Green Fund Projects 2023-2024
Modular Agrivoltaics | Dining | Spring 2024 | $1,090
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.
Compost Cart Washer | Gordon Dining and Event Center | Spring 2024 | $6,610
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.
Lighting Retrofit | CALS Greenhouses | Spring 2024 | $11,840
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.
Organic Landscape Management Pilot | Spring 2024 | $28,000
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.
MaetaData Pilot | Spring 2024 | $36,000
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.
Vertical Gardens | Leopold Residence Hall | Spring 2024 | $2,300
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.
Lighting Retrofit | Enzyme Institute | Spring 2024 | $2,000
Students upgraded lighting to energy efficient LEDs at the Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) offices in the Enzyme Institute building on campus.
BCycle Station | Arboretum | Fall 2023 | $20,000
Students and UW staff improved accessibility for the campus community to the Arboretum Visitor Center by introducing an e-bike sharing station.
Read more about the launch of a new station
Watch a video about the station launch
Kitchen Hood Controls | Gordon Dining and Event Center | Fall 2023 | $10,000
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.
Bird-Friendly Windows | Dejope Residence Hall | Fall 2023 | $12,750
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.
Free Food Alerts | Fall 2023 | $5,000
This project pilots the use of an application that allows food providers and campus community members to connect when excess food is available, reducing waste and improving food security.
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.