FGCU Eco-Friendly?

The placement of FGCU's campus is consistent with the eco-empowerment mission of the university.  The university is centrally located in Southwest Florida, which will help lower commuting times for most of the students a faculty.  This lessens the need for gas, as the commute will be reduced for most students.  The university is trying to maintain the natural environment as best as possible.  They maintain approximately 350 acres in the natural environment.  This helps maintain the natural eco-system that is seen throughout campus and southwest Florida. 

FGCU has nature trails throughout campus.  This allows students to see the natural environment that once flourished in the area before the urban sprawl.  In the nature trails students can see a pine forest as well as a cypress dome, and all the natural vegetation that comes with that.  The university is getting rid of the Melaleuca tress, which were once thought would help the environment.  These trees soak up all the water that is much needed to help the environment.  FGCU has successfully removed approximately 90 to 95 percent of the Melaleuca trees on campus. 

Melaleuca

While exploring the different eco-systems seen on the nature trails, students can see lots of different vegetation.  They can see poison ivy, American beauty berry bushes, and alligator flag, to name a few. 

Alligator Flag

American Beauty Berry Bush

Poison Ivy

FGCU also does other things to continue with the eco-empowerment mission of the university.  FGCU has a solar panel field that is giving power to most new buildings on campus, which will cut electric costs significantly.  FGCU also has solar powered trash compactors on campus, limiting the need for the trash to be changed as often and need for as many garbage bags.  FGCU encourages students and faculty to bike to work by offering showers, so they can clean up after the bike ride.

With all these things combined FGCU is being very sustainable.  Everything about my background and lack of love for nature should make me not want to live sustainably.  However, while attending FGCU, I discovered that I have the opposite thoughts of most people with my background.  Everyone on campus should be able to openly see that FGCU is sustainable and is definitely pushing forward with their eco-empowerment mission.  If they weren't they wouldn't require every student to take this class.