UCF LEEDing the way in going green

UCF has been taking progressive efforts in going green that will not only help the university save money on the energy bill but also keep tuition down for students and make UCF self-sufficient in the future.

The university is seeking LEED certification for 17 buildings on campus. A program developed by the United States Green Energy Council, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and has a point system that rates the energy efficiency of buildings.

A building can be rated platinum, silver or gold based on how it performs on the LEED project checklist, which awards points for such things as building materials, amount of natural lighting, heating and cooling efficiency and water use.

With UCF rapidly expanding, President John C. Hitt implemented a policy in 2007 requiring each new building on campus earn at least a silver LEED rating.

Currently, UCF has four LEED-certified buildings: Physical Sciences I, Burnett Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Support and the College of Medicine.

Buildings currently seeking certification include the Student Union, which is now open 24 hours, five days a week; the Recreation and Wellness Center; Performing Arts Complex; and Academic Village.

Lee Kernek, associate vice president of administration and finance, said that UCF was behind in its energy efficiency efforts about five years ago before committing to a plan that would make UCF one of the leaders in energy efficiency.

"It's not a paper on the wall," Kernek said. "For us, it's all about energy sufficiency."

With less tax-payer dollars going into the education system, it is more important than ever for universities to become more energy efficient.

The university is building a combined heat and power plant on campus that will produce a third of its energy.

What makes UCF different from other universities in the state, Kernek said, is that the plant will be designed, owned and operated by the university.

Kernek said this saves the university money because it does not pay a percentage to a third party such as Progress Energy Florida, which currently operates a plant on the campus of the University of Florida.

"If you look statewide, we're absolutely the leader in energy efficiency," David Norvel, director of sustainability and energy management, said. "We're very progressive."

One of the challenges for any university is keeping energy costs consistent. Kernek said that the university spends about $14 million a year on its energy bill, despite adding new buildings such as the police station, performing arts buildings and expanding the Recreation and Wellness Center.

UCF's efforts to become more energy efficient are not limited to buildings that can apply for LEED status.

The new parking garage "H" is also built from environmentally safe materials, and the new combined heat and power plant will be built with the same principles of sustainability that go into each new building.

This is garnering the university credibility from around the country for sustainability efforts.

"Texas A&M was always leading the way, and they consider us second in the nation now," Kernek said. "Now we're not behind, we're trying to lead."

Samantha Ruiz, co-president of Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions (I.D.E.A.S.) a student organization working to educate and get students involved in helping the environment, believes that attending a university with LEED-certified buildings can show students how connected they are to the environment.

"From an awareness standpoint, it can turn that switch on to focus more on environment and what they can do on a personal level," Ruiz said.

Dustin Jackson, assistant director for sustainability and energy management, said that new buildings have signage that educates students on how the building is energy efficient.

University officials expect the new buildings to obtain Silver and Gold status within the next six months.