Every semester the Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF) invites all members of USF St. Petersburg to propose sustainability projects that, if chosen, will be funded by SGEF.
SGEF is funded through a student fee of $1 per credit hour. Last year, a student referendum renewed SGEF at USFSP.
This semester, five projects were presented on March 24, 2015, and in two weeks committee members will vote to choose which projects will be selected. More than one project can be selected, but according to USFSP sustainability coordinator Jennifer Winter, the project must meet all the criteria and can only be funded by the money allotted for this semester.
The five projects proposed are the following:
Keeping Our Environment Fit
By Kaitlin McKeever
- McKeever’s proposed project is to install LED lighting throughout the entire gym. She also plans to replace the equipment in the downstairs fitness area with new equipment that uses less energy and is made from recycled materials.
LED Lighting – USFSP Soccer Field
By Mike Leggett
- Leggett’s proposed project is to light up the new recreation field with LED lighting. The LED lighting will save thousands of kilowatts of energy per year.
Recycle Stations Phase II
By Mike Leggett
- Leggett’s second proposed project is to add four more recycling stations to campus. Each station comprises two bins # one for trash and one for recycled material. For the 20 existing bins around campus, SGEF provided 90 percent of the funding, while student government contributed the other 10 percent.
Enerfusion Solar Docks
By Meghan O’Quinn
- O’Quinn’s proposed project is to add three solar docks to campus; one outside residence housing and two outside the library. These solar docks would provide energy to students working or socializing outside.
Gloom to Bloom: USFSP Composting
By Audrey Goeckner
- Goeckner’s proposed project is to bring composting to the USFSP campus, through the use of a composting machine called Earth Tub. Composting breaks down organic material into soil rich with nutrients. The tub will take waste from the campus and create it into soil that will be used around campus.
Learn more:
To learn more about current and past projects proposed to the Student Green Energy Fund, visit http://www.usfsp.edu/sustainability1/sgef1/.
