FGCU; the "Green Campus"

“Alligators are present on university campus.” These and similar signs are on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University along with solar trash cans and several recycling trash cans. Going to a school that shows a great concern about the environment and sustainability does not only encourages me and other students to care more but gives an example of a big change any university can and shall make. FGCU partnered with several companies to create a “green campus.” It worked together with Regenesis Power, a national alternative energy company, in January 2010 to build the second largest solar panel system on a university campus in the U.S. (fgcusolar.com). FGCU's mission was to produce 15% of its electricity from renewables. When you are driving Northbound on Ben Hill Griffin Road and look to the right, you can see a part of that 16-acre solar energy farm that helps the university to help its environment. FGCU can say about itself that it does something against global warming and as Joe Shepherd, the school's vice president said, “We are reducing our carbon footprint.” The question comes in mind, how a single university could afford such an expensive project? According to an article on Naplesnews.com, FGCU has got an $8.5 million grant from Florida's legislature. In addition, it signed a public-private partnership with Regenesis Power, and finally managed to purchase the $17 million project (fgcusolar.com). FGCU sets an example that not only residential households or businesses can work with renewables, but schools as well. Despite the fact that FGCU was built on a swampland and the constructions have taken away a large portion of that land, it is still great to see that such a large institution recognizes the importance of renewable energy and sustainability and tries to give back to what it has taken away from. I think FGCU deserves respect for not ignoring the nature around it and seeing the real picture. Watch this video displaying our eco-friendly university and in which faculty and students talk about its significance.