Some things that could be very good to include would also relate to other topics. One of these is current projects. I noticed that on the main scf.edu site there are at least two building projects that are available for bids from contractors. If these were listed under "buildings" with evidence of how they were advancing the commitment to sustainability it would be very helpful. Another section could be future goals. This could delineate areas that are not currently addressed or at least not addressed fully and would show where the college is attempting to go with its commitment. Another section could be reserved for ideas. This could just be an area designated for collaboration for students, faculty, and members of the community to brainstorm about how to make the buildings and grounds even better. For instance, it would be great to have a small facility on one of the campuses that is built to reflect the natural Florida environment and give the perception of being in an outdoor classroom while having the benefits of a comfortable and sustainable shelter.
~~~~R. McCoy
I think first we need to clarify the different sections of Building vs. Grounds and use the page to focus on Campus Buildings and Grounds only. Also, I would like to see more information on the Solar Energy Panels on Venice Campus. I do not get to visit that campus and I didn’t realize it was there.
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Another thing would be to provide links to outside information (ie. LEED certifications)
Maybe a few links to learn more about:
LEED CERTIFICATION
http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/ (Links to an external site.)
Florida Native Landscaping
http://www.floridayards.org (Links to an external site.)
Florida Environmental Protection Issues:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/mainpage/default.htm (Links to an external site.)
Florida State Parks
https://www.floridastateparks.org (Links to an external site.)
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~~R. Kelln
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
I think that an easy and interesting project would be building the solar panels for the energy-efficient cars at the Lakewood Ranch campus. This could involve the engineering team to create a structure that would hold the panels and also the sustainability class to help get the most out of this structure. This project could be implemented into the already "LEED" building code and could help boost funding or incentive into sustainability.
I also found a link with a lot of little activities that all teachers could implement to serve a purpose for a subject and also create something out of it.
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/project_ideas/
Hope this is what the assignment asks for! :
J. Martorell
Three things that I would like to add would be Wastewater treatment, Storm water reuse, and Substitution. When it comes to waste water it is something that often gets over looked because people don’t want to have to deal with it. But proper treatment of waste water is very important and the effects it can have the environment and out water sources. Storm water runoff usually goes into treatment plants through the sanity system of they run off into larger bodies of water. But considering how much dirt and filth it carries with it then goes into bodies of water is very harmful. And substation is something that I think everyone should consider doing. Instead of using paper towels use rags, use biodegradable materials, cloth bags instead of plastic, etc.
Wastewater treatment, http://water.worldbank.org/shw-resource-guide/infrastructure/menu-technical-options/wastewater-treatment
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~~~~Laura Novak
One "low-hanging fruit" solution to stormwater management issues facing not only SCF campuses but also the community at large is to implement porous (or permeable) pavements or pavers in parking lots, surrounding low-speed roads, pedestrian walkways and other paved ground surfaces.
An informative resource on this topic is the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) report entitled "Towards Sustainable Pavement Systems", the executive summary of which is located at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/sustainability/hif15002/chapters/hif15002_00c.pdf (Links to an external site.) (part of its "Sustainable Pavements Program" located at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/sus
tainability (Links to an external site.)).
In this report's executive summary, it is argued that: "Permeable pavements are an effective means of providing stormwater management by capturing and storing runoff, reducing contaminants in waterways, and recharging groundwater supplies. They also make for more efficient land use by eliminating the need for retention ponds and swales. These pavements are currently limited to low-volume roadways and parking lots." Additional benefits of porous pavements are outlined in the "Use-Phase Considerations" section of this report.
This article http://www.pupnmag.com/article/detail/6245/permeable-clay-pavers-solve-stormwater-issues-while-preserving-historic-character-of-college-campuses (Links to an external site.) discusses the benefits of using porous materials for pedestrian-oriented paved surfaces -- with a focus on college campuses.
~~~S. McTeague