Virginia Tech approves record funding for student proposed green projects

28 Apr 2015

A student fills a water bottle at a water fountain that has a bottle filling station — Every residence hall and special purpose housing facility will now have a water bottle refill station thanks to funding from the Green RFP program.

Five green projects proposed by student organizations will receive a record $111,000 from Virginia Tech to improve energy conservation and waste reduction.

The projects include:

Converting street lights to LEDs: This project will convert 32 streets lights on campus from traditional sodium lights to LEDs. The new lights will save energy and provide better lighting.
Expanding reusable to-go container program: This project will install new reusable to-go container machines in Owens Food Court and Turner Place.
Installing water bottle refill stations in residence halls: This project ensures every residence hall and special purpose housing facility has a bottle refill station.
Installing water bottle refill stations in academic buildings: Several academic buildings will receive bottle refill stations.
Installing solar charging table: This project will install one outdoor solar table that can be used to charge or power mobile devices and laptop computers.

The projects were selected as part of the Green RFP Program managed by the Virginia Tech Office of Energy and Sustainability. Every year, the office seeks proposals from students and student groups for sustainability projects that support Virginia Tech’s Climate Action Commitment, especially projects focused on energy efficiency and energy conservation.

The five approved projects were among 10 proposals from six different student organizations that were reviewed by the Office of Energy and Sustainability, the campus Energy and Sustainability Committee, and the Office of Budget and Financial Planning.

“This program gives students the ability to make a lasting impact to campus,” said Denny Cochrane, Virginia Tech sustainability program manager. “Their ideas will make campus greener for future Hokies.”

Since 2010, the program has provided more than $323,000 to 32 sustainability projects. Past projects include bike racks, low-flow shower heads, recycling containers, electric hand dryers, and additions to the Sustainable Garden at Kentland Farms.

This year, Coca-Cola provided $24,000 to help fund the Green RFP Program.

Virginia Tech’s Climate Action Commitment and Sustainability Plan, which was reaffirmed in 2013, commits the university to reducing greenhouse gas emissions; improving energy efficiency and recycling, and pursuing LEED Silver certification standards or better for new campus buildings.

For more information about the program, and to read previous proposals, visit the Office of Energy and Sustainability website or contact Denny Cochrane at 540-231-5184.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.