This section provides access to financial resources for colleges and universities interested in green building, including links to green building financial analysis studies as well as strategies for energy cost savings. Grant and other funding-related information is grouped into the following categories:
The following links provide power management and energy savings strategies, resources and case studies specific to higher education institutions from ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
This case study exemplifies how power management practices can save energy waste and dramatically reduce institutional operating costs. Colleges and universities can work with Energy Star to induce low-power sleep mode of computer monitors during periods of inactivity.
A factsheet on how colleges and universities may significantly reduce energy bills by changing purchasing policies to specify Energy Star qualified products.
The following section provides links to studies outlining cost benefit analyses of green building. Case studies specific to higher education institutions illustrate financial and other benefits of building sustainably.
This 2003 study by Greg Katz is a definitive cost benefit analysis of green building, illustrating that a minimal 2 percent increase in construction costs for green building yields a life cycle savings of over ten times the initial investment.
This 2005 study by Greg Katz is a review of 30 green schools, showing that additional building costs of 1.5 to 2.5 percent result in financial paybacks 10 to 20 times the initial investment, predominantly in the form of energy cost savings. Katz makes the case for additional benefits of comfortable, productive, and healthy work environments for students and faculty.
This 2007 study by David Langdon examined 221 LEED-seeking and non-LEED seeking buildings, including 60 academic classroom buildings on college and university campuses. Langdon concludes that there is no significant difference in the average cost for green buildings as compared to non-green buildings.
This 2009 CBRE report indicates that marginal investment in green certification may raise development costs by only 2-3% above those for a standard building while making the case that sustainable buildings enjoy significant energy usage savings, attract higher rents, and enjoy higher rates of rental growth.
This guide from AASHE highlights the essential benefits of a revolving loan fund and outlines steps for setting up a student-led revolving loan fund for funding campus sustainability projects. The guide also provides examples of campus sustainability funds and sample project ideas.
This EPA document outlines steps taken to set up Harvard University's revolving loan fund, and provides details, examples and lessons learned from the project.
Hidden Costs of Energy defines and evaluates key external costs and benefits that are associated with the production, distribution, and use of energy, but not reflected in market prices. It is a vital informational tool for government policy makers, scientists, and economists in even the earliest stages of research and development on energy technologies.
This article on Higher Education and building LEED®-certified buildings explains that it does not cost any more now to build a LEED®-certified building than it does to build a non LEED®-certified building.
Ben Barlow, with guidance from Andrea Putman, provides higher education leaders with a comprehensive handbook to financing sustainability with real world examples, creative strategies, and clear explanations of a wide variety of financial tools and programs.
This section contains links to financial resources on the federal level grouped into the following categories: Energy; Tax Credits and Deductions; EPA Grants; Green Building Grants; and Environmental Education and Training Grants.
This is a program to increase recycling of municipal solid waste, construction, demolition debris, and industrial materials in Region 5 [Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin].
This is a program to reduce solid waste and redevelop communities (including sustainable building), EPA Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and Tribal Nations).
This section contains links to financial resources including rebates and incentives, loans and grants, and certifications at the state and local levels. The resources are grouped according to the states in which they apply. Please scroll further down to look at some of the regional maps and information. Be sure to check within your state for local financial resources and share them with other users of this website.
Earn incentives up to $100,000 per site, per year for qualifying energy-saving improvements to commercial or industrial buildings. Eligible projects include lighting, air conditioning systems, plug loads and more.
The following links provide access to private financial resources that will be useful to colleges and universities interested in green building and other sustainable practices. Be sure to check these organizations' websites for new funding information.
Grants up to $75,000 cover planning and construction costs of residential green building projects, and are intended to improve the feasibility of integrating green building items throughout affordable housing developments. 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribally designated housing entities eligible.
Assistance to $5,000 for housing developers to integrate green building systems in their developments and engage in a serious discussion of green design possibilities. 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribally designated housing entities eligible.
This program provides grants of upto $5000 to facilitate the transfer design knowledge of Enterprise Green Communities planning and construction grant projects to residents, as well as operations and management staff. 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribally designated housing entities eligible.
The John Merck Foundation provides environment related grants that are not specifically green building grants, but opportunities may come up in the future.
The Kresge Foundation is a $2.8 billion private, national foundation that seeks to influence the quality of life for future generations through its support of nonprofit organizations in six fields of interest: health, the environment, community development, arts and culture, education and human services.
Challenge grants are awarded to organizations that cater specifically to the needs of poor, disadvantaged and disenfranchised in six fields of interest: health, the environment, arts and culture, education, human services, and community development. Effective June 2010, Kresge will only award capital challenge grants to colleges and universities building environmentally sustainable facilities.
The following links provide access to international financial resources that will be useful to colleges and universities interested in green building and other sustainable practices. Be sure to suggest additional resources that can be used in this section.
Richland College is located on approximately 243 acres of former farmland adjacent to the cities of Richardson and Garland. Sabine Hall demonstrates Richland College's growing leadership in campus sustainability.
