Funded Projects
Green Loan Fund
Laboratory Ovens: Two older ovens used for drying glassware and reagents in chemistry research labs were replaced by modern high-efficiency ovens.
Christmas Light Exchange: Strands of incandescent Christmas lights were collected by students from dorms across campus and exchanged for LED light strands.
Real Time Metering: For the Fall of 2011, the Utilities Department installed real time electricity meters in Notre Dame’s 29 undergraduate residence halls. Data from the meters are accessible to students through an online dashboard.
Server Replacement: Twenty computational servers at the Center for Research Computing were replaced with five new and more efficient servers which provide the same computational power. This project has less than a one year payback and will save the University over $5,900 in electricity annually.
Environmentally Friendly Dry Cleaning: In January of 2011, St. Michael’s Laundry replaced a 1990’s model dry cleaning machine with a state-of-the-art wet cleaning machine. The machine uses only soap and water to effectively clean dry clean-only clothing, avoiding the need for toxic perchloroethylene.
Autoclave Water Economizers: In September 2010, the purchase of water economizers for two new autoclaves being installed in Stepan Chemistry was subsidized, resulting in a savings of over 350,000 gallons of water per year.
LED Light Standards: During 2009-2010, 157 outdoor light standards were retrofitted with LED technology.
Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb Exchanges: During each exchange, CFLs are distributed to students in exchange for incandescents in dorm rooms and public areas of the residence halls.
- August 2011: 1,500 CFLs
- September 2010: 1,500 CFLs
- November 2009: 1,550 CFLs
- November 2008: 3,000 CFLs
- October 2008: 1,400 CFLs
Eco-Fund
The Eco-Fund has provided co-funding for the following programs:
BikeFest: This year’s BikeFest took place on April 29th, 2011. The event offered free tune-ups and bike safety information and encouraged biking as a sustainable form of transportation.
Power Shift: An environmental/clean energy support weekend in April 2011 where over 10,000 college students travel to D.C. The students heard speakers (Lisa Jackson, Bill McKibben, Van Jones), participated in a lobby day, networked and collaborated. Students also attended workshops and panels to learn how to lead and participate in the environmental/clean energy movement.
BikeFest: Last year’s BikeFest 2010 offered free tune-ups and bike safety information and encouraged biking as a sustainable form of transportation.
Food for Thought: A lecture and film series on food and sustainability, scheduled for Earth Week 2010.
Dillon Hall Light Show: An LED Christmas light show in December 2009 organized by the residents of Dillon Hall educated students about the efficiency of LED lighting.
BikeFest: The first campus BikeFest took place on May 24th, 2009. This event offered free tune-ups and bike safety information and encouraged biking as a sustainable form of transportation.
Marketing’s Role in a Sustainable Society: The third annual Marketing Symposium at the Mendoza College of Business took place March 26th – 27th, 2009 and focused on the relationship between marketing and sustainability.
Sustainable Seafood Certification: Notre Dame Food Services became the first major U.S. university dining program to earn chain-of-custody certification from the Marine Stewardship Council, the world’s leading environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed wild capture fisheries.
Green Fashion Show: The fashion show educated Notre Dame students and community members about resource conservation.
