University of South Florida

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

The USF Sustainability Initiatives Committee has active subgroups, including a Student Committee, Green Building Committee, Energy Subcommittee, and Transportation Committee. Two part-time staff work in the new Office of Sustainability, created in summer 2009, and the university has incorporated sustainability efforts into the campus master plan.

USF completed a carbon emissions inventory and plans to set emissions reduction targets in the coming year as part of the Presidents’ Climate Commitment, signed by USF President Genshaft in 2008. USF has pursued increased energy efficiency and conservation through lighting retrofits and improved energy metering.

USF dining services spends 20 percent of its annual budget on locally produced dairy, fruit, and vegetables. Grass-fed meats, sustainably harvested seafood, and fair trade coffee are also purchased. Pre- and postconsumer composting is carried out on campus and all dining locations are trayless. USF’s recycling program diverts 90 percent of plastic, glass, and aluminum from the waste stream.

The university has three LEED-certified projects under construction or in planning. Low-flow faucets, toilets, and urinals have been installed in 70 percent of buildings, and showerheads in 90 percent of buildings have been replaced with low-flow models.

Sustainability has been incorporated into new-student orientation, and four student organizations are involved with the campus's sustainability efforts. The Student Environmental Association has addressed issues, including a statewide green fee for tuition and campus recycling. Fourteen residence halls compete to reduce energy in USF’s ConservaBull competition; on average, energy use was reduced by 25 percent during the competition period. Students and faculty are working together to host the 4th Annual Campus & Community Sustainability Conference and the 2nd Annual Going Green Tampa Bay Expo.

USF students use public transportation for free and employees receive discounts on public transportation. The university bus system offers transportation on and around campus. A car-sharing program offers access to four hybrid vehicles, and the university fleet includes two hybrid vehicles and thirty biodiesel buses.

The university makes a list of external managers available at the investment office to the public per open record law. USF does not make its shareholder voting record public.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is exploring, but not currently invested in, renewable energy funds or similar investment vehicles.

The university provides its investment managers with general guidelines that determine its proxy votes.