Green Revolving Fund

Going Green On The Hill

The Denison Green Hill Fund is a green revolving fund (GRF) that was developed in 2011 in response to the Sustainable Endowments Institute’s Billion Dollar Green Challenge initiative. The college allocated an initial $1 million from its operating budget for projects that increase energy efficiency and water conservation on campus. The money saved by the efficiencies is then put back into the revolving fund to make further sustainable improvements. Since this initial allocation, the college has invested over $5 million into more than 200 projects across campus.

Some recent projects include:

• Lighting upgrades to LEDs in all campus buildings
• Improved HVAC controls and occupancy sensors for most academic buildings
• Timed light switches in the Library stacks

Review and Selection of Projects

Facilities identifies and evaluates energy-efficiency projects using the following criteria:

• Consistent with our carbon goals.
• Low implementation cost
• High opportunity for cost savings
• Estimated payback period
• Ease (time, complexity, disruption, etc.) of implementation
• Significant greenhouse gas emissions reduction
• Significant environmental benefits
• Significant educational/research potential
• Significant social benefit
• Partnership and collaboration opportunities within Denison and with the surrounding community
• High campus stakeholder buy-in and participation
• Ability for long-term success