About Sustainable UF > History
Our History
The greening of the University of Florida began in 1990 when President Lombardi signed the Talloires Declaration, pledging to make environmental education and research a central goal in this institution.
After more than a decade of student, faculty, and administrative commitment to sustainability on campus, The University of Florida (UF) inaugurated its first fully funded Office of Sustainability on February 1, 2006.
The university’s ad hoc sustainability task force officially
evolved into a joint standing committee of the faculty senate
on August 15, 2006. The President of the university created and funded
the office
following resolutions from both the faculty and student senates.
Prior milestones helping to pave the way for sustainability at UF include:
- 1924-2002: Howard T. Odum was one of the most creative minds in the fields of ecology, environmental science, systems ecology, environmental policy, and energy studies.
- 1994: UF joined 310 universities world-wide in signing the Talloires Declaration, pledging support to reduce environmental degradation and natural resource depletion.
- October 1997: The Greening UF program was initiated as a grassroots movement of students, faculty and staff from across the campus for environmental stewardship.
- September 2000: An Office of Sustainability was established within the College of Design, Construction and Planning to facilitate, among other things, sustainability initiatives on campus
- 2001: UF adopted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria for design and construction for all major new construction and renovation projects to deliver high performance and sustainable building design to the University of Florida.
- March 2001: A Sustainability Task Force was created jointly by the President and Faculty Senate, following a Faculty Senate proposal of December 2000.
- July 2002: The Task Force released its Final Report.
- October 2002: The Faculty Senate endorsed the Task Force Final Report, but asked for continuation of its term until Fall 2004 for developing an implementation plan.
- March 2003: In response to a request from President Young, the Task Force identified high priority recommendations from the Final Report.
- April 2004: A Student Senate Resolution (#1041) urged the creation of a university office of sustainability with “full administrative support.”
- September 2004: An ad-hoc Sustainability Committee was established through appointments from the Faculty Senate and President Machen.
- September 2005: UF opens the search for a Director of a new Office of Sustainability, housed under the Office of Business Affairs, to support cross-campus efforts.
- October 2005: President Machen gave a speech on National Campus Sustainability day setting goals for campus sustainability and pledging to deliver an annual report card on the university's efforts.
- February 2006: UF hires a Director of the Office of Sustainability. Also, a Zero Waste Task Force begins meeting (through June 2007) to plan for more comprehensive recycling and cradle-to-cradle efforts.
- August 2006: An Energy & Climate Change Task Force begins meeting to enhance reduction of greenhouse gases and other initiatives.
- October 2006: UF hosts first Florida Campus & Community Sustainability conference at which President Machen gives his annual "report card" on the university’s efforts.
- October 2007: UF hosts National Campus Sustainability Day at which President Machen gives his annual "report card" on the state of sustainability at UF.
- April 2009: UF hosts Earth Day celebrations including President Machen's Report on the State of Sustainability at UF.