Green Revolving Fund

Project selection

Facilities Management maintains a list of possible energy conservation projects, collected from commissioning reports and energy audit recommendations. Projects are either suggested by students, faculty and staff or are selected from the list of energy conservation measures. Each possible project is assessed on several financial metrics, unit cost per metric ton of CO2 abated, and its innovation and educational value. 

Reinvestment

Projects funded by the green revolving fund pay 100% of the savings it generates back into the fund until the project cost is fully repaid. After the project has paid for itself, all the energy savings generated reduce expenses in the utility budget until the end of the project’s lifespan. This financing mechanism reduces operating costs and ensures the fund will maintain a balance over time.

In addition, utility rebates for energy projects not funded by the green revolving fund are deposited into the fund account, providing a supplemental revenue stream to grow the fund over time.

Evaluation and monitoring

All projects undergo measurement and verification to validate estimated energy savings and ensure the long-term viability of the green revolving fund. By measuring energy use before and after the project installation, and accounting for weather variation, we can ensure that the project is working as intended.