Eagle News

Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Elliot Taylor

FGCU has made a commitment to construct buildings that qualify for the LEED certification, an internationally recognized system that provides the framework for constructing an environmentally friendly building.

Part of the certification is preferred parking for students who drive low-emission vehicles. South Housing and the parking lot for Academic Building 7 will begin a preferred-parking system this month.

If your car meets set standards, you are eligible for a green, oval parking decal that will allow you to park closer to buildings as the campus expands.

"We know there are a number of students who qualify. As the campus grows, so will the program," said University Police Chief Steven Moore.

The set standards are based on a point system. A car gets points based on its gas mileage, motor type and manufacturing pollution.

The list contains more than 600 cars, dating back to models from 1998.

UPD has no hand in making the list. It is provided to the department as part of the LEED certification process by the U.S. Green Building Council.

"We estimate pollution from vehicle manufacturing, from the production and distribution of fuel and from vehicle tailpipes," reads the LEED Web site. "We count air pollution, such as fine particles, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and other pollutants according to the health problems caused by each pollutant."

Alena Walker, a freshman majoring in political studies, bought a Hyundai Elantra less than a week ago. She is eligible for a preferred parking decal and plans to get one soon.

"I did not consider a car that got less than 25 city miles. The preferred parking on campus is a good perk, but I wouldn't base car shopping off it," Walker said.

Stephanie Heller, a sophomore majoring in business management, can't apply for a decal. Heller drives a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. She has had the car for a year and doesn't plan on buying another one anytime soon.

"I like having a bigger car, I feel safer. If I don't get preferred parking … oh well," Heller said.

Like Walker, Heller said preferred parking has no influence over the type of car she purchases.

"I don't think the university should be persuading us to buy energy-efficient cars because it hurts our bank account," Heller said.

Moore believes that the preferred parking could turn into an incentive for greener rides as the program grows.

"The intent is for students to consider the benefits of driving environmentally friendly cars," he said of the program that has been in the plans since the beginning of construction of Biscayne Hall.

There are 16 parking spaces in South Housing that are labeled preferred parking.

Moore said students who own cars thatare not on the list should "avoid the parking spaces." UPD will be issuing warnings for the first two weeks to give everyonetime to become familiar with the program. After that, a ticket for parking in a preferred parking spot without a low emissions car decal will be $30.

Decals are free and should be displayed above students' housing stickers or on the windshield on the driver's side. One decal is good for a student's full tenure at FGCU.

You can view the list of low emission cars at
http://www.fgcu.edu/Parking/decals.html

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