Sustainable Initiatives Fund
Initiated in 2013, the?Champlain College Sustainable Initiatives Fund?(SIF) is an investment fund that finances energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainability projects on campus.
Decreasing Our Footprint
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Goals
- Foster environmentally sound technologies and practices on Champlain’s campus.
- Empower students, staff, faculty and administrators with opportunities to move the College toward sustainability and carbon neutrality.
- Ensure that beneficial and profitable green projects do not go unfunded due to capital constraints.
- Buffer Champlain’s budget against rising energy prices.
- Transform Champlain into a national leader in sustainable practices and demonstrate that sustainability can be financially viable.
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Management
The fund will be managed by a the SIF committee including:
- Director of Operations
- Sustainability Coordinator
- Budget Director, or representative of Finance Office
- Representative of Advancement Office
- At least two (2) faculty and/or staff members
- At least two (2) students
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Propose a Project
Project Criteria
The Sustainable Initiatives Fund Committee will evaluate proposed community projects on the following criteria:
- Promotes awareness and understanding of sustainability in education, campus culture, and behavior
- Reduces Champlain¡¯s environmental impact, directly or indirectly
- Encourages student participation, learning, and leadership
- Engages members of the Champlain community
- Uses funding cost-effectively
Have an idea for a project??Email us?the idea and we’ll give you feedback on how best to proceed.
Proposal Form:?Student/Campus Community Member
Proposals for projects are due November 1?and?March 1.
Physical Plant energy efficiency projects should meet the following criteria:
- Produces financial savings that will pay for the initial cost of the project within five to ten years; shorter payback periods are preferred
- Quantifiably improves the environmental sustainability of Champlain College (e.g. improved energy efficiency, renewable energy generation and waste reduction)
- Uses loan funding cost-effectively as measured by the environmental impact reduction per dollar
- Annual Reports
Funded Projects
Project | Leader | Description |
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Biophilia in the Classroom: Mobile Plant Wall | Julia Burrell, ’23 | For Julia¡¯s capstone project, she researched the benefits of having living plants in the learning environment. This mobile wall will move between classrooms and bring greenery to many spaces on campus. ¨C Spring 2023 |
Dublin Polytunnel Greenhouse | Stephen Robinson | Purchased a polytunnel greenhouse that was installed in the Fall of 2022 in the backyard of the Academic Centre. This will be used to grow produce for student consumption and be a great educational piece of campus. In the Spring of 2023, additional funding was given to purchase tools, soil, plants, etc. ¨C 2022-2023 |
Indoor Air Quality Analytics | Kylie King, SSB | Purchased several monitors to conduct indoor air quality measurements with Business Analytics course.?Students designed experiment and evaluated over the semester. ¨C Spring 2022 |
Hydro-Pi-Nics | Sam Johnson ’22 & Connor Merchant ’22 | Supplies to set up a small hydroponic vegetable growing system controlled and monitored by Internet of Things (IoT) systems as part of their ITS Capstone project. ¨C Spring 2022 |
Aquaponics: Ecological Elucidation | Kyle Harrison ’22 ENP | Supplies to set up a Aquaponics system as part of his ENP Capstone Project. ¨C Spring 2022 |
Submeter for President’s House | Facilities | A pilot to submeter electricity at the President’s house, which is currently tied to an account with several buildings. ¨C Spring 2021 |
Compost Design Challenge Prize | Robin Collins/Cecilia Pohlar | Prize for design challenge related to upcoming compost changes. ¨C Spring 2021 |
Electric Leaf Blower cost sharing | Lisa Martinez / Physical Plant | Covered 50% of two electric leaf blowers (responding to new City of 足彩胜负14场 ordinance banning gas powered leaf blowers). ¨C Spring 2021 |
Summit Hall, 396 Main Street, Rowell Hall Lighting upgrades | Tim Van Woert | A one-for-one lighting retrofit, installing LED bulbs in three residence halls. ¨C Spring 2021 |
Pollinator Garden and Apiary directional signage | Champlain Apiary & Campus Planning | In effort to draw more awareness to the pollinator gardens and apiary behind Perry Hall, directional signage will be added to the way finding signage in front of Perry Hall. ¨C Summer 2021 |
Laundry Drying Racks for Res Halls | Physical Plant / Sustain Champlain | In collaboration with 足彩胜负14场 Electric Department, this is a pilot project to see if we can inspire behavioral change in how students dry their clothes. We will be analyzing usage data pre- and post-rack installment to see if there has been a shift.? Racks were put in ten res halls. ¨C August 2020 |
Supported travel to promote and attend Project Green Challenge Finals | Hansel Carter IV ’20 | Hansel was invited to attend the Project Green Challenge finals as a return guest to create a reflective film about the event. ¨C November 2019 |
Community Garden Fence | Community Garden Members | Installed a permanent fence around the garden, to help keep critters out. – May 2017 |
Paper Towel Composting Decals at Lakeside | Lakeside Staff members | Paid for design and creation of decals for waste bins in Lakeside bathrooms (x6); worked with custodial team to have paper towels composted. – March 2017 |
Lyman Hall Lighting Retrofit | Physical Plants Staff | Upgraded all lighting to LED bulbs & fixtures. – Summer 2017 |
Pollinator Garden near College Apiary | Corinne Novetti’s Environmental Science Class | Planted flower bulbs and other pollinator-friendly plants along the walkway near the College Apiary, next to Perry Barn. – Fall 2017 |
Computer Lab Energy Monitoring Project | Physical Plant / 足彩胜负14场 Electric Department | To test energy monitoring equipment (SRLink) in a Champlain College computer lab to: a) Understand the full extent of the power needs of varying types of computer labs – when in use and when idle; b) Seek energy saving solutions that may be programmatic in nature. – Summer 2016-2017 |
MIC Ground Floor Lighting Retrofit | Physical Plant | Upgraded all lighting to LED bulbs & fixtures – Summer 2016 |
Bee-Aware Campaign | Champlain College Publishing Initiative | Funding for posters, brochures, film night – 2015-2016 |
ChampShop | Transportation Office | Funding for tools and basic bike mechanic room set up – Fall 2015 |
Apiary Viewing Window & Interpretive 足彩胜负14场 | Kristin Wolf/Apiary team | Funding for new window and interpretive sign design and printing – Summer 2015 |
Jensen Hall Lighting Retrofit | Physical Plant | Upgraded all lighting to LED bulbs & fixtures – Summer 2015 |
Anti Idling Campaign | Robin Collins’ Environmental Science class | Funding for awareness campaign, including keychains and signs.?Read more about this project here. ?– 2014-2015 |