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February 2008 Newsletter

In this Issue:

 

Treasuring Sustainability

Treasure Coast leads the way to create the State of Florida’s first ‘Green Region’

Green CountyThe Treasure Coast consists of Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River Counties, and was named by early settlers because of the large number of Spanish treasure ships that were lost off the coastal area. Present day leaders of these counties have shown great vision in realizing that sustainability will be able to keep the Treasure Coast a real treasure in the Twenty-first century.

In 2004, then Governor Bush and Senator Ken Pruitt assembled the committee for a Sustainable Treasure Coast (CSTC). The CSTC was comprised of local leaders from varying backgrounds and industries from all three counties. It focused on envisioning a sustainable future for the area and to provide elected officials a guidebook on how to construct that vision. In 2005, the CSTC published its Final Report. Its 121 pages consisted of action steps and principles dedicated to creating a Sustainable Treasure Coast.

Early last year, to begin developing strategies to move Florida to a more sustainable state, the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service formed the Sustainability Work Action Group (SWAG) comprised of members from multiple major Florida universities, non-profit organizations, the Florida Century Commission, and others. An impromptu vision of SWAG is to focus on Florida becoming not a ‘blue’ state or a ‘red’ state but a ‘green’ state.

The creation of the first ‘Green Region’ would be an incredible first step in achieving this goal. This ‘Green’ region would be defined as having all of its county governments driven by the Florida Green Building Coalition’s Local Green Government Certification (FGBC). The FGBC Green Local Government Standard which designates Green Cities and Green Counties by their outstanding environmental stewardship. The certification not only provides recognition and publicity for that government, but also allows it to function in a more efficient manner through better internal communication, cost reductions, and effective risk and asset management. This standard presents a comprehensive list of criteria, organized in terms of local government department functions. It focuses on improving environmental performance through a number of mediums (energy, water, air, and land, waste), and evaluates:
Environmental practices done "in-house”.
Incentives and ordinances to foster green practices.
Educational activities to improve the environment and others (FBGC website)

Because of the hard work of the CSTC and commitment of local administrators and public officials, the goal of creating a ‘green’ state has taken its first step. Just this month, Martin County and St. Lucie County announced they have officially submitted their application to become Certified Local Green Governments; Indian River County is actively investigating the designation and anticipates submission of their application shortly. With this region moving forward, we hope that other regions, state governments, and municipalities will also move forward toward creating a green and sustainable Florida.

Contributed By: J.P Gellermann, St. Lucie County Extension Agent


Greening Gator Health Care

UF Student Health Care Center staff commit to going green

SHCC

In conjunction with the Sustainability effort here at UF, the Student Health Care Center created a fun way to help employees start thinking about the little things we can do (that we may not normally do at work) that will help minimize the environmental impact. They asked employees to sign the following pledge and, in honor of their commitment, they were given a button to wear. For the three months of the effort staff that sign the pledge will be allowed to wear jeans on a designated day.

This effort began on February 6th of this year, and 119 employees have signed the pledge! Though the effort may seem small, even the smallest effort can make a difference. SHCC says “THINK GREEN.”

SHCC SUSTAINABLE PLEDGE
As a member of the SHCC community, I will do my best to minimize my environmental impacts by pledging to practice the following:
Recycle all plastic, glass and aluminum containers.
Recycle paper, newspapers, magazines and soft-cover books.
Turn off lights in my area when leaving for an extended period.

 

Reducing Florida's Footprint

14th Annual Public Interest Environmental Conference

Reducing Florida's FootprintThe University of Florida Levin College of Law's 14th Annual Public Interest Environmental Conference (PIEC) will be held February 28 – March 1, 2008, on the Levin College of Law campus. The theme for this year's conference is "Reducing Florida's Footprint: Stepping up to the Global Challenge." The PIEC will cover a variety of salient topics including adaptation of coastal communities in response to sea level rise, environmental challenges to agricultural production, climate change litigation, carbon markets and alternative energy solutions.

The PIEC attracts over 200 top legal practitioners, scholars, and scientists from around the nation to discuss and debate Florida's environmental issues, and each year the PIEC's impressive speaker roster grows. Sheila Watt-Cloutier is this year's pre-conference keynote speaker at 7:00pm, February 27, 2008 in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public. Ms. Watt-Cloutier, a native of Northern Quebec, is a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Inuit climate change and human rights activist. In 2005, she launched the world's first international legal action on climate change by submitting a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, alleging that unchecked emissions of greenhouse gases from the U.S. have violated Inuit cultural and environmental human rights in the Arctic.

Continuing Legal Education credits will be available for lawyers attending the conference, and scholarships are available for students who attend school in Florida. UF students may attend the conference for free. For registration and additional information, visit the 2008 PIEC website at www.ufpiec.org.

Contributed by: Andrew Beckington, UF Law Student

 

Going Veg for Environmental Rights

enVeg-A new student group addresses vegetarianism

enVegSorry PETA, not all vegetarians are motivated by animal rights. enVeg, short for environmentally-conscious vegetarianism, is a University of Florida group that encourages people to reduce their meat, dairy and egg consumption in order to help slow climate change. The idea came from a group project for a class relating religion, nature, and ethics, where students learned how our diets affect environmental health. A 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization revealed that the industrial production of meat, dairy and eggs produces more greenhouse gases than transportation. The report also found that deforestation and water waste were major problems associated with large scale meat production.

Though a majority of American meat production is industrialized, there is a growing segment of production on small farms where animals still live their lives in a humane manner that is in harmony with the environment. You can check for labels indicating that meat and eggs have been humanely grown and are free of hormones and steroids. In addition, you can support your local farmers who are raising animals in a sustainable way and reduce the carbon footprint of your diet. Eating veggies grown within your foodshed is also an important way to reduce diet-based carbon emissions.

By promoting and increasing the ease of cooking without meat, enVeg shows people that you can also have delicious meat-free meals. Members learn to cook vegetarian and vegan food, socialize at potlucks, help campaign for a more vegetarian and climate-friendly campus, and receive free eco-eating tips and recipes via email. The club is currently working on compiling information about all the vegetarian/vegan options in the restaurants and dining halls on campus. Their goal is to make it easy for everyone to eat meat- and/or dairy and egg-free at UF.

Visit enVeg.org for more information, including meeting times.

Contributed by: Sara Hutton, Intern for the Office of Sustainability

 

Grow Organic

UF’s Organic Garden has openings

Growing Organic
The UF Organic Gardens Cooperative has a few openings for new members. Garden plots are 12-by-15 feet and the rental fee is just $15 for an entire six months, which includes tool use, some seeds, and water.

In exchange, co-op members must volunteer for a total of six hours during the semester to help maintain common areas. The gardens are located on SW 23rd Terrace, about 1/4 mile south of Archer Road, on the east side of the road. The advantages to gardening in community is you have lots of mentors within easy asking distance if you are new to gardening, and you can make new friends from around the world, as gardeners are international. Plus it's fun! Contact Ginny Campbell to rent a plot, 352- 378-6103 or epaulc@bellsouth.net. For general information about the garden, please contact Julie Garrett, 352-870-2924 or julie.garrett@sfcc.edu.

 

Announcements

Important Date <image>News, events, and opportunities

 

Gators Commitment to Recycling

The O’Connell Center develops a recycling program

RecyclingThe O'Connell Center began a full-fledged plastic recycling program during the fall semester, and has seen an excellent response. Recycling bins have been placed throughout the arena, signage has been added at the concessions stands, and service announcements are running on the video boards during athletic events.

Through these efforts, patrons at events have become increasingly conscientious about separating trash from recyclables, contributing to a 17% recycle rate for events. Also, the student staff has been very receptive to the new program, which includes recycling bottles and cups left in the stands after events.

“We are quite proud of the progress thus far,” said O’Connell Center director, Lynda Reinhart “And we continue to strive to improve and look for ways to make the O'Connell Center a more sustainable venue.”