UWF recognized for eco-friendliness by national review
This year marked the second consecutive year the University of West Florida (UWF) has been recognized as a Green College by the Princeton Review. The report of institutions in the United States that meet the specifications is published annually in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council and takes into account food origins, the presence of a sustainability committee, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings and other criteria.
The selected institutions are chosen using “Green Rating” scores based on data from a 50-question survey about environmental and sustainability-related commitments and initiatives. The schools listed in the guide received scores in the 80th percentile or higher.
Among notable initiatives are UWF’s goal to build new facilities that meet or exceed LEED standards. The School of Science and Engineering building, opened in 2009, earned LEED Gold Certification. The Building Construction Program building was recently renovated and also achieved LEED Gold. Heritage Hall, a residence hall opened in 2010, earned LEED Gold in 2011.
“We’ve reduced electrical consumption by 2.4 percent over last year, reduced natural gas usage by 14.5 percent and we’ve increased the recycle rate for our waste,” said Marshall Seymoe, director of UWF’s Department of Environmental Sustainability. “The campus has made those reductions while expanding, so that’s quite impressive.”
In 2011, UWF participated in RecyleMania and recycled more than 13,000 pounds of paper, cardboard, bottles and cans per week for 10 weeks.
For more information about UWF’s environmentally sustainable initiatives, visit the Office of Environmental Sustainability online at www.uwf.edu/sustainability/.
