When the current generation of high school students were in elementary school, they read The Lorax and were taught to reuse, reduce, and recycle. Then, when the current generation of students were in middle school, they were taught about the science behind climate change and natural resource depletion. It is therefore fitting that now students get to see real change in the form of the UCFSD Sustainability Initiative. At a time when natural resources are in limited supply, and climate change threatens us, it is important to set a precedent for both current and future generations of students and staff by taking action to rectify these issues.
Acting sustainably means taking on the responsibility of conserving natural resources and ecosystems to support the larger UCF community, now and in the future. In 2021, a Sustainability Task Force developed a roadmap of sustainability initiatives for the district to pursue. The goals of the project remain adopting clean energy, minimizing waste, mitigating degraded water quality, and educating the larger UCFSD community about these cumulative efforts. Through this initiative, the district has created an electric bus pilot program, implemented water conservation measures in bathrooms across schools, reduced electricity usage through replacing light fixtures and upgrading building chillers, and installed refillable water stations to reduce bottled water consumption.
It is also projected that a new rooftop solar array will be installed next summer, which will both modernize school infrastructure as well as reduce the high school’s energy consumption.
Though the sustainability initiative represents a positive change in our district’s policies, it would be negative if we allowed ourselves to call it the “end of the road.” Instead, we should ask ourselves, “Where can we keep improving?” According to school district director of facilities, James Whitesel, the initiative has evolved into more of an “ingrained practice,” with environmental impact factored into district decisions. It’s important that we continue putting environmental issues at the forefront of our minds. That way, we continue progressing and living sustainably so that future generations can follow. Ultimately, sustainability is not a destination, but a journey.