Sponsored by:
WHAT’S YOUR SUSTAINABILITY IDEA? APPLY FOR FUNDING HERE!
- The CSU Sustainability Fund, sponsored by the President’s Sustainability Commission, was created to support sustainability efforts across Colorado State University. For FY24, the CSU Sustainability Fund has $25,000 to allocate for sustainability projects. Creativity is encouraged, but some suggestions include energy, water and other resource conservation efforts, academic initiatives, research projects and equipment/processes, education and outreach efforts, environmental justice projects, or other pilot and new grassroots sustainability initiatives.
- Funding can be requested at any level up to $10,000 on single project proposals. The selection committee aims to fund as many projects as possible with budgeted funding
- Projects <$1,000 are also encouraged for student programming and engagement efforts
- Proposed project outcomes can be more impactful when matching funds are identified
- Funding can be used for creative ways to enhance, support, or promote sustainability on campus
- Projects must be related to sustainability efforts within CSU, but can be a collaboration with entities outside the University; however, the project must benefit the University
- Funding is one-time (no ongoing and/or annual expenses)
- Proposals may be submitted by CSU students or employees; students are required to have a CSU employee advisor/sponsor
- Priority will be given to pilots/new initiatives and initiatives that are innovative and could lead to broader sustainability projects and impacts (scalability)
- Priority will also be given to proposals that integrate social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability
- All selected and funded projects will be expected to present to the President’s Sustainability Commission in the Spring on the project’s process.
- Funding must be spent by the end of the 2024 fiscal year.
- Looking to explore sustainable fleet options? That requires a separate and different application process, click the “EV Incentive” tab above.
The CSU Sustainability Fund is NOT intended to fund the following project types:
- Student/ Employee Wages
- Water Bottle Filling Stations
- Building Energy Efficiency Projects – apply for funding from The Energy Reserve Fund (ERF) through CSU Facilities. Contact: Stacey Baumgarn and Carol Dollard.
Want to learn more about the Fund? Attend an information session! Dates and times below:
- Tuesday, September 5th, 12pm – 1pm via Teams.
- Thursday, September 14th, 12pm – 1pm via Teams.
- Monday, September 18th, 12pm – 1pm via Teams.
- Wednesday, September 27th, 12pm 1pm via Teams.
If you have any questions about the CSU Sustainability Fund, contact Mary Liang.
SUBMIT SUSTAINABILITY FUND APPLICATION
Deadline is Friday, October 27, 2023
Electric Vehicle and Vehicle Retirement Incentive Grant Program
The President’s Sustainability Commission (PSC) will award incentive grants for the purchase of electric vehicles and the retirement of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. For Fiscal 2024, the PSC has dedicated an incentive pool of $75K to incentivize the purchase of EV’s and the retirement of old, ICE vehicles. This program intends to reduce vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the purchase of EVs and the retirement of high-emitting vehicles from the university fleet.
Incentives:
- $5K per EV with a purchase commitment to Transportation (Fleet) Services in FY 24
- $2K to retire an existing ICE vehicle in the fleet with a commitment to not replace the vehicle within 12 months of sale (this incentive cannot paired with the EV incentive above to replace a vehicle)
- New – $2K incentive to retire a gas-powered cart with a commitment to not replace within 12 months
- New – $3K incentive to retire a gas-powered cart or ICE vehicle and replace with an electric cart
These incentives are available for FY24. If you plan to participate, please contact Tiffany Glover by April 15 to ensure any purchases, retirements, and incentives can be processed before the end of the fiscal year.
Incentive Distribution:
The PSC will distribute the incentive directly to the department or college with a confirmed commitment to:
- Purchase an EV through Transportation Services after formal order confirmation of the EV goes through the State bid list or applicable purchasing opportunity. A New Vehicle Request must be completed.
- Initiate the sale of an ICE through Transportation Services and a successful requisition completed for sale by CSU Surplus Properties. A Vehicle Turn-In Form must be completed.
- Turn-in a gas-powered cart and proof of purchase for an electric cart.
Eligibility:
- All departments and colleges may apply for up to three (3) EV incentives, up to three (3) retirement incentives, and up to (3) electric cart incentives in Fiscal Year 2024.
- Award distribution is at the discretion of Transportation Services and the President’s Sustainability Commission on a “first-come, first served basis.”
- Vehicle availability will serve as a determinant in the incentive award.
FAQs
- What is considered a vehicle? Can I purchase an electric cart, or retire a gas-powered cart?
Light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty electric vehicles are eligible for this funding incentive. Electric golf carts are now eligible for a separate incentive if a gas-powered cart is retired. Grounds equipment and bicycles are not eligible during this pilot year of the program.
- I do not have the funds to purchase an EV this year. Will this funding be available for FY25?
We have pilot funding for FY24 to determine if we can successfully reduce the fleet size (via retiring vehicles) and reduce GHG emissions (via purchasing electric vehicles). The PSC is hopeful this program will improve the overall fleet, boost our AASHE STARS performance in this area, and demonstrate a clear need for future funding.
- I would like to retire an ICE but can’t commit to not replacing it for a year. What if I replace it with an EV?
If you must replace a vehicle within 12 months of the sale of your previous vehicle, you will be eligible for the $5,000 incentive if you purchase an EV. You will not be eligible for the retirement incentive since a new vehicle has been purchased.
- Are all accounts, including grant and auxiliary funds, eligible to receive these incentives?
Yes, but there may be a limited number of subfunds not eligible (such as AGENCY and GENOP). Otherwise, all departments are eligible within the restrictions of “All departments and colleges may apply for up to three (3) EV incentives, up to (3) electric cart incentives, and up to three (3) retirement incentives in Fiscal Year 2024.”
- Does the retired ICE vehicle have to belong to CSU for a department to receive the retirement incentive (i.e. could it be a donated or third-party vehicle)?
Yes, the retired vehicle must be owned by CSU. The program is seeking to reduce the fleet size while reducing vehicular emissions of the overall CSU fleet.
- What if the retired vehicle is acquired by another CSU department, does it still count for the retirement incentive?
Retired vehicles are not allowed to be purchased by another department or college under policy guidelines of the university. This program is seeking to retire vehicles that are a maintenance cost burden on the university and retirement is deemed necessary. The other department should work with Transportation Services to purchase a vehicle consistent with the purchasing protocols of CSU.
If you have any questions about the Electric Vehicle and Vehicle Retirement Incentive Grant Program, email Tiffany Glover or call 970-491-0176.
Biophilic Design in University Classrooms
Kaigang Li’s project proposes “Enhancing Sustainability through Biophilic Design in University Classrooms” to address mental and psychosomatic symptoms in college students. The focus is on combating stress, anxiety, and attention issues exacerbated by nature-devoid classrooms. The project advocates for a holistic biophilic design, introducing green spaces and natural elements into classrooms.
Recycled Filament Initiative
Students Hannah Huber and Will Carlson propose the “Recycled Filament Initiative” (RFI) for the Engineering Department’s Idea2Product (I2P) Lab. The initiative aims to reduce plastic waste from excess filament in 3D printing, by strategically placing a plastic shredder and extruder in the I2P Lab, and providing users a reused filament option when printing prototypes and other smaller projects.
University #LeaveNoTrash Challenge
Sarah Newman’s “University #LeaveNoTrash Challenge” promotes Leave No Trace Principles at CSU, emphasizing proper waste disposal to support sustainability goals. The April 2024 event will encourage friendly competition between CSU and Penn State, challenging students to clean up campuses. Newman aims to instill environmental responsibility in students, contributing to local and global sustainability efforts, making it an innovative project for a cleaner campus environment.
Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) Electric Vehicle
Oscar Wenham is leading the CSU FSAE program’s development of an electric vehicle, a valuable learning opportunity for students interested in the automotive industry. As part of the completely student-led Ram Racing team. Wenham will use funds to develop strategies to use existing parts from older cars and create an electric drivetrain for their race team vehicle.
Green Guide: A pocket index of all things sustainable at CSU
Andrew Warnock, from the Natural Sciences Education and Outreach Center, and Sam Moccia, from the Student Sustainability Center, piloted a pocket-sized CSU sustainability guide for students and employees. From commuting to food security, the guide utilizes QR codes to provide valuable information, allowing users to compare their behaviors with others and identify areas for improvement. Users can share their sustainability scores on social media platforms and pass the guide along to friends, fostering a culture of sustainable living at CSU. View the Green Guide end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Sustainability and Human Rights
Human rights and sustainability intersect as pressing global values. Dr. Meagan Todd, of the International Studies Department, used awarded funds to aid undergraduate student research in human rights and sustainability. As part of the Human Rights Undergraduate Research Academy in the College of Liberal Arts, this program empowered students to investigate human rights violations using research techniques and digital tools. Projects examined e-waste management in Lagos, Nigeria, and local climate anxiety in Larimer County, Colorado. View the Sustainability & Human Rights end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Mountain Campus EV Charger
Along with grants from the Colorado Energy Office and other sustainability funds on campus, Marianne Weighaus submitted a proposal to help Housing & Dining Services and Facilities Management install the first EV charger at the Mountain Campus. Installing an EV charger at the Mountain Campus allowed students, staff, and visitors to commute in and charge their electric vehicles. This project aligns with the CSU goal of increasing EV accessibility and purchases. View the Mountain Campus EV Charger end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Mattress Topper Recycling
Every year during residence hall move out, over 90 tons of materials are disposed of in the landfill. Mattress toppers are one of the largest volume items tossed as students move out, but many are still in good condition. Kirstie Tedrick, Housing & Dining Services, used these funds to host a mattress topper recycling program during move-out to divert these items from the landfill. Donated mattress toppers were broken down to be recycled or re-purposed. The next steps involve collecting data, exploring new recycling options, and providing feedback and education to further improve the initiative. View the Mattress Topper Recycling end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Measuring and Encouraging Sustainable Transportation Behavior Among Employees
Jamie Gaskill, Parking & Transportation Services, and Grace Wright, College of Business (CoB), piloted a behavior change campaign to encourage more sustainable commuting habits among CSU employees at CoB. Efforts include understanding barriers to sustainable transport, addressing the high percentage of employees relying on personal vehicles, and implementing quick actions like communicating results and addressing bike rack and EV charger issues. Pilot programs included initiatives encouraging biking participation and rewarding employees for using active transportation or public transit, and demonstrating a comprehensive approach to encouraging more sustainable commuting habits. View the Measuring & Encouraging Sustainable Transportation Behavior Among Employees end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
The Clover Project
Dory Schmidt, Biological Science major, and Ken Kinneer, ASCSU, worked with Facilities Management to install a clover lawn on campus, located adjacent to the Plant Growth Facilities building. This project’s scope expanded to serve as a living lab to test not only clover but other native grass mixes thrive or don’t with varying degrees of water and other variables. An interpretive sign will be put up to tell the story of the space and living lab. View the Clover Project end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Eliminating Forever Chemicals from CSU Dining Hall Food Packaging
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of harmful chemicals found in many food packaging due to their stain and water-resistant properties. Adrienne Smiley, a doctoral Chemistry student, collaborated with CSU’s Residential Dining Services to test food packaging materials widely used in the dining centers around campus to help eliminate PFAS-containing materials and identified safe and sustainable replacement products. Their research indicated that Dining’s packaging appears to be safe, and unlikely to cause harm. View the Eliminating Forever Chemicals from CSU Dining Hall Food Packaging end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
University Apartments Sustainable Living Challenge
Coming off a successful, but largely virtual, pilot program completed in the 2020-2021 academic year, Kirstie Tedrick, Housing and Dining Services, received funding to further engage and provide in-person opportunities for residents to learn about living sustainability in on-campus University apartments. Over the course of four weeks, this program successfully engaged nine percent of residents in 2022, with notable improvements in specific apartment buildings. Lessons learned from the campaign will be applied to enhance future programs, considering effective communication, and meeting champion expectations. View the University Apartments Sustainable Living Challenge end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Zero Waste Recycle Initiative
The Zero Waste Team continued their Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN) membership, a national organization that helps to support zero waste on college campuses. Sam Cummings, President of the student-organized Zero Waste Team, also collaborated with CSU Central Receiving to broaden the scope of electronic waste recycling during Earth Month 2022. Collection bins were placed around campus, staffed by surplus employees and volunteers, who helped sort waste and donated functional items. The collected materials were processed at surplus headquarters, emphasizing proper volunteer training on recycling guidelines and hazardous materials. View the Zero Waste Recycle Initiative end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
The Patchwork Initiative
Addressing clothing waste and fast fashion, the Student Sustainability Club (SSC) created the Patchwork Initiative to donate, repurpose, and recycle textiles and clothing, while providing educational opportunities for clothing repair. Collaborating with campus partners, the initiative organized clothing swap events, educational workshops, and expert panels to raise awareness about the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Their efforts included providing low-cost clothing access, reducing seasonal clothing waste, and hosting skill-building workshops and social events, with upcoming plans for a campus-wide clothing swap and a special historic exhibit. View the The Patchwork Initiative end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Sustainable Tiny House
Given the success of CSU’s first tiny house, Maria Delgado from Nancy Richardson Design Center built a second tiny house with her IDEA 450 Design Thinking Collaborative capstone course. The class aimed to integrate solar panels, in addition to using all sustainable and materials and products throughout the tiny house build. With awarded funding, this project incorporated a smart water ecosystem, including water-efficient fixtures, smart faucets, showers, and laundry appliances. View the Sustainable Tiny House end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Development of CSU Green Labs Peer-to-Peer Outreach Team
The CSU Green Labs program has developed a body of outreach materials and collected a wide array of resources to help CSU labs implement best practices in sustainability. This project hired a Peer-to-Peer Outreach Team, who can deliver sustainability solutions to CSU Labs through an intentional, targeted outreach program. This program built the foundation and created a database of contacts and participants for future and continued outreach and engagement through CSU Green Lab Ambassadors. View the Development of CSU Green Labs Peer-to-Peer Outreach Team end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Environmental Justice Toolkit for University Students
In response to student and employee requests for a more coordinated University curriculum and engagement tool for environmental justice, Mindy Hill, from the Center for Environmental Justice, developed of an environmental justice toolkit for students as a one-stop shop to understand how environmental justice connects to each field of study at CSU. The living, digital toolkit also provides pathways to connect to, and coordinate with, the many resources and programs on campus. View the Environmental Justice Toolkit for University Students end-of-year results and presentation here (PDF).
Forest Regeneration Experiment in the Wake of the Cameron Peak Fire
The Cameron Peak Wildfire devastated Colorado and the CSU Mountain Campus, opening an area of opportunity to begin critical research on burned areas of the forest at CSU. Travis Croft and Seth Webb aimed to better understand forest restoration practices following wildfires. During spring and summer 2021, Travis and the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute field crew established 96 plots of land – six plots of in each of four specified burn classification that compared different treatments of forest regeneration. The project embraced environmental stewardship, and annual monitoring and data collection will contribute to future conservation efforts of forests and natural areas.
Development of Green Labs Training Modules
In response to student and faculty need for pathways to improve sustainability practices in the lab, CSU Green Labs hired three graduate students and developed a set of training materials to highlight sustainability best-practices in laboratories covering energy, water, waste, purchasing, and behavior. The idea was proposed by the CSU Green Labs team of Stacey Baumgarn, Kimberly-Cox-York, Colleen Duncan, and Tracy Webb (Facilities Management, RICRO, and CVMBS respectively). The team’s project embedded these materials into existing training, curriculum, and support for the growing group of CSU Green Lab Ambassadors.
Interpretive Signage for Notable Trees on the Tree Walk
CSU is a designated Campus Arboretum to formally recognize the existing benefits of trees and to foster a legacy of urban forest preservation for future generations. To continue the commitment to education, Fred Haberecht and CSU Facilities developed a self-guided tree walk with interpretive signs of 15 notable trees. A virtual tour can also be seen on CSU’s interactive tour map. The project targeted sustainability in providing formal infrastructure and helps educate the CSU community about the CSU Campus Arboretum.
Ram Food Recovery
The Ram Food Recovery program was first launched in Spring 2019 to address food insecurity in the CSU community by making excess food from catered events available to those in the campus community experiencing food insecurity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique challenge to assisting students, faculty, and staff because there were no catered events since March 2020. Mary Liang, the author of the project, relaunched the Ram Food Recovery program and targeted social sustainability by producing, packaging and distributing 1,200 extra meals during the Spring 2021 academic semester. Marginalized populations are most often impacted by food insecurity, and the pandemic heightened these inequalities. This project was a collaboration between Housing & Dining Services and Rams Against Hunger.