has evolved to expand its scope for other environmentally friendly projects. About $600,000 has been brought in over the past three years — fueling 10 environmentally friendly or energy conservation projects on campus, said Jim Hurd, UWF assistant vice president of Student Affairs.
So far, UWF has installed five Solar Dok umbrella tables for $65,000, installed LED lighting and control systems at the 10,000 square-foot HLS Center for $135,000 and installed water filters for water bottle stations to reduce disposable plastic bottle impacts.
[caption id="attachment_24593" align="alignright" width="450"]
A student green energy fee approved in 2011 at UWF has paid for these Solar Dok umbrellas that offer environmentally friendly charging stations on campus.[/caption]
Lighting upgrades typically will pay back over time with reductions in energy consumption and improved lifespan of the equipment, while reducing the carbon footprint of the campus.
“Now that we have the solar-powered umbrellas and charging stations, students will be able to see their money going to good use,” Smith said. “I am very happy that the University of West Florida is working well with its students and wants to continue to use the green fee for projects.”
The lighting energy conservation projects went largely unnoticed by the students, but such projects make an impact to reduce consumption, Smith said.
Discussions on the green fee at UWF started in 2010 when the UWF Student Environmental Action Society (SEAS) approached the Student Government Association about the Green Energy Fee.
A referendum in November 2011 indicated that 68 percent of the students who voted were in favor of the green fee. It was approved by the Florida Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors in 2012, Hurd said.
“The decision of the student body to continue this initiative is a constant reminder to me that it is important in instilling a sense of school pride on campus,” said Daniel McBurney, student body president. “Students are able to come together and create projects that will keep our campus sustainable for generations of UWF students to come.”
Numerous schools throughout the state have instituted the student-initiated fees, including University of South Florida. However, in 2013 the Board of Governors rejected proposed green energy fee proposals submitted by Florida A&M and Florida State Universities, citing concerns over rising fees and tuition costs. Having already been approved, the UWF SGA reauthorized the Green Fee again for this year.
Smith’s presentation is part of 350 Pensacola's ongoing series of programs on climate change and related issues. The idea is to make small changes locally, which will add up when other areas take similar actions.
The 350 Pensacola group formed in 2011, providing support on a local level to the global 350 efforts from similar groups. The name “ 350” stems from the measurement of 350 parts-per-million of carbon dioxide a target that scientists say could stem the spiraling effects of climate change. Recent reports the numbers had eclipsed a 400 parts per million, from data measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.
The group offers lectures, discussion courses, workshops and other activities to promote activities supporting a sustainable future. The group is planning a clean energy fair for Nov. 14 at the fountains near Bartram Park, featuring a green-energy themed art festival.
“It’s impressive what the UWF students have done to make a difference on their campus,” said Elaine Sargent, executive director of 350 Pensacola. “We would love to see these actions inspire other schools and communities.”
A student green energy fee approved in 2011 at UWF has paid for these Solar Dok umbrellas that offer environmentally friendly charging stations on campus.[/caption]
Lighting upgrades typically will pay back over time with reductions in energy consumption and improved lifespan of the equipment, while reducing the carbon footprint of the campus.
“Now that we have the solar-powered umbrellas and charging stations, students will be able to see their money going to good use,” Smith said. “I am very happy that the University of West Florida is working well with its students and wants to continue to use the green fee for projects.”
The lighting energy conservation projects went largely unnoticed by the students, but such projects make an impact to reduce consumption, Smith said.
Discussions on the green fee at UWF started in 2010 when the UWF Student Environmental Action Society (SEAS) approached the Student Government Association about the Green Energy Fee.
A referendum in November 2011 indicated that 68 percent of the students who voted were in favor of the green fee. It was approved by the Florida Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors in 2012, Hurd said.
“The decision of the student body to continue this initiative is a constant reminder to me that it is important in instilling a sense of school pride on campus,” said Daniel McBurney, student body president. “Students are able to come together and create projects that will keep our campus sustainable for generations of UWF students to come.”
Numerous schools throughout the state have instituted the student-initiated fees, including University of South Florida. However, in 2013 the Board of Governors rejected proposed green energy fee proposals submitted by Florida A&M and Florida State Universities, citing concerns over rising fees and tuition costs. Having already been approved, the UWF SGA reauthorized the Green Fee again for this year.
Smith’s presentation is part of 350 Pensacola's ongoing series of programs on climate change and related issues. The idea is to make small changes locally, which will add up when other areas take similar actions.
The 350 Pensacola group formed in 2011, providing support on a local level to the global 350 efforts from similar groups. The name “ 350” stems from the measurement of 350 parts-per-million of carbon dioxide a target that scientists say could stem the spiraling effects of climate change. Recent reports the numbers had eclipsed a 400 parts per million, from data measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.
The group offers lectures, discussion courses, workshops and other activities to promote activities supporting a sustainable future. The group is planning a clean energy fair for Nov. 14 at the fountains near Bartram Park, featuring a green-energy themed art festival.
“It’s impressive what the UWF students have done to make a difference on their campus,” said Elaine Sargent, executive director of 350 Pensacola. “We would love to see these actions inspire other schools and communities.”
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