TheUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.

PetersburgandtheGoing
GreenMovement
HowSolarEnergyWillImpacttheUniversitysFuture
TeamSmartinis
AmberJohnson
KayAnnKennedy
KaitlinMcKeever
CandiceStewart
LeutrimTopalli

Class:ENC3250.796
Dr.FrancisTobienne,Jr.
April10,2015

TableofContents
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TheUniversityofSouthFloridaSt.PetersburgandtheGoingGreenMovement
HowSolarEnergyWillImpacttheUniversitysFuture

TheProject
WhatArethePositiveandNegativeEffectsofSolarPanels?
AreTheySafetoHaveOnACollegeCampus?
DifferentFormsofRenewableEnergyatUniversityLevel
OtherUniversitiesimplementinggreenenergy
TheImportanceofSafelyDisposingElectronics
TheUniversitysLEEDCertification
TheBenefitsOutweightheCosts
InterviewsofLeadingStudentsInvolvedinthe
GoingGreenMovement
InterviewQuestionsandanswersfromAlyssaWinston
Glossary
AnnotatedBibliography
/WorksCited
Pictures
Definitions


The University of South Florida St. Petersburg and the

Going Green Movement

How Solar Energy Will Impact the Universitys Future

ByAmberJohnson

oryearsnow,

societiesacrosstheglobehavebeen
innovatingnewtechnologicalsystemsto
addresstherisingproblemofclimate
change,globalwarming,anddegradation
offertileland.Plaguingtheatmosphere
sincetheIndustrialRevolution,
fossilfuelshaveplayedthelargestpartin
eatingawayattheprotective
ozonelayerinouratmosphere.Asfossil
fuelsarecontinuallyburned,
greenhousegasesarereleasedanddo
theirparttodamagetheshieldthat
protectslifeformsfromharmfulUV
radiation.Theleadingtechnologyproposed
totacklethisevergrowingissue,solar
power,haspreventedthereleaseof
countlesspoundsofharmfulgasesintothe
air.Bynixingtheinitial
combustionoffossilfuelsrelyingonthe
energyofthesun,solarpanelsare
abletoprovideheatandenergyforthe
buildingsaroundthem.Thepanelscapture
directsunlight,revertittouseableenergy,
andstoreitforthetimeitisneeded.
Universitiesovertheworldarepickingup
onthisideaandimplementingthemontheir
campuses.

Studentsaretheleadersofthefuture,afterall.
TheUniversityofSouthFloridaSaint
Petersburgisaproudmemberofthisgroup,
andhasbeguntoinstateasolarenergyprogram
thatwillgeneratethousandsofkilowatthours
peryear.Therearecertainlistsofpositive
outcomesfrominstallingaprojectinvolving
solarpanelsandtherearealsosomeconcerns
thatmayposeanissue.

The Project
ByAmberJohnson

TheofficialreportdetailingUSFSPsplans

fortheadditionofsolarenergyisavailableon

theschoolsadministrativewebpage.Posted

intheNewsCenter,thisarticlearticulatesthat
thisprojectowesitsactualitytoaonemillion

dollarSunSensegrant.Itclaimstofund

researchtoexploretheintegrationofstoring
Altogether,thepanelsmeasure7,100square
solarenergyinnewbatterysystems.This
feet,with328individualpanelsinvolved.
projectcollaborateswiththeuniversityitself
USFSPgeneratesanaverageof
andtheUSFengineeringbranchinorderto
approximately19.1millionkWhperyear
maximizeitsefficiency.TheTampaTribune
thesesolarpanelswillproduceonaverage
alsohasasimilararticlethatisavailableon
164,250kWhofenergyayear.Accordingto
theirwebsite,whichfurtherdetailshowthe
theplansfortheproject,energyproducedby
projectwilltakeplace.AsofApril2015,this
thenewsolarPVsystemwillbestoredinnew
projectisstillanongoingtrialanderror
batterysystemsandhighresolutiondatawill
measure.However,beginninginwinter2014,
becollectedonallaspectsofPVandenergy
acollectionofsolarpanelswastobe
storage,maximizingsynergybetweenthetwo
integratedontotheseventh(roof)levelofthe
systems.Thisnewsystemwilloperatewith
mainparkinggarage.Studentparkingon
twopreexistingUSFstoragesystemtoassure
floorssixandsevenwashinderedduringthis
thehighestperformancepossible.
timetopreventanydamagethatcouldbefall

studentvehicles.

What Are the Positive and Negative Effects of Solar Panels?

Are They Safe to Have On A College Campus?

ByAmberJohnson
In General,solarpanelsarebenevolent.When This chemical, although abundant, is toxic to
handled properly and maintained onaweekly human health. Leaks may sometimes go
or, more importantly, a daily basis, solar unnoticed and cause issues for households
panels pose no immediate threats. However, and businesses alike. Solar energy is stable,
since they are a somewhat new piece of passive, and efficient. Unfortunately, solar
technology, the long term effects on the panels are not small by any means. They
health of nearby organisms are unknown. require a great deal of space to produce
Regardless, based on the current information enough energy to produce any helpful
known about solar panels, here is how they connection. They must also be placed in a
can impact the environment. Themainreason position of optimal sunlight forthemaximum
that universities and individuals alike are results. A parking garage, like the one at
welcomingtechnologylikesolarpanelsisthat USFSP is a great place to put solar
they drastically reduce the damage burning panelsspacious, empty, and free of any
fossil fuels has on theenvironment. Measures foliage they may block direct sunlight. The
are being taken everywhere to help combat chemicalsneededtomakesolarpanelsarenot
the aftereffects of malpracticeontheearthfor the organic, benign materials found in gentle
years. The problem is so dire and immediate household cleaners. These chemicals are
that any quick fix will show progress heavy duty, hardcore materials that are
expeditiously. Aside from the obvious produced to ensure long lasting, sunlight
benefits of solar panels, they can also help absorbing solar panels. People should not be
stabilize an economy. Although extremely exposed to these chemicals for a long period
costly to first put into effect, they can of time. Once again, solar panels are
eventually turn a profit instead. Solar energy generally safe and protected if properly
is more costefficient in the long run. And if maintained.

some of the energy stored in the cells is left

over after a certain period of time, it may be
sold to electric companies for help in
reducing the combustion of fossil fuels. On
top of that, solar energy is much safer to
produce in the first place.Burning oilorcoal,
especially in households, can produce a large
amountofcarbondioxide.

Figure1:PositivevsNegativeEffectsofSolarPanels
PositiveEffects

NegativeEffects

Reducedpollution/emissionof

Storageunits

greenhousegases

Stabilizeeconomy

thepanels

Increasecampussafety

Healthproblemsifnothandledproperly

Passiveuse

Cost

Onlyefficientwithsunlight

Decrease in health risk due to

Harmfulchemicalsinvolvedinmaking

airquality

Cleanenergy

Different Forms of Renewable Energy at University Level

By: Candice Stewart

When we think of renewable energy, a lot of the time our instinct inclination is solar

energy via the sun from the use of solar panels. Maybeitsbecauseweliveinthesunshinestate
and we just hope that all the heat from that blistering sun ofoursisbeingputtowardsgooduse.
Although that inclination isnt wrong, renewable energy is coming from multiple sources.
Accordingly to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, wind capacity grew by 7.6% in
2014, and is expected to increase by 11.4% in 2015 and by another 11.0% in 2016. Hence why
now wind is the largest source of non hydropower renewable generation. Similar to how our
university is intheworksofincreasingourrenewableenergyusagewithsolarpanelsoncampus,
universities in the windier parts of the country are increasing their renewable energy with
windmills. In 2010, Drexel University in Philadelphia purchasedRenewableEnergyCertificates
that equal to 100 percent of its energy use, making Drexel one of the top50purchasersofwind
energy in the nation. Additionally, campuses are also combining the use of heat and electricity,
known as cogeneration (CHP), to generate electricity. To do so a turbine is fueledusingnatural
gas that produces waste heat. CHP then uses that extra heat to produce steam and hot water
insteadofdistributingthatitintotheatmosphere.
ThroughuseofCHP,universitiescaneliminate
upto20,000tonsofairpollutantseachyearforevery7.5megawattsofCHPfacilityinstalled.

Other Universities implementing green energy

By: Candice Stewart

The use of solar power implemented at universities hasgrownsubstantially.Whenyouthinkof
some of the US larger universities having the population of small cities it makes sense towant
to start incorporating renewable green energy. According to the Association for the
Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), schools across the US have
increased theirinstalledsolarphotovoltaic(PV)capacityby450percent overthe lastthreeyears.
Not only has the number of solar power projects increased but the size and amount of the
projects have increased as well. Its a 'go big or go home' mentality for universities when they
decided to take on the installation ofsolarpowersustainability.AmericanUniversityannounced
that they would be partnering up with George Washington University and GWU Hospital
embarking on a 20 year solar energy purchase that would supply the partners with 123 million
kilowatt hours of emissionsfreeelectricityperyearfrom243,000solarpanels.SimilartoDrexel
University,AUalsopurchasedgreenpowerintheformofrenewableenergy certificatesensuring
that the amount of green power being produced using renewable energy sources such as wind
andsolarisequivalenttotheelectricityAUconsumes.
As mentioned above, our university system is partaking in a one million dollar grant that will
allow us to study and figure out ways to implement solar sustainability to our campuses.

AASHE's article
U.S Higher Education Solar Capacity Leaps 450 Percent in 3 Years goes into
great detail with all sorts of charts and numbers of just how implementing solar power into
universities has affected overall wattage and costs per wattage. It also provides information on
projects in the works across the country on how schools helping schools be able tobringinand
increasetheuseofsolarpowertotheircampuses.

The Importance of Safely Disposing Electronics

It is important to responsibly recycle The universitys Campus Computing is
electronics at the end of their life, which committed

to

disposing

of

outdated

USFSP does. Electronics contain products technology in a responsible manner. The

that can be used in new products. Recycling campus offers an environmentally safe
old electronics is not only environmentally computer disposal in order to reduce the
safe but can cut down manufacturing costs. Universitys carbon footprint. USFSP works
Revenue can even be pulled out of a PC that with
Central Receiving to dispose of old
was to be thrown away. If those electronics electronicsproperlyandnot
are not disposed properly then health issues causeenvironmentalissues.
can arise.

For example: there are many

hazardous contents in a circuit board which

should not be ingested. Those contents are
mercury, cadmium and beryllium, all proven
to have a negative effect on humans. Also,
PC screens contain plastics that are harmful.
USFSP disposes of batteries via local battery

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recycling centers and also disposes of

computerpartsvialocalrecyclingcenters.

The Universitys LEED Certification

The Universitys Science and Technology A

certification

provides

independent

building is the first LEED (Leadership in verification of a building. A neighborhoods

Energy & Environmental Design) Certified green features will be revealed. Whatwillbe
Gold building for the entire USF system. shownarethedesign,construction,operations
Now the new University Student Centerison and

maintenance

of

resource,

high

the way to receiving a LEED certification. performance and costeffective buildings.

LEED is a green building certification LEED certification is recognized all around
program and recognizes best building the globe as the premier path of achievement
strategies and practices. In ordertobeLEED ingreenbuilding.
certified, a building will have to meet certain

prerequisites.

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The Benefits Outweigh the Costs

Solarenergytechnologiesarealwaysbeing
changedandimprovedupon.Asdescribedin
RenewableEnergy:PowerforaSustainable
Future,thereisapossibilityforadesirable
futureinwhichlargescaletechnological
improvementscanchangethewaywe
consumeenergyandopenupanewmajor
industrywithopportunitiesforemployment
andproductionthroughouttheworld.The
SunSenseGrantProgramisastepintheright
directionasitemploysa100kWsolararray
byproducing164,250kWhofenergyperyear
andopensupthepossibilityofpavingthe
wayfornewerprogramsinthefuture.

Amajorproblemwithsolarenergyisthe
tremendousupfrontcostthatcomesfrom
deployingmajorPVsolararrays.
However,accordingtoTheThirdIndustrial
Revolution,newtechnologybreakthroughs
andeconomiesofscalehavebroughtthecosts
downby8percentperyear,halvingthecosts
ofgenerationeveryeightyears.Whileonthe
otherhandelectricityratesareexpectedto
riseby5percent,modestly.Thisgoestoshow
thatthecostwillpayforitself.Thisonly
raisesthequestion,whyisntthereahuge
solarpaneloneverybuildingwesee?

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U.S Solar PV costs have steadilydecreasedsincethe1990sandlastyeartheywereatan

all time low. However during the recession there wasaspikeincostduetothenegativeimpacts
ofpoordecisionsandhugeeconomiccollapseinmanysectors.

Interviews of Leading Students Involved in the

Going Green Movement

By Katie McKeever
Interview Questions and answers from Alyssa Winston:

1. What is the purpose of the solar panels on top of the parking garage?
ThepurposeofthepanelsweretogoalongwiththeSGEFprojectstoputmotionsensor
LEDlightsonall7floorsoftheparkinggaragetomakethefirstnetzerobuildingintheUSF
system,andthesecondnetzerobuildinginstpete
2. How did our school, USFSP, obtain these solar panels?
Dukeenergydoesacompetitionwhereschoolsapplyforagranttogetsolarpanels.

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3. Why were you a part of this project?

4. How do you think our school will benefit from this project?
Theschoolandcitybenefitfromthisprojectbecauseitlowersourcost,wehave
innovativetechnologyanditmakesusstandoutintheUSFsystem.
5. How does this change help our community?
Alotofcommunitymembersandbusinessesworkedwithusandwecreatedpartnerships
withthem.
6. Do you think students appreciate the implementation of these solar panels?
Ithinkstudentswillappreciatetheprojectbecauseitwillsavethemmoneyandithelped
tocreatethegreenrevolvingfund,meaningthemoneywesaveofftheseprojectswillgotowards
moregreenprojects.
7. How can we grow from this? (carbon footprint-wise)
Thisprojectwillhelpeventuallyhitourcarbonneutralitydate.
8. What do you think is the next step for our school?
Nextstepmoresustainableprojectsandcommunitypartnerships.
9. Are there any other net-zero or environmentally-friendly buildings on campus?
ThisisthefirstnetzerobuildinginUniversityofSouthFloridahistoryandthesecond
buildinginSt.Petersburg.WealsohaveaGoldStarbuilding,(theScienceandTechnology
building)whichmeansitisenvironmentallyfriendly,andtheschoolhasadoptedaconceptthat
everynewbuildingthatgoesupwillbeatleastaSilverStar.(ThisisdeterminedbyLEED,
LeadershipinEnergy&EnvironmentalDesign).
10. What is your role on campus? (What are you involved in?)
IamthedirectorofsustainableinitiativesinSG,butwastheassistantwhenthisproject
wentthrough,andthechairofCERCC,andmemberofSGEF.

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Glossary

By Katie McKeever
Carbon Footprint:
theamountofcarbondioxideandothercarboncompoundsemitteddueto

theconsumptionoffossilfuelsbyaparticularperson,group,etc.
Gold Star:
6079pointsearnedontheLEEDcertification

LEED:

agreenbuildingcertificationprogramthatrecognizesbestinclassbuildingstrategies

andpractices
Net-Zero Building:
a

building
withzeronetenergyconsumption,meaningthetotalamountof
energyusedbythebuildingonanannualbasisisroughlyequaltotheamountof
renewable
energy
createdonthesite
SGEF:
StudentGreenEnergyFund

Solar Energy:
radiantenergythatcomesfromthesun

Solar Panel:
apanelthatisdesignedtoabsorbthesunsemittedenergyandgeneratethatinto

heatandelectricity
Silver Star:
5059pointsearnedontheLEEDcertification
Sustainability:
theabilitytocontinueadefinedbehaviorindefinitelywithoutdepletingour

resources

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Annotated Bibliography/ Works Cited

"GranttoHelpUSFSPProduce,StudySolarPower."
TBO.com
.TheTampaTribune,15June
2014.Web.
26Mar.2015.
<http://tbo.com/news/education/granttohelpusfproducestudysolarpower20140615/>.

Thisarticlespecifiesthestepsthatwillbetakentoinstallthesolarpanelsonthe

UniversityofSouthFloridacampus.Itdenoteshowthecampuswilldirectlybenefitfromthe
integrationofsolarenergyintoeverydayfunction.Manystudentsintheengineeringprogramare
tohavepartintheproject.
SunSense
alsoplaysalargeroleinstartingandfinishingthesolar
panels,posingasadirectsourceoffundsforit.AlthoughtheUniversityofSouthFloridaisnot
thefirstschooltoreceiveagrantfrom
SunSense
,theywillcertainlynotbethelast.Thecollege
providesforanexampleofenergysavingforcollegesinthefuture.
Blais,Jessica."USFSPNewsCenterDukeEnergytoInvest$1MillioninUSFSPResearch
Project."
UniversityofSouthFloridaStPetersburg,18Sept.2014.Web.26Mar.2015.
<http://www.usfsp.edu/blog/2014/09/18/dukeenergytoinvest1millioninusfspresearchproje
ct/>.

16

Thisarticlealsoexplainsthekeydetailsincreatingandinstallingthesolarpanelsonthe

St.Petersburgcampus.Quotesarepresentedfrommanykeyfigureheadsinthisproject,suchas
theRegionalChancellorofUSFSPandtheStatePresidentof
DukeEnergyFlorida
.Thesolar
panelswillmeasureapproximately7,100squarefeet,producingthecollege164,250kWhof
energyayear.Althoughthisnumberwillnotaccountforalloftheenergyusedinayearonthe
campus,itwillcertainlyhelpreducetheemissionofgreenhousegasesandhelpshapetheway
forahealthier,greenerfuture.
"SolarPower."
SolarPower
.Web.26Mar.2015.
<http://solarpowerisfun.weebly.com/index.html>.
Thiswebsiteanalyzesthetopicofsolarenergy,describingthesciencebehinditwhiledenoting
boththepositiveandnegativeaspectsofit.Theprocessofcollectingsolarenergyisvery
basicsolarpanelshelptocollectphotonsoflightwhichturnintoelectronsofdirectcurrent.
Thisprocesseventuallyleadstopoweringcertainaspectsofabuilding,likeairconditioning.
Relatingthistowardsourwhitepaper,thiswebsiteisabletoassessandweightheoverallimpact
onourcampus.Installingthesolarpanelsontheroofoftheparkinglotwillreduceairpollution
andstabilizepartofSt.Petersburgseconomy.However,thisprojectiscostlyandcancause
healthproblemsifnothandledeffectively.
"HealthandEnvironmentalEffectsofOzoneLayerDepletion|Science|OzoneLayerProtection
|US
EPA."
EPA
.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,13Jan.2011.Web.1Apr.2015.
<http://www.epa.gov/spdpublc/science/effects/index.html>.

ThisistheofficialwebsitefortheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency.Itdefinesthe

effectsthattheemissionofgreenhousegaseshasontheatmosphere.Thedepletionoftheozone

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holehasanimmenseimpactonhumans,animals,andplantsalike.Biogeochemicalcyclescanbe
threatenedasanincreaseofUVradiationreachesterrestrialandaquaticecosystems.

Katie
"EnergyEfficiency."Duke
Energy.DukeEnergyCorporation,n.d.Web.25Mar.2015.This
siteexplainswhatDukeEnergyisallabout,whichisimportantbecausetheyaretheones
whodonatedthesolarpanelstoconverttheparkinggarageintoanetzerobuildingwhich
meansthatitdoesn'tneedanyoutsideenergythatdoesn'tcomefromthesolarpanels.
"HowDoSolarPanelsWork?|Mosaic."SolarMosaic,Inc.CAFinanceLendersLicense,
2015.Web.23Mar.2015.Thissiteexplainshowasolarpanelworkswhichiswhatweare
focusingonforthewhitepaperproject.Thepowerwereceiveforthenetzeroparkinggarage
isprovidedbysolarpanelsatthetoplevelofthestructure.Lightfromthesunisharnessedas
energyandstoreduntiluse,whichiswhyitstillworksatnightswhenthesunisabsent.
"GreenInitiatives."UndergraduateAdmissions.N.p.,n.d.Web.24Mar.2015.Thewebsite
tellsofthedifferentwaysUSFSPisbeingenvironmentallyhelpful.Italsoinformsofhowthe
greeninitiativesarebeingmaintained.
"LEED|U.S.GreenBuildingCouncil."LEED|U.S.GreenBuildingCouncil.N.p.,n.d.Web.
16Mar.2015.ThewebsiteexplainstheimportanceofLEED.Thewebsiteisrelevant
becauseUSFSPsScienceandTechnologybuildingisLEEDcertifiedandanotherbuildingis
onthepathofbeingLEEDcertified.
Leutrim:

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Boyle,Godfrey.RenewableEnergy:PowerforaSustainableFuture.Oxford,England:Oxford
UPinAssociationwiththeOpenU,1996.Print.Thisbookhighlightstheopenendedissuesof
renewableenergythroughtheuseofresearch,questioningandcreativity.Italsoexplainshow
renewableenergyresourcesarebecomingwayofthefuturewhenourcurrentresourcesare
dwindling.Thisbookhelpsusrelatethecurrentimplicationsofrenewableenergytoourwhite
paperproject.
Rifkin,Jeremy.TheThirdIndustrialRevolution:HowLateralPowerIsTransformingEnergy,
theEconomy,andtheWorld.NewYork:PalgraveMacmillan,2011.Print.Rifkingoesintogreat
depthabouthowthefivepillarsofhisThirdIndustrialRevolutionarethewayofthefuture.It
goestoshowthatinternettechnologyandrenewable,cleanenergyarethenewparadigm.It
explainstheproblemsassociatedwiththecurrentusageofrenewableenergyandhowitcanbe
mademoreefficient,includingtheuseofsolarandthermalenergywhichhelpsrelatetothis
whitepaperproject.
Candice:
ElectricityandHeatGenerationfromRenewables.U.S.EnergyInformationAdministration.
10March2015.Web23March2015.
ThisreportprovidesreallygreatdetailaboutonthedifferentwaystheU.Susesrenewable
energy.Itmentionstheuseofsolarpanels,ontopofstatingthatwindisthelargestsourceof
nonhydropowerrenewableenergygeneration.Thereportalsoincludesgraphsandchartsthat
portrayournumbersinthepastyearsaswellaswhattheyprojectourpercentagestobein
thecoming2015year.
Shao,Vic.GreenChargeNetworks.TrackingtheRiseofIntelligentEnergyStorage.

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Renewableenergyworld.com.2March2015.Web23March2015.
Thisarticlediscussesthefinancialbenefitsthatcomeinhandwiththeriseofrenewable
energy.Itprovidessomegooddetailandexamplesoforganizationstakingactionto
implementrenewableenergystorage.

Pictures:
Image1:

http://www.solarpowerpanelsystem.com/images/solarpanelsroof.jpg
Image2:
http://www.usfsp.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2014/09/BeFunky_USFParkingGarage_0000.jpg30
0x232.jpg
Image3:
"Meet Your Student Navigator Tour Guides."
Navigators
. USF St. Petersburg, 2015. Web.
<http://www.usfsp.edu/undergrad/events/tour/meetyournavigators/>.
Image4:
Betterenergy,betterfuture.2015.Web.http://newclimateeconomy.report/energy/

Definitions:
"LEED | U.S. Green Building Council."
LEED | U.S. GreenBuildingCouncil
.N.p.,2015.Web.
01Apr.2015.<http://www.usgbc.org/leed#rating>.

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