The Spring 2007 Campus Sustainability Grant Program helped to fund development of a pedal-powered electricity generating table.
Campus Sustainability Grants
From a pilot program for a human powered vehicle for Buildings and Grounds, to computer energy solutions, seven projects were awarded Campus Sustainability Grants this spring.
“The campus’ growing interests in implementing sustainable practices, combined with budget tightening, make for a highly competitive program,” said Sharon Ruth, chair of the grant review committee. Sixteen proposals requesting more than $39,000 were submitted in response to the call for proposals. “Student and staff proposals of high quality added to the difficulty of the decision making,” added Ruth.
Projects with highly visible outcomes, research that could build up long-term gains, and programs that provide service to the broader campus community were leaders in the competition.
Buildings and Grounds will use their award to purchase and modify a human powered utility vehicle for daily use. “On top of the environmental and health benefits, Buildings and Grounds will be able to save a substantial amount of money for each human powered vehicle that is introduced. …Assuming the life of the vehicle is ten years, over $10,000 will be saved per vehicle” states the project proposal. The Bike Church, Transportation and Parking Services and Fleet Services provided support and additional funding for the endeavor.
The seven projects receiving Campus Sustainability Grants this spring are:
- Human Powered Utility Vehicle Pilot Program
- UC Davis Campus Computing Energy Solutions
- UC Davis Landscape Comparison And Assessment -- Genome West And The Math Sciences Garden Walk
- UC Davis Garden At The Robert Mondavi Institute Educational Signage
- Davis Bike Church Physical Space Renovation
- Sustaining Pollinators: Demonstration Habitat Planting at the UC Davis Arboretum
- PES Salad Bowl Garden (round 2)
More about the projects can be seen at http://sustainability.ucdavis.edu/grants/awards.html.
Through the Campus Sustainability Advisory Committee, Stan Nosek, UC Davis’ vice chancellor of administration, has funded the grant competition since 2006. Grants from $295 to $4000 have been awarded to 23 proposals so far, funding everything from a pedal-powered desk to a waste reduction campaign.
Questions
, 530.754.6600; Grant Program Logistics, campus operations 'expert' liaison; Business Analyst, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration
; Grant Review Committee Chair; Chair, Education and Outreach Subcommittee of the Campus Sustainability Advisory Committee; Communications and Marketing Manager, John Muir Insitute of the Environment