Green Fund Projects 2023-2024
The Green Fund supports student-initiated projects that improve the sustainability of campus facilities. Explore projects funded in fiscal year 2024, or browse previous years’ projects in the Green Fund Project Archives.
Spring 2024 | $1,090
Modular Agrivoltaics, Dining
Mechanical Engineering students received funding to build an agrivoltaics prototype for use at the Campus Farm in the Eagle Heights Community Garden. The system is one initiative of the broader “Badgervoltaics” effort on campus.
Spring 2024 | $6,610
Compost Cart Washer, Gordon Dining and Event Center
Students proposed an alternative system for washing the carts that Dining staff use to collect food scraps for compost. This equipment will save around 80,000 gallons of water a year and make for a safer and cleaner process for Dining staff.
Spring 2024 | $11,840
Lighting Retrofit, CALS Greenhouses
Students collaborated on a project that upgraded 1,200 High-Intensity Discharge lights with LEDs in three greenhouses, saving over 833 MWh in energy usage and $90,000 per year in energy costs.
Spring 2024 | $28,000
Organic Landscape Management Pilot
Students collaborated with Grounds and Campus Planning and Landscape Architecture to pilot organic landscape management practices, using compost and other organic inputs rather than synthetic fertilizers and pesticides on four campus landscape sites.
Spring 2024 | $36,000
MaetaData Pilot
Students proposed piloting a 3-year subscription to MaetaData, software that uses procurement information from campus food providers to give a dashboard output with data about the locality and sustainability of the food options on campus.
Fall 2024 | $10,615
Vertical Gardens, Leopold Residence Hall
Students and staff expanded crop production at the Dining & Culinary Services (DCS) Campus Farm to grow fresh herbs and lettuce in a vertical hydroponic system in Leopold Residence Hall.
Spring 2024 | $2,000
Lighting Retrofit, Enzyme Institute
Students upgraded lighting to energy-efficient LEDs at the Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) offices in the Enzyme Institute building on campus.
Fall 2023 | $20,000
BCycle Station, Arboretum
Students and UW staff improved accessibility for the campus community to the Arboretum Visitor Center by introducing an e-bike sharing station.
Fall 2023 | $10,000
Kitchen Hood Controls, Gordon Dining and Event Center
Dining worked with students to upgrade the controls for the kitchen ventilation systems to save an estimated 220 MWh in energy usage and over $60,000 in operating costs per year.
Fall 2023 | $12,750
Bird-Friendly Windows, Dejope Residence Hall
Students worked with Housing to add dots to the north-facing windows of the Dejope dining room to make the glass more visible to birds to hopefully avoid collisions and death of wildlife.
Related News and Resources
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UW–Madison Recertified by Bee Campus USA
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Watch a Video About the Launch of the Arboretum’s New BCycle Station
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New BCycle Station Expands Access to UW Arboretum
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Bird-Safe Glass Partnerships Take Flight
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Protecting Birds on the UW–Madison Campus
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Read a Review of Municipal Policy Change, Including Madison
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Free Food Alert: Campus Food Recovery Program
Have an idea that addresses the environmental footprint, social impact, and operating costs of on-campus facilities? Green Fund staff can assist with proposal development at any time. Please contact Green Fund Program Manager, Ian Aley.