2008 Woodie Awards
UCF Alliance to enact energy-saving projects
Tara Young
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: News
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UCF aims to be greener with the formation of a new Sustainability Alliance.
Five key campus departments that focus on environmental sustainability are joining together this fall to replace the previous Environmental Management System and create an all-encompassing alliance.
"The group of individuals that are now in place have a strong interest in preserving the environment and seeing that we have effective energy use," said Lee Kernek, associate vice president of Administration and Finance. "So the group came about because of that common desire for a sustainable campus."
The five departments included in the new alliance are the Physical Plant, the Center for Energy and Sustainability, Campus Landscape and Natural Resources, the UCF Arboretum and the UCF Department for Environmental Health and Safety.
The alliance, still in the beginning phases of creation, is working on drafting a mission statement and a set of objectives that will encompass an environmental policy focused on teaching, research and service.
"We're focusing on operations first because it's achievable for the facilities department within UCF," said Alaina Bernard, assistant director and environmental steward for the UCF Arboretum. "We're going to include research and teaching eventually, but right now, we're focusing on facilities since it is priority."
The alliance was also created in the wake of UCF's budget cuts, which marked some of the group's prospective cost-saving projects.
"I think there are possible financial benefits to having a sustainable environment," Kernek said. "For example, right now we're looking at ways we can conserve energy, and energy is at the table as part of this group."
A main goal of the alliance is to provide members with the opportunity to come together and discuss key issues, keeping one another informed on current and upcoming projects as well as bringing new concerns to the table.
"What we haven't seen in the past is the cross communication and single voice, and that's really what we're looking for with this," Kernek said. "All of these organizations are now communicating about what they have going on, and they're working together on the plans and permits and that kind of stuff."
Five key campus departments that focus on environmental sustainability are joining together this fall to replace the previous Environmental Management System and create an all-encompassing alliance.
"The group of individuals that are now in place have a strong interest in preserving the environment and seeing that we have effective energy use," said Lee Kernek, associate vice president of Administration and Finance. "So the group came about because of that common desire for a sustainable campus."
The five departments included in the new alliance are the Physical Plant, the Center for Energy and Sustainability, Campus Landscape and Natural Resources, the UCF Arboretum and the UCF Department for Environmental Health and Safety.
The alliance, still in the beginning phases of creation, is working on drafting a mission statement and a set of objectives that will encompass an environmental policy focused on teaching, research and service.
"We're focusing on operations first because it's achievable for the facilities department within UCF," said Alaina Bernard, assistant director and environmental steward for the UCF Arboretum. "We're going to include research and teaching eventually, but right now, we're focusing on facilities since it is priority."
The alliance was also created in the wake of UCF's budget cuts, which marked some of the group's prospective cost-saving projects.
"I think there are possible financial benefits to having a sustainable environment," Kernek said. "For example, right now we're looking at ways we can conserve energy, and energy is at the table as part of this group."
A main goal of the alliance is to provide members with the opportunity to come together and discuss key issues, keeping one another informed on current and upcoming projects as well as bringing new concerns to the table.
"What we haven't seen in the past is the cross communication and single voice, and that's really what we're looking for with this," Kernek said. "All of these organizations are now communicating about what they have going on, and they're working together on the plans and permits and that kind of stuff."