Breadcrumb
Sustainable CU
Breadcrumb
Welcome to Sustainable CU. Here you'll find history, guidelines, and proposals of the Sustainable CU Grant Program. In the spring of 2005, students voted to dedicate a portion of student fees to implement on-campus sustainability projects that reduce the University's impact on climate and the environment. The fees allocated for these efforts make up the Sustainable CU Fund, which can be used for projects involving renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling and waste reduction, and other innovative sustainability solutions. The Environmental Center, which administers the Sustainable CU Fund, is looking in particular for projects created and led by students.
Thank you for your commitment to improving sustainability on CU's campus! If you have questions, please email eboard@colorado.edu.
Featured Projects & Quotes from Recipients
We very much appreciate Sustainable CU for the grant they awarded to us, which provided the museum with the funds needed to purchase these practical, useful, and professional grade waster receptacles. I realize trash bins are not typically something to get excited about, but the Max-R bins fit so nicely into the aesthetic of the museum, it is easy to heap praise on them!
This machine [the EBSCO closed loop filtration water jet system] has been a life saver with the student access restrictions we had to put in place due to Covid-19... It really saved the year for students in traditional project classes by allowing them to still design and build a real project in the middle of a pandemic.
Request for Proposals
The Environmental Center approves grants in two categories: small grant of $2,500 or less, and large grants of more than $2,500. There is one Sustainable CU Grant Application for both small and large grants.
Sustainable CU Grant Application
Small grants are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the academic school year (September through April), with the Environmental Board typically considering the grants within the following week of its submission.
Large grants are reviewed on a rolling basis in fall and spring semesters. Fall submissions should be submitted no later than October 31. Spring submissions should be submitted no later than April 1.
When a grant is approved, applicants will enter into a grant funding agreement with the Environmental Center to confirm the length of the project, its measurable benefits, and appropriate times to report its progress.
Per CU Student Government bylaws, Sustainable CU funds are allocated for "capital investment, the purchase of infrastructure necessary for the initiatives, installation of capital projects, educational displays related to the capital projects, and any other non-staff operating costs associated with the initiative." Essentially, funds must be used exclusively for the physical supplies, promotion, and hired labor associated with the initiatives they are supporting.
Therefore, Sustainable CU does not fund:
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Applicant labor
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Academic endeavors (e.g. honors theses, capstone projects)
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Seed-funding for business development
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Exclusive groups
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Off-campus projects
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Events
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Recurring project costs
If you have any questions about whether your project qualifies, please e-mail eboard@colorado.edu.
The application is a Google Form. You will lose your progress if the page reloads, so develop your answers on a separate document and copy them into the application.
Sustainable CU Grant Application
View pending and past grant applications here
Small grants program (up to $2,500)
Small grants fund expenses such as infrastructure, contractor fees, consumables, and equipment rentals. Sustainable CU does not pay for applicants’ own labor. However, fees charged by third-party professionals, e.g., architects and electricians, are funded by the program. Funded small projects must be fully executed within three months of the date of the award. An interim progress report must be submitted no later than six weeks after grant submitters have been notified that their project has been funded. Funding will be withdrawn if projects do not meet completion deadlines in the absence of a compelling written request for extension. A short final report is due once the project has been completed; 10% of funds will be withheld until the report is received. Guidelines for progress and final reports are available from the Environmental Center upon request.
Large grants program (over $2,500)
Application guidelines and instructions for large grants, in a Microsoft Word document that can be used as a template, may be downloaded by clicking here.
The application guideline document contains eligibility, requirements, submission format, and evaluation criteria and timeline information. If desired, this budget template can be used and submitted as an appendix to proposals (saved first as a PDF and attached with the completed application). Large Grant application, budget and attachments are submitted by email before posted deadlines to ecenter@colorado.edu.
View pending and past large grant applications here.
Funded Projects
Small Grants ($2500 or less)
Large Grants
Small Grants ($2500 or less)
- Demonstration Wicking Beds at SEEC
- CWA Program App
- Encouraging Labs at CU Boulder to Participate in the North American Lab Freezer Challenge
- CU Biodiesel Algae Photobioreactor
- Sustainable Waste Education for Incoming CU Students
- Solvent Reuse Educational Campaign to Increase the Amount of Recycled Solvents on the CU Campus
- Center for Community Educational Garden Signeage
Large Grants
Small grants ($2,500 or less):
- Structures Lab Concrete Recycling Initiative, $1,900
- Conference on World Affairs Paperless Program, $2,500
Large grants ($2,500 or more):
- CUPD Paperless Initiative, $50,000
- SEEC Garden and Learning Landscape, $9,667
- CU Green Labs Shared Ultra Low Freezers, $25,896
- UMC Food Donation Freezer, $4,339.04
- Hall Council Zero Waste Events, $11,311.27
Small grants ($2,500 or less):
- Stressing Sustainability at Home, $1388
- Interactive Campus Sustainability Tour App, $2500
- Biomimicry Club Display, $2500
Large grants ($2,500 or more):
- CU Athletics Sustainable Snacks, $18,642
- UMC Flameless Urns, $7550
- Campus Sustainability Portfolio Publication, $7200
- ELF Vehicle, $18,500
- Bee Boulder, $35,804
Small grants ($2,500 or less):
- CU Biodiesel Mobile Processor, $2474
- Garden to Table at C4C, $2489
- Laundry Racks, $586
- Flammable Materials Freezer, $1899
Large grants ($2,500 or more):
- Athletics Food Freezer, $3585
- Pollinator Gardens, $147,215
- Green Chemistry Fund, $2639
- Darley Commons Greenhouse Equipment, $118,000 (In Progress)
- Lean Path food waste reduction, $16,883 (In Progress)
Small grants ($2500 or less)
- CUskills.com Equipment Sharing, $2,463.88
- "The Art of Chasing Ice" Recording, $2,500
- Boulder Food Rescue, $2,500 (on condition of Housing and Dining approval)
Large grants (above $2500)
- Acetone Redistillation Unit for Chemistry Department, $9,850
- Student Recreation Center Re-Rev, $16,805 (plus change in cost from RFP vs.sole sourcing)
- Electric Truck amendment request, $10,807.44
Small grants ($2500 or less)
- Family Housing Community Gardens, $2,500
- End the Disposable Mentality and addendum, $2,500
Large grants (above $2500)
- UMC Coffee Cart Solar Panels, $6,500
- Innovation Lab Incubator Kiosk with budget and workplan, $20,000
- Williams Village Water Station and Bottles, $10,191
- B-Cycle Campus Station, $52,750
- Compost Tea Brewer with cost spreadsheet and addendum, $23,103
Small grants (under $2500)
- Laboratory Water and Energy Efficiency Program (LWEEP) Conservation Manager contractor,$2500
- Laboratory Waste Stream Reduction and Recycling project , $2100
- Reusable Dining EcoClamshell pilot, $1000
- Diversion of Used Oil Filters from the Transportation Garage, $1493.15
- Science Discovery Computers to Youth summer class, $2500
- Dining Services Electric Golf Cart , $2500
- Casey Middle School Sustainability Garden, $2500
- CU Biodiesel Solar Thermal for ESTER , $2500
Large grants (over $2500)
- Semester Bicycle Rentals, $31,000
- Electric Zero Emission Vehicle, $78,895
- UMC Paper Towel Reduction project, $16,158
- CU Green Roof project, $100,000
- Science Discovery Garden, $9294
- Food for Thought Series, $3000
- Laboratory Freezer Competition Incentives, $28,500
- Compost Tea Brewing, $21,560
Small grants (under $2500)
- Energy Saving Timers for campus scientific labs, $2500
- Labs Conservation Manager Contractor, $2500
- Housing and Dining Services Phase 1 Sustainable Food Best Practices Guide, $2400
- Housing and Dining Services Phase 2 Ideas for Student Involvement, $2400
- Housing and Dining Services Phase 3 Food Sustainability "Treasure Chest", $2400
- Summer Conference Sustainability Education, $2465
- Zero-Waste Summer Orientations, $1145
- ISLE Next Generation Sustainable Land Care, $2500
Large grants (over $2500)
Large grants ($2,500 or more)
- Grab-n-Go Filtered Water Station, $3917
- Campus Climate Coalition display, $2500
- UMC Recycling Stations, $5892
- Mountain Research Station Solar Installation, $75,000 (see photos of installation below)
- CU Swisscamp Photovoltaic Installation, $4500 (photos of installation below)
- Campus Garden, $90,000
- CU Housing and Dining Services Dining Can Crushers, $11,400
CU Swisscamp Photovoltaic Installation, funded by Sustainable CU 2008-09
University of Colorado Mountain Research Station Solar Installation, funded by Sustainable CU 2008-09
- Sustainable foods toolbox including a directory, preference survey, signage and reusable food baskets, $3654
- Funding Facilities Management for the difference in price between a planned vehicle replacement and a new electric vehicle from E-Ride Industries, $8400
- Reusable bag pilot study for waste reduction in campus grab and go dining units, $1450
- Outdoor recycling bins for grab and go waste, $2600
- Norlin Sundial pervious paving and drainage system, $2400
- Facilities Management microfiber cleaning technology, $7376
- Folsom Park Bicycle Station, $55,000
- Wolf Law Building 10kW Solar Array, $41,000
- Facilities Management Sod Farm, $15,284
- Water refill stations at Housing grab and go dining units, $13,080
- Bruce Campbell Art Project: Artist Bruce Campbell will create a recycled sculptural installation using salvaged materials from CU's construction and demolition process. The artwork will be displayed on campus, demonstrating CU's commitment to environmental protection and exemplifying closed-loop recycling. Award: $19,600.
- Mobile Billboards: The blank space on the side of CU recycling vehicles will be used to promote recycling. These vehicles drive around campus all day, providing an opportunity to spread the word about the benefits of recycling. Award: $6,000.
- Smart Strip Surge Protectors: This project is a pilot program testing the effectiveness of smart strip surge protectors inside dorm rooms. The surge protectors can be set to turn on and off at specific times, resulting in substantial energy savings. Award: $13,444.
- Solar-Electric Recycling Vehicle Conversion: This project will transform an existing recycling vehicle into an educational, solar-electric vehicle that will continue to collect recyclable materials. Award: $15,193.
- Composting and Recycling Containers: The capacity of the composting program in the UMC kitchen will be increased. Zero-waste Bins in Glenn Miller Ballroom Three permanent recycling structures will be installed in the Glenn Miller ballroom in order to facilitate zero-waste events and increase diversion rates in the UMC. Containers for cardboard will help with the recycling during student move-in. Award: $8,100.
- Folsom Field Wind Project: Six wind turbines will be installed on the Folsom Field stadium as a highly visible demonstration project to show the viability of using wind turbines on the CU campus. Award: $90,195.
- Occupancy Sensor Lighting Units: Occupancy sensors will be installed inside classrooms within the Hellems. Energy will be saved by ensuring lights are turned off when rooms are not in use. The engineering student group, SEVEN, will monitor the success of the program in order to determine the viability of developing similar projects in other buildings on campus. Award: $3,108
2006-07