The University of Tampa is doing its part to prevent pollution. The Environmental Protection Coalition (EPC), The Biology Honors Society Tri-Beta and Student Government have all worked together to purchase the rights to 15 metric tons of sulfur dioxide, a pollutant that effects air quality.
Purchasing the rights to the pollution prevents the small amount of pollutants from entering the environment for up to 15 years, a small feat against the constant battle for a healthier environment.
According to Dr. Daniel Huber, professor of iology, it’s the small steps that are making the biggest impact.
“A lot of people think pollution is such a big problem, or a major issue, what could they do to have an effect on this?” Huber asked.
“It’s changing the mentality of sustainability that this helps to establish,” Huber said. “Knowing a small quantity can in fact reduce the amount of pollution.”
Huber started as a professor at UT in 2006, when the school was just beginning its efforts to create recycling and sustainability options.
After teaching an environmental science course, he pitched the idea to student groups to begin investigating options for pollution prevention.
Which is where the EPA’s auction of pollution rights first occurred to him.
“Three types of organizations purchase pollution rights through the EPA. First, big companies that may release pollutants into the environment. That way if they are ever audited, they have purchased the rights to these pollutants to a certain degree. Next, Brokerages houses, like Morgan Stanley or Chase, who then resell the pollution rights to make a profit. And finally, Environmental groups. The purpose of an environmental group purchasing these rights is so that they are shelved, and no one can use them to cause any pollution damage,” Huber said.
The second year as a professor at UT, Huber successfully bid to have funding for the rights to the pollution. Last year, Tri-Beta raised $400 through fundraisers and membership dues, and requested $600 from Student Government. The organization was then able to enter the auction with $1000 and purchased rights in the Spot auction (for current pollution rights) and in the seven-year advance auction (for future pollution rights).
Resulting in the purchase the rights to the production of four tons of sulfur dioxide emissions.
This year, student government doubled what the group had raised, and the 15 tons of pollutants directly resulted in the removal of .01 percent of pollutants to the air.
“What’s most important is not the quantity, it’s the culture that it helps to establish. The sustainability effort brings awareness and can change the way people think and act in there daily lives,” Huber said.
Over the course of the past few years, Huber has seen a sharp increase in the level of awareness and demand for ‘green’ options.
“Freshman now would be shocked if recycling wasn’t available, it’s expected that recycling be an option,” Huber said.
The shift in views towards a cleaner, healthier environment is taking place across the country, but UT’s own contribution to pollution prevention is worth noting according to Huber.
“It’s all about how it carries over into our culture and lifestyle, from being temporary to a more permanent shift in sustainability.”
The fact that the Minaret has taken to publishing online editions is another small step in the right direction for UT sustainability. As my professor, Dr. Huber, implied, each individual may not make a huge contribution alone, but if enough individuals decide to make small contributions to environmental health and awareness then it will turn into something big and noticable. The past several years have seen a great improvement in the EPC/BBB’s involvement with the US EPA’s Clean Air Markets program, and from here we finally have momentum as a whole campus, so let’s keep up the good work and show our green sides!