Energy & Climate Change
at UF
Energy is necessary for life. All living things require energy to eat, move, and reproduce. From the solar energy used by plants to make food, to the electricity we use to run the equipment we use every day, we all need energy.
Around the globe, much of our energy comes to us by way of fossil fuels. Coal and oil were formed by decayed plants and animals that lived 300 million years ago. These energy sources are non-renewable. In addition, they have been storing carbon for millions of years. This carbon is now being released into our atmosphere as we burn these fuels for energy, and it is causing our Earth to warm.
As Americans we have become so accustomed to cheap, abundant sources of energy that we have become wasteful. The side effects of this energy consumption are more apparent every year. Decreasing air quality, rising gas prices, and climate change, are just a few of the symptoms that our energy consumption is not healthy for us or the planet.
The main campus of the University of Florida uses approximately 75 megawatts of power, and spent roughly $38 million for electricity alone in 2008. Because the majority of our energy comes from fossil fuel sources, such as coal and natural gas, energy use in our buildings is the primary contributor to UF’s carbon footprint. All of us use energy at work -- from lights to computers, photocopiers and printers. There are lots of ways that you and members of your department can help reduce our carbon footprint and reduce the budget deficit that the high cost of energy creates each year. Check out the following topics for more information: Lighting, Office and Lab Equipment.
Some university-wide efforts are already underway. In 2007, President J. Bernard Machen was the first to sign the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment. A working group at UF is creating an action plan for carbon neutrality by 2025. A complete audit of our carbon footprint can be viewed here. You can read more about the efforts that UF is making for energy conservation here.
