University of South Florida (Tampa)
PAE-4: Sustainability Plan

The university maintains two separate but interrelated sustainability plans—apart from the University Strategic Plan, which establishes sustainable, healthy communities as a university objective—that guide the growth and development of university infrastructure and its operations and management: the USF Climate Action Plan (http://acupcc.aashe.org/site_media/uploads/cap/607-cap.pdf) and the Tampa Campus Master Plan (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/FacilitiesPlan/Campus%20Planning/plan.html). Both plans were developed with broad involvement of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and neighborhood partners. For the Climate Action Plan (established in 2010, with annual updates), the Sustainability Initiative Steering Committee members served as chairs of subcommittees for various themes (water, waste, energy, purchasing, and so on). The subcommittees consisted of 5 to 15 volunteers recruited from around the university. Drafts of the plan were shared with faculty administration and local city and county government leaders as well as an outside consultant and members of the local nonprofit community. Although called a “climate action plan,” this plan is much broader in scope and effectively provides a strategy for the university to become more sustainable, resilient, and carbon independent. The Master Plan (first established in 2002, with a major update in 2010) was organized by Facilities Planning and Construction and involved individuals (faculty, staff, and students) from the broader Facilities Management community.

Anticipated 5-Year Outcomes: a. The university will substantially (>50%) decrease its greenhouse gas emissions within five years. b. The university will obtain more than 30% of its energy from non-fossil fuel or nuclear sources within five years. c. The university will develop energy conservation programs that reduce the energy consumption in all facets of university life. d. The university will substantially (>50%) decrease its water consumption within five years. e. The university will reduce its impact on stormwater pollution through enhancing stormwater pollution practices and reducing fertilizer applications. f. The university will develop a carbon reserve on campus as part of its green space initiative within its master plan. g. The university will improve native habitat on campus and enhance native ecosystems.

These goals are evaluated by subcommittees related to each task as often as annually.