The Office for Sustainability, Associated Student Government, and Facilities Management, the University of Arkansas launched a Green Revolving Fund during the fall 2014 semester.

All students, faculty and staff are eligible to apply. Projects must produce energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, waste reduction, or other sustainability-related benefits and have a simple payback of five years or less. For more information, or to apply for funding, please visit the Green Revolving Fund page. The Green Revolving Fund will be accepting applications beginning Sept. 12. All applications must be returned by Nov. 26.

Green Revolving Funds are internal funds that finance energy efficiency, renewable energy and other sustainability projects that generate cost-savings. These savings are tracked and used to replenish the fund for the next round of green investments, thus establishing a sustainable funding cycle while cutting operating costs and reducing environmental impact. The goal of the University of Arkansas Green Revolving Fund is to further engage students, faculty and staff in campus sustainability initiatives by facilitating an interdisciplinary living laboratory on campus.

The U of A joins dozens of other institutions, including Harvard, Stanford, and Arizona State University, that have implemented Green Revolving Funds. Examples of GRF-funded, student-led projects at those campuses are high-efficiency lighting, low flow showerheads, cogeneration units, photovoltaic solar panels, and greenhouse gardens for dorms.