Projects
Projects by Type
- Energy Efficiency
- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- LED Lighting
- Solar
- Transportation
- Tree Planting
- Water Refill
- Other
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Projecting Energy Savings and Carbon Emissions Reduction Through Building Metering
Project Proposal
Awarded:
Completion Date: Ongoing
Project aims to measure and analyze the energy and water consumption behavior following
high energy usage on USF buildings thru the installation of new utility meters. This
information will help the university identify areas that wasting energy
Project Members:
Sports Art Green Equipment
Project Proposal
Awarded:
Completion Date: 2020
New cardio equipment in the USF Campus Recreation Center allows users to convert their
workout into electricity
Project Members:
USF Health Campus LED Project
Project Proposal
Awarded: $152,573
Completion Date: Ongoing
Honoring the USF Health Missions Statement, the objective of this project is to make
USF Health, specifically MDL's Group Learning space and the Shimberg Health Science
Library, a more energy efficient space for students to utilize all hours of the day.
The goal for this project would consist of replacing the current lighting, which are
fluorescent and incandescent bulbs, to light-emitting diode, or LED, bulbs. By implementing
these changes, the amount of energy (Kwh/HR) used will decrease while quality of light
for the students鈥� increases.
Project Members: Mateus Inke, Melissa Fierro
Magnolia Apartments HVAC System
Proposal Details
Project Report
Awarded: $272,853
The existing HVAC equipment for all seven Magnolia student apartment buildings are
reaching 15 years of service. Without the USF campus hot and chilled water loops,
the equipment is a system of roof-top compressors circulating refrigerant to air handling
units for each 4-bedroom apartment residence but accessed from the corridors for servicing.
The replacement is required but we wish to provide more efficient equipment (16 SEER
instead of the required 14) and introduce controls compatible with our Metasys system
in addition to the individual apartment thermostats. Housing & Residential Education
sees this as an opportunity for energy cost savings and to be in alignment with the
university goals of energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint. Last year we renovated
all the buildings with new insulated roofs and a new fully insulated exterior wall
assembly which immediately reduced cooling and heating costs, even with the inefficient
aging equipment. With the new equipment installed and the controls for operating and
monitoring we expect a further reduction in operating costs of around 18%.
Project lead: Rajeev K. Gopal
Team members: Arun Kumar Narasimhan, Walter Pestrak, Tom Murray
BSF Exhaust Fume Hoods Retrofit
Awarded: $75,993
Completion Date: 2019
Annual Savings: 387,162 kWh
The existing fume hoods in the BSF laboratory (357 and 363) will be retrofitted with
auto sash controllers, variable flow controllers, and a monitoring system inside and
outside the laboratory. The fume hoods with these measures will result in about 80%
energy savings through reduced reheating and cooling needs. The variable flow controller,
auto sash controller and room temperature are modulated as per demand and occupancy.
Project Lead: Arun Kumar Narasimhan
CPH Cool Roof
Awarded: $6,224.32
Completion Date: 2018
Annual Savings: 7,349 kWh
This project introduces a cool roof to the College of Public Health (CPH) building.
Cool roofs, also known as reflective roofs, decrease roof temperatures. This reduces
the energy required cool the building and, in turn, reduces harmful power plant emissions
like carbon dioxide. It also helps extend the life of the roof.
Project lead: Syed Sadiq Suheb
Team members: Suchi Daniels, Ashini Vashi
HVAC Energy Conservation Juniper Poplar Hall
Awarded: $111,045
Completion date: 2013
Annual Savings: 320,494 kWh
This project automatically adjusts the HVAC system to a comfortable but energy-efficient
level at all times. Heating and cooling is the largest component of energy consumption
in student housing. The project is particularly important since the AC system is left
running even when rooms are vacant. This leads to a large amount of energy savings
based on a centrally controlled energy management system for the whole building.
Team member: Ernie Olivares
Air Handler Automation
Awarded: $30,004
Completion date: 2013
Annual Savings: 38,550 kWh
This project installed an air handler automation interface software system that automatically
and dynamically schedules air handlers based on the schedule of rooms. This is key
to reducing the cost of manually setting the air handlers of various buildings. It
also maintains a comfortable and optimum temperature and humidity level inside offices,
classrooms and labs using a R25 interface. The air handler system is synched with
the space schedule information to optimize the HVAC system.
Team members: Richard Meana and Srinivas Katkoori
Desktop Computer Power Management
Awarded: $50,000
Completion date: 2014
Annual Savings: 1,640,310 kWh
This project installed power management software in all the 8,000 desk top computers
at USF to place them in sleep mode when they are not in use. This operation significantly
reduces power consumption of individual computers to 5 watts (rather than the 70-100
watts consumed when they are not in sleep mode). This achieves a significant energy
savings for USF.
Team members: Ken Christenson, Nainan Desai, Craig Woolley, Kebreab Ghebremichael, Siva Prakash
Campus Recreation Energy Efficient Equipment
Awarded: $36,040
Completion date: 2014
Annual savings: 866 kWh
This project retrofitted three new energy efficient treadmills and bicycles that will
decrease energy consumption, thus reducing Campus Recreation's carbon footprint. This
project is considered a pilot project that would be expanded by Campus Recreation
based on energy saving data collected over a year.
Project lead: Adit Patel
CPT Boiler Campus Rec
Awarded: $145,000
Completion date: Ongoing
Annual energy savings: 131,000 kWh
Campus Recreation's pool gets heated water from the Facilities Planning boiler almost
a mile away. This leads to inconsistent water temperature. More significantly, it
leads to higher energy usage for pumping and energy loss for transport. This project
installs a condensing boiler outside of the Campus Recreation pool area that will
reduce pumping requirements and energy loss in transporting hot water. Campus Recreation
is expected to upscale the project to provide hot water services to their shower facilities.
Project lead: Alex Kirk, Integrative Biology
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EV CHARGING STATIONS
EV Charging Station Phase I
Awarded: $37,810
Completion date: 2014
Carbon reductions: 4399 kg/year
In 2011, USF made a groundbreaking decision to install electric vehicle (EV) charging
stations in the parking lot by the Marshall Student Center. This project was installed
to meet the increasing demand for EV charging stations at USF and included two dual
charging stations with 240V capacity in the Beard Garage with four parking spots allocated.
Project lead: John Pilz
EV Charging Station: Phase II
Awarded: $42,400
Completion date: 2015
Annual GHG reduction: 5,237 kg CO2
This project installed an EV charging station at the Patel Center parking lot. It
increased the number of 240V cords at USF from two to three. This station will provide
charging for cars in the energy efficient vehicle spot (one 240V charge cord and one
120V outlet).
Project lead: John Pilz
Team members: Roger Stern, Adib Amini
EV Charging Stations: Phase III
Awarded: $183,079
Completion date: Ongoing
Carbon reduction: 57.73 Tons
This project is part of an effort to meet the increasing demand for electric vehicle
(EV) charging stations. It will install 10 charging stations in various locations
on campus. It includes two charging stations each at Crescent Hill Parking Garage,
Athletics Parking, SOC Parking, Lee Roy Collins Parking Garage, Laurel Parking Garage
and allocates a total of 20 parking spaces for EV charging. This project will significantly
improve the distribution of EV charging stations across campus and help meet the demand
created by electric vehicle owners (students, staff, faculty and visitors).
Project lead: Nadeem Freajah, School of Geosciences
Team members: John Pilz, USF graduate; Jakob Hartung, College of Engineering; Adam Burrell, College
of Business; Frank Granda, Parking and Transportation Services
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LED LIGHTING
Laurel Garage LED Lights
Awarded: $395,137
Completion Date: 2018
Annual Savings: 600,530 kWh
The project replaces 533 pulse start fixtures and 60 fluorescent fixtures in the Laurel
parking garage with longer lasting, energy efficient LEDs. The project reduces the
energy consumption and carbon footprint of the garage.
Project lead: Adam Burrell
Team member: Antonio Lourenco
Collins Parking Garage LED lights Phase II
Awarded: $321,279
Anticipated completion: July 2018
This project will upgrade the Collins parking garage's 487 light fixtures to longer
lasting and more energy efficient LED lighting. In a first for a USF Student Green
Energy Fund project, 50 percent of the savings created by the project will be returned
to the fund.
Project lead: Adam Burrell
Team members: John PIlz, Nadeem Freajah, Benjamin Carr, and Frank Granda.
Cypress Hall Lightning Controls
Awarded: $13,175
Completion date: 2012
Annual Savings: 40,080 kWh
The photocell sensors installed in 174 light fixtures at Cypress Hall student housing
buildings RCA, RCB, RCC and RCD included stairwells and hallways. The sensors are
used to turn off lights that usually stay on 24/7. The sensors save energy and extend
bulb life.
Team member: John Curtis
Central Utilities Plant LED Retrofit
Awarded: $63,600
Completion date: 2012
Annual Savings: 139,564 kWh
This project retrofitted induction lighting on 53 200W fixtures at the Central Plant
facility with highly energy efficient lighting that reduces energy consumption. The
project was eligible for a rebate from TECO energy.
Team leader: John McCall
Team member: John Shahbazian
Crescent Hill Parking Garage LED Phase I
Awarded: $82,680
Completion date: 2013
Annual savings: 294,835 KWH
This project replaced 220 metal halide light fixtures (175 watt) with energy efficient
LED lights (40-80 watt) in the first, second and third levels of the Crescent Hill
Parking Garage. LED lights were also installed in a portion of the fourth level. In
addition saving energy, the LED lights are brighter and last longer before needing
replacement.
Team members: Frank Granda, Chris Nardelli, Manuel Lopez
Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) LED Retrofit
Awarded: $9,646
Completion date: 2013
Annual savings: 41,464 kWh
CAM presents a series of changing exhibitions during the year. Proper lighting is
paramount for aesthetics, visibility and safety. This project installed LED fixtures
to enhance the lighting experience and save energy. Two different types of LED lamps
appropriate for different exhibits were installed, 150 LED lamps (21W PAR38) and 25
LED lamps (6W MR16).
Team members: Margaret Miller, Alexa Favata, Tony Palms
Parking Lot 5 & Cedar Circle LED Project
Awarded: $11,315
Completion: 2013
Annual Savings: 9,052 kWh
The project retrofitted existing high pressure sodium, cobra head light fixtures (lamp
life 24,000 hours) on Cedar Circle and parking Lot 5A near the Marshall Student Center
with LED lighting fixtures (lamp life 75,000 hours). The retrofit improved the quality
of lighting and achieved significant energy savings and carbon emission reduction.
In total this project installed 13 LED fixtures.
Team leader: Chris Ilse
Team member: Frank Granda
Parking Lot 6 LED Project
Awarded: $6,095
Completion date: 2013
Annual Savings: 3,906 kWh
Seven LED retrofits were completed in parking lot 6, near athletics. The lights have
an average life of 75,000 hours, compared to the 24,000 average life of traditional
high-pressure sodium lamps.
Team leader: Chris Ilse
Team member: Scott Glaser
Crescent Hill Parking Garage LED: Phase II
Awarded: $53,000
Completion date: 2014
Annual savings: 177,249 kWh
In this phase, 125 fixtures were installed in levels four, five and six. This is a
continuation of Phase I, which retrofitted about 220 lamps in the lower levels of
the garage.
Team leader: Frank Granda
Team members: Chris Nardelli, Chris Isle, Raymond Mensah
Beard Parking Garage LED Retrofit
Awarded: $434,180
Completion date: 2016
Annual savings: 751,520.40 kWh
The Beard Garage LED retrofit project replaced 746 light fixtures with LED lights.
The project enhanced the brightness of the lighting in the garage and also extended
the life of lamps. With this change, a large reduction in energy consumption compared
to traditional light bulbs and also significant re-lamping savings have been achieved.
Team members: Frank Granda, Raymond Mensah, Roger Stern, Chi-Kai Hung
Campus Recreation Tennis & Basketball LED
Awarded: $217,300
Completion date: Ongoing
Annual saving: 45,358 kWh
This project aims to replace 40 metal halide fixtures in the tennis courts and 10
metal halide fixtures on the basketball courts with LEDs lights that are highly energy
efficient. This project not only achieves significant energy saving as the lights
are expected to stay on until midnight seven days a week, but it also significantly
improves illumination in poor weather conditions compared to traditional lights. This
is expected to encourage more students to participate in outdoor recreation.
Project lead: Shalaun Franklin
BSF Building LED Project (Green and Gold)
Awarded: $93,540
Completion date: 2017
Annual savings: 159,483 kWh
This project replaced all existing light bulbs (T8, CFL and U-bend bulbs) with energy
efficient LED light bulbs at the Biosciences Facility (BSF) building. The project
also included installation of light sensors and recycling of all replaced lights in
other buildings.
Project lead: Rajeev Kamal
Team members: Francesca Moloney, Arun Kumar Narasimhan
Roadway and Parking LED Lights
Awarded: $161,332
Completion date: Ongoing
Annual energy savings: 180,000 kWh
This project will replace 66 roadway and parking fixtures with LEDs. The highly energy
efficient LEDs will reduce energy consumption and reduction of CO2 emissions.
Project leads: Rajeev Kamal (student), Antonio Lourenco (staff), and Lauren Monti (student)
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SOLAR
Solar PV System at Engineering/CUTR Parking Area
Awarded: $50,000
Completion date: 2012
Annual savings: 29,200 kWh
This project integrated the 10-kW Photovoltaic (PV) generation system behind the Engineering
and Center for Urban Transportation Research parking area into the USF electricity
grid, designed and implemented a PV charging station for USF golf carts and designed
and implemented a real-time monitoring and control Energy Management System (EMS)
to inventory energy consumption. The new system replaced the old solar panels and
charging system installed in 1995, which represented the first 20-kW solar charging
station in the country. This project also installed inverters to convert the DC electricity
from the charging station to AC electricity at 120 volts and 60 Hz. This project not
only lowered the net energy consumption at the USF Tampa campus but also provided
a charging facility for golf carts.
Team leader: Zhixin Miao
Team members: Stefanakos Lee, Goswami Yogi
Solar Umbrella at Champions Choice
Awarded: $12,163
Completion date: 2012
Annual Savings: 1 kWh
This solar power umbrella provides four 110V outlets, two USB ports and 700 lumen
LED lights for use at night. Students use these solar umbrellas to charge their cellphones
and lap tops while enjoying their lunch.
Team leader: Jenna Burns
Team member: Elanor Ayres
Solar Doks at Chemistry Plaza
Awarded: $ 27,702
Completion date: 2014
Annual savings: 973 kWh
The Solar Dok project at the Chemistry Plaza installed two solar umbrellas that provide
students with outlets to charge their cellphones and laptops while siting under the
shade of the umbrellas. This project is also part of the beatification of the renovated
chemistry building.
Project leads: Mike Ballester and Sarah Baynard
Solar Umbrellas at Argos
Awarded: $11,512
Completion date: 2016
In a continuation of the installation of solar umbrellas at USF, this project added
umbrellas to six tables at the Argos student food services courtyard. Each umbrella
contains three USB charging ports. The umbrellas provide easy access to outdoor USB
charging for students while sitting in the shade.
Project lead: Walter Pestrak
Team member: Joseph Fields
Solar PV at MSC and Amphitheater: Phase I
Awarded: $170,187
Completion date: 2013
Annual savings: 34,066 kWh
The USF Solar Initiative installed photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops of the Marshall
Student Center and the amphitheater canopy. In total, this project generates 23.2
kW. Power generated from the PV panels feeds the electric grid system. The project
also included the installation of an interactive display to show real time energy
production from the panels and other sustainability projects on campus.
Team leader: Jamie Trahan
Team members: Brian Bell, Alden Earl
Solar PV at Marshall Student Center: final report
Project Proposal
Awarded: $1,387,603
Completion date: 2017
Annual Savings: 634,910 kWh
The installation of 1,075 more solar panels on the Marshall Student Center will help
power the center and send excess energy back into the grid. The panels will generate
525,000 kWh per year, the annual energy usage of 39 homes.
Project lead: John Pilz
Team members: Chi-Kai Hung, Jakob Hartung, Sujit Chemburkar, Daniel Iglesias
ETS Solar Panel and Golf Cart Charging
Awarded: $22,260
Completion date: 2015
Annual savings: 8,760 kWh
The ETS solar panel provides electricity to the grid and carport to charge electric
golf carts.
The second phase of this project replaced old PV panels on the west side of the CUTR/College
of Engineering PV charge station (6 kW). The project also included the installation
of three 120V outlets into the pilings near the typical parking area for the golf
carts. It also included rewiring to feed the power generated from the PV system to
the TECO electric grid. The solar panels generate an annual 8,760 kWh of clean solar
electricity that is fed to the grid and at the same time used to charge electric golf
carts.
Team members: John Pilz, Elias Stefanakos, Roger Stern, Emma Lopez
Thermal Energy Storage System
Awarded: $95,400
Completion date: Ongoing
Annual energy savings: 90,000 kWh
A thermal energy storage (TES) system will be installed at the Solar Thermal Power
generation facility at the USF Clean Energy Research Center (CERC). This improves
the performance and efficiency of the solar facility by storing energy even when the
weather is unreliable. The project also enhances the educational component of the
solar facility by allowing it to operate continuously and encourage student tours
for learning.
Project leads: Chatura Wickramaratne and Barry Ostermann-Burgess (students); Allison Madden (staff)
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TRANSPORTATION
Electric Bus Ph2
Awarded:
Completion date: Ongoing
Annual GHG reduction:
The aim of this project is to purchase a second electric Bullrunner bus for the Tampa
Campus
Project lead:
Share-a-Bull Bikes Project: Phase I
Awarded: $ 509,390
Completion date: 2016
Annual GHG reduction: 37,426 kg CO2
USF Share-A-Bull Bikes incorporated GPS technology smart tracking with an integrated
phone app to allow students to easily find a bike on campus. It reduced intra-campus
auto trips, encouraged the use of perimeter parking facilities, mitigated traffic
congestion on campus, reduced GHG emissions and encouraged healthy lifestyles. The
project included the purchase of 100 smart bikes that could be easily locked and borrowed
by students, staff and faculty from several hubs distributed across campus. USF Campus
Recreation did the daily operation and maintenance.
Project lead: Yu Zhang
Share-A-Bull Bikes Project: Phase II
Awarded: $71,897
Completion date: Ongoing
Phase II of the Share-A-Bull bike project involved the installation of 150 U-loop
bicycle racks that were donated by the Florida Department of Transportation. The racks
were place at 23 different sites across campus. It also included conducting a study
to analyze the usage data and offer recommendations for the improvement and future
expansion.
Project lead: Yu Zhang
Team members: Dwight Pollock, Jochen Eckart, Phil Winter, Pei-Sung Lin
Renew-A-Bull Biodiesel Project: Phase I
Awarded: $106,000
Completion date: 2014
The project generates biodiesel from waste oil (from dining halls and other sources
within and outside of the USF campus) using a supercritical process technology. The
first phase of the project built a pilot system that generated about 400 gallons of
biodiesel per week. The biodiesel generated from this project is used as a fuel for
USF's Bull Runner buses and replaces the purchase of biodiesel from other vendors.
In addition to biodiesel, the project will also produce liquid and solid soap as byproducts
to achieve maximum utilization of the resource and generate additional income.
Project lead: Aydin K. Sunol
Team members: Zachary Cerniga, David Townsend
Renew-A-Bull Biodiesel Project: Phase II
Awarded: $259,700
Completion date: Ongoing
This project will transform the biodiesel generation pilot plant to a mobile biodiesel
generation facility that will be housed in a trailer. This will address the issues
related to locating the facility on campus and also will reduce the challenges of
waste oil collection from different sources.
Project lead: Dr. Aydin Sunol
USF Maps App: Phase I
Awarded: $ 31,800
Completion date: 2016
The USF Maps App was developed by USF students and faculty. It is used to plan trips
around campus via the USF Bull Runner, HART public buses, Share-A-Bull bikes and walking.
It is synched with the real-time schedule of Bull Runners and includes the hubs for
Share-A-Bull bike parking spots.
Team members: Joseph Fields, Mohan Gandhi Achchakkagari
USF Maps App: Phase II
Awarded: $ 12,094
Completion date: June 2017
This project improved and continued the USF Maps App. The list of features added included
improved display, improved occupancy status, improved log file and miscellaneous bug
fixes.
Team members: Joseph Fields, Mohan Gandhi Achchakkagari
USF Electric Bus Initiative
Awarded: $1,093,687
Completion date: Ongoing
Carbon reduction: 71.5 tons CO2
This project helps Parking and Transportation Services purchase a 40-foot electric
bus. Parking and Transportation Services will invest about $1 million in addition
to the funding from the Student Green Energy Fund. The project will bring the first
electric bus to the campus and will take USF a step further in its effort to introduce
clean fuel transportation. USF already uses biofuel buses to transport students and
staff/faculty within the campus around the neighborhood.
Project lead: Lauren Jones, USF Parking & Transportation
Team member: Dylan Thomas, USF Parking & Transportation
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TREE PLANTING
Tree planting: Phase I
Awarded: $86,385
Completion date: 2016
Carbon reduction: 33,250 kg/year
This project helped USF plant 73 live oaks, the first of which were planted during
a National Arbor Day celebration. It included the purchase and planting of trees and
installation of an irrigation system. The locations for tree planting were selected
to enhance tree coverage where needed on campus and provide shade on the sides of
walkways to encourage walking around campus.
Project lead: John Pilz
Team members: Shuang Hao, Bryan VanSant, Tewodros Mengistu, Chi-kai Hung
Tree planting: Phase II & III
Project Proposal
Awarded: $37,400, $25,605
Completion date: Ongoing
GHG reduction: 15,715 kg CO2
This continued a tree planting project in an effort to increase tree coverage on the
USF campus and reduce its carbon footprint. Phase II planted 35 live oak trees, including
the necessary infrastructure for irrigation. The project helped USF receive a Tree
Campus USA designation.
Project lead: Antonio Lourenco, USF Facilities Planning
Team members: John Pilz, USF graduate; Robin Rives, College of Geosciences; Nadeem Freajah, School
of Geosciences; Shuang Hao, USF Facilities Planning; Adam Burrell, College of Business;
Alexis Boback, College of Arts and Sciences
WATER REFILL
Refill-a-Bull Hydration Stations Phase I
Awarded: $25,779
Completion date: 2012
Annual Savings: 26,611 kWh
The first phase of this project installed 15 hydration stations in buildings across
the campus that are most frequented by students. The availability of these units cuts
down on the purchase of water bottles, thereby taking them out of the plastic waste
stream. It also saves students some money as they reduce the purchase of bottled water.
The hydration stations include displays to show the amount of refilled bottles. Students
play a role in tracking and recording usage of the stations and quantifying the amount
of plastic bottled diverted from landfills.
Project lead: Sarah Baynard
Refill-a-Bull Hydration Stations Phase II
Awarded: $41,735
Completion date: 2013
Annual savings: 31,135 kWh
The second phase of this project installed a total of 18 new hydration stations in
the following buildings: BSF, CEE, CGS, CAM, CIS, FAS, ISA, NEC, NTA, SCA, SVC, MDH,
MDF, MDT, MHB, WRB, PED and UPB. The availability of these units cuts down on the
purchase of water bottles, thereby taking them out of the waste stream.
Team leader: John McCall
Team member: Glen Aleo
Refill-a-Bull Hydration Stations Phase III
Awarded: $32,123
Completion date: 2014
Annual savings: 51,448 kWh
The third phase of this project installed 29 hydration stations in buildings ALC,
ALN, AOC, BEH, BSF, BSN, CIS, CMC, CMS, CPR, CSD, CWY, EDU, ENB, ENC, FPC, LIB, LSA,
MDL, MDN, NES, PCD, SOC and SVC. The availability of these units cuts down on the
purchase of water bottles, thereby taking them out of the waste stream.
Team members: John Shahbazian, John McCall, Briena Gianfrencesco, Matthew Sipinick
Refill-a-Bull Hydration Stations Phase IV
Awarded: $41,735
Completion date: 2014
Annual savings: 31,435 kWh
Phase IV of the hydration stations installed a total of 18 units in buildings that
were selected by a team of students and staff. These buildings include REC, CPR, MDC,
LIB, MHC, MHA, SCA and ENB. This project increased the total number of hydration stations
around campus to more than 80.
Team members: John Shahbazian, John McCall, Briena Gianfrencesco, Matthew Sipinick
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OTHER
PATS Portal Alteration
Awarded:
Completion date: Ongoing
Portal to that will allow the university to collect commuter data by estimating their
(1) average distance commuted and the (2) average days commuted. This will allow USF
Tampa to begin the process of accurately reporting Scope 3 of their Greenhouse Gas
emissions
Project lead:
Recycling Bin Signage
Progress Report
Awarded: $4,950
This project will place recycling signage on bins across campus. The signage will
clearly display what can and can鈥檛 be recycled, will display a Green Fact to encourage
recycling, and will brand USF鈥檚 recycling program as 鈥淩ecycle鈥恆鈥怋ull鈥�. This will help
to standardize USF鈥檚 recycling program and will engage students by facilitating an
interest in recycling. We currently have very high contamination rates across campus
due to a lack of conformity among our bins. This project will will encourage students
to more actively and properly recycle.
Project Lead: Robin Rives
USF Campus Food Recovery
Project Presentation
Project Proposal
Project Progress Report
Awarded: $25,600
Completion Date: 2021
The purpose of this project is to pilot test a scalable program that will provide
the USF community a place to support food recovery and zero waste initiatives by using
anaerobic biodigesters. In partnership with USF Aramark Dining Services, the project
will divert edible food to USF Feed-a-Bull or local charities and inedible, post-consumer
food to four pilot biodigester sites on campus that will be overseen by USF Facilities
and the project team. Goals of this project include reducing food waste at the source
to minimize methane gas emission, recovering food waste to support food insecure students
and community members, recycling food waste to generate renewable energy sources,
and increasing campus awareness and education of food waste reduction/recovery practices.
Project Lead: Whitney Fung
Reducing USF's GHG Emissions Campus-Wide
Project Presentation
Awarded: $72,000
Completion date: 2018
This project purchases RECs and Carbon Offsets to help USF achieve its GHG emission
reduction goal of 13%.
Project lead: Sam B. Gibbons
Team members: Shweta Tripathi
Neutralize Bull Gas Marketing Funds (Fast track grant)
Awarded: $4,770
This award goes toward the purchase of marketing materials to promote the Neutralize
Bull Gas program. The program gives commuters the option of donating money towards
the purchase of carbon offsets when they buy a parking permit.
Project lead: Adam Burrell
Tree Mapping
Progress Report
Awarded: $33,390
Completion Date: 2020
This project helps complete a tree mapping project already underway at USF. The program
collects information on campus trees -- diameter, height, species, and location --
and makes it available through an interactive app called Open Tree Map. The map calculates
the ecological benefits of the trees.
Project lead: Ashley Denslow
Team members: Kebreab Ghebremichael, Desai Nainan, Shuang Hao, Justin Jimenez
Reducing USF CO2 Emissions Using Algae
Awarded: $5,300
Completion date: 2017
This feasibility project explores the reduction of CO2 emissions from USF boilers
using microalgae. It is part of a larger project on the use of microalgae for biofuel
generation. In this project, CO2 from the exhaust of the USF boilers is used as a
carbon source for a reactor that grows microalgae in a controlled environment. It
studies the amount of CO2 consumed by microalgae to determine the feasibility of scaling
up to help reduce USF's greenhouse gas emission and at the same time generating biofuel
as a source of renewable energy.
Project lead: Lauren Monti
Team members: Bethany Loya, Adit Patel
Renewable Energy Credit (Carbon Offset Purchase)
Awarded: $53, 000
Completion: 2017
This project involves the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset carbon
emissions and help USF achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. This
is one of the easiest and quickest approaches to achieve USF's climate commitment.
The number of RECs purchased was equivalent to reducing USF's energy use by about
56,2800 mWh over a year. That's an estimated 10 percent reduction in electricity use
based on the 2008 baseline. This helped USF meet its 2015 milestone target. The RECs
were purchased from Renewable Choice Energy based on competitive pricing.
Project lead: Lauren Monti
Team members: Kebreab Ghebremichael, Nainan Desai, Suchi Daniels