Past Funding Cycles
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Grant Making Committee is pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2024/25 funding cycle! The Committee awarded funds to 26 projects, totaling $204,800. Our sincerest gratitude to the student population whose fees make implementing these projects possible, and to the TGIF committee for their dedication to this great program.
See below for summaries of each project you can expect to see completed over the next academic year:
Accessible & Sustainable Refill Station ($1,905)
The refill station will provide students in need with hygiene and basic needs products, such as shampoo, conditioner, detergent, dish soap, and body wash, without the utilization of single-use plastics. The refill station is a student-led initiative and will be located in the Associated Students Food Bank.
Gas Water Heater Replacement ($9,800)
Funding will go towards replacing five (5) 50-gallon, 38,000 BTU/hr natural gas water heaters on campus with Voltex Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters. This water heater is the most cost-effective, energy-efficient option on the market, and meets Energy Star qualifications. This replacement will reduce natural gas emissions on campus by about 57,879 equivalent lbs C02. The funding will be used to purchase materials. Design, Facilities, and Safety Services (DFSS) will cover the installation costs.
Reducing Electricity Consumption in Hotplates Using Position Heating Blocks for Sample Digestion ($2,133)
The project aims to improve energy efficiency in laboratory operations by using position heating blocks for rock digestion. This is an essential process in geochemical research and requires prolonged heating to dissolve rock samples in acid for chemical analysis, consuming significant electricity (1–1.5 kWh per hotplate) over several days. By implementing position heating blocks, heating time can be reduced by up to 50%, resulting in substantial energy savings and improved efficiency. The funding will purchase the heating blocks and support their integration into existing lab setups.
The Garden Project ($2,000)
The Toddler Playscape at the UC Santa Barbara Early Childhood Care and Education Services (ECCES) on West Campus recently underwent a significant renovation. Last year, TGIF awarded ECCES the generous funding to create the Ecological Playscape for young children. This year, additional funding is being awarded to add four garden beds to the playscape. The Garden will encourage and develop the young child's understanding of the importance of caring for the environment and an appreciation of healthy food. In natural outdoor playscapes and gardens where children are involved in the care and maintenance of flowers and vegetables, they learn the value of sustained effort and learning.
Energy Efficient Oil Free Vacuum Pumps ($11,172)
The funding will be used to replace dirty, power-hungry oil vacuum pumps in the Marine Science Institute Analytical Laboratory’s isotope mass spectrometers with new, clean, energy-efficient oil-free pumps. One small oil rotary vacuum pump uses as much power as a quarter of a typical American household, and the Lab has three of them, which will be replaced. New advancements in vacuum pump technology have allowed the retrofit of oil-free pumps that use much less energy. An oil-free diaphragm pump uses ~ 80% less power. This equates to a 5,000-6,000 kWh reduction in annual power consumption.
AD&A Green Design Internship: Green Flash Bags ($1,551)
Each quarter, the AD&A Museum prints 4 large vinyl banners that are displayed on the museum’s facade to announce its exhibitions. While they have explored recyclable materials, current options on the market do not fit our required dimensions. To eliminate the continuous waste of these non-recyclable banners, the Museum has developed a series of tote bags made from the old vinyl banners, currently titled Green Flash Bags. Intended for sale in the Museum store, the production of these bags will jumpstart a larger Museum initiative to create sustainable merchandise out of repurposed materials. TGIF funds will be used to purchase a refurbished industrial sewing machine that the students will use to fabricate the bags. This durable machine will ensure the project’s success for years to come.
Hatlen Theatre LED Downlight Replacement ($8,695)
This project will replace the existing 30 recessed halogen-based incandescent lighting fixtures with highly energy-efficient and long-lasting LED fixtures in Hatlen Theatre. This replacement will reduce the electrical consumption of lighting by about 88% annually and reduce lighting fixture waste due to their longer lifespan, in addition to reducing cooling load in the space. The funding will be used to purchase materials for the installation. Design, Facilities & Safety Services (DFSS) is providing matching funding to cover the installation costs.
ICA Building LED Upgrade ($15,319)
This project will replace 117 linear fluorescent 2’x4’ T8 lighting fixtures with energy-efficient, long-lasting LED fixtures in the Intercollegiate Athletics Building (ICA). This replacement will reduce the electrical consumption of lighting by about 15,640 kWh annually and reduce lighting fixture waste due to their longer lifespan. The TGIF funding will be used to purchase the materials needed for installation. Design, Facilities & Safety Services (DFSS) is providing matching funding to cover the installation costs.
Electric Vehicle Charging for Student Families and Graduate Students & Expanded Electric Vehicle Outreach to the Student Body ($36,040)
This project aims to install 6 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging ports at San Clemente Parking Garage and 8 in Lots 65 and 67, next to West Campus Family Student Housing and Sierra Madre. These locations primarily serve graduate students and student families. 17.2% of graduate students who own cars own an electric, plug-in hybrid, or hybrid vehicle. TGIF funding will go towards EV charging installation costs, and a student intern to help with outreach around the electric vehicle charging stations. $300,905 in matching funding to cover the full costs was secured through a REACH 2.0 grant.
SNARL and VCR Landscape Tool Replacement ($7,400)
TGIF funding will be used to replace old gasoline-powered landscape equipment with more efficient and cleaner battery-powered tools and eliminate our greenhouse gas emissions at The Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL) and Valentine Camp Reserve.
Stormwater System Recommendation ($19,485)
The project will analyze pollutants and nutrients leaving campus via stormwater outfall to determine how our campus may passively contribute to local environmental contamination. A cost-benefit analysis of four types of stormwater management features used on campus will provide future construction projects with an informed recommendation on how to improve the quality of our stormwater per unit cost. The project will culminate in digital educational material describing how stormwater management features impact the local environment, and will expose student interns to fieldwork, analysis, and communications experience. TGIF funding will primarily be used to cover the cost of internships and sampling analysis.
Solar Camera Trap Upgrade for Sedgwick Reserve ($583)
Sedgwick Reserve is monitoring the wildlife at Sedgwick through camera traps. The images are used by researchers to train AI models to identify species, for staff to track wildlife, and for outreach purposes. TGIF funding will be used to purchase four new solar-powered camera traps that use rechargeable batteries and last longer under harsh weather conditions than the old cameras that use disposable lithium-ion batteries.
Cleanroom RO water optimization for on-site laundering ($4,000)
This project enhances sustainability by (1) upgrading the Reverse Osmosis (RO) system and (2) transitioning to in-house laundry for cleanroom garments at the Quantum Structures Facility (QSF) and the ECE Teaching Cleanroom (TCR). These facilities launder approximately 500 sets of cleanroom garments annually, creating a significant environmental footprint. Cleanroom garments require ultra-pure RO water for laundering. Switching to in-house laundry will eliminate plastic waste and CO2 emissions from outsourcing. External laundry services require transportation and high-energy cleaning processes, increasing emissions. An on-site, energy-efficient laundry system removes the need for double-plastic wrapping and reduces transportation-related emissions. TGIF funding will be used to purchase an all-electric, high-efficiency washer/dryer combination and upgrades to the RO system.
Waterless Condensers ($6,000)
Funding will be used to introduce water-free condensers into the research and teaching labs to replace traditional jacketed water condensers. The water condensers utilize running water to keep the liquid cool. The water passes through the glass, and the excessive water use is disposed of down the drain. There are highly efficient air condensers currently available to perform water-free usage to achieve the same efficient results. TGIF funds will be used to purchase and replace water condensers with air condensers.
Pool Covers for Recreation – small pool ($21,948)
TGIF funding will be used to purchase a pool cover for the small pool at the Recreation Center.
The investment in pool covers is a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution to enhance operational efficiency, extend the lifespan of the pool and mechanical hardware, and minimize environmental impact, benefiting both users and the facility’s budget. The pool cover is estimated to reduce natural gas usage to heat the pool by ~22,500 therms annually, resulting in a ~119 MT CO2e annually.
Comparing Outcomes of Two Alternative Transportation Challenge Programs ($10,650)
This project will launch a new challenge for UCSB students, faculty, and staff to increase their alternative transportation use and compare the structure and outcomes of the program to an existing challenge run by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG). This project provides an opportunity for UCSB to lower GHG emissions from commuting while encouraging participants to try new commuting methods and subsequently earn rewards.
Student Sustainability Project Dashboard ($7,420)
The Campus Sustainability Programs Department (CSUS) proposed launching a new student sustainability project dashboard. This dashboard will highlight past and current projects with strong student leadership. This will include outcomes and deliverables from past student projects to demonstrate the incredible work that our students are capable of when given appropriate mentorship and support for their projects. TGIF will be used for a student internship to support the development of the dashboard.
The Environment of it All Podcast ($12,200)
The Environment of It All is a student-created, run, and managed podcast that amplifies environmental research at UCSB by interviewing faculty and graduate student researchers about their work’s real-world environmental impact. The podcast serves as an accessible educational platform, bridging the gap between scientific research and the broader UCSB/Santa Barbara community. TGIF funding will be used to compensate the podcast team for their work, pay for podcast recording and editing equipment and space while campus spaces are being built, and create promotional materials.
Engineers Without Borders Solar Table ($2,000)
The UCSB Engineers Without Borders (EWB) student-run club is developing an outdoor solar-powered table, designed to offer a new shaded study area on the UCSB campus with integrated power outlets for charging electronic devices. The funding will be used directly to purchase the raw materials that EWB student members will use to manufacture the various components of the table. This project offers UCSB students a unique opportunity for experiential learning, equipping them with practical engineering skills that support EWB's broader mission of fostering sustainable solutions for communities locally and globally.
Fruitful Futures: Family Student Housing Fruit Tree Initiative ($1,998)
The project aims to plant organic fruit trees at Storke and West Campus Family Student Housing (FSH). The fruit trees will complement the existing food resources available in these gardens by offering a long‐term solution to improving the well‐being of student families.
Supporting Solar-sourced, battery-powered vehicles ($2,000)
Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) recently purchased a Ford Lightning Electric Truck. TGIF funding will be used to install a 220V outlet at CCBER’s Utility Building. A 24kV solar array powers the Building, and energy used to charge the vehicle will come directly from the solar array.
Costume Shop Laundry Machines ($2,279)
TGIF funding will be used to purchase Energy Star, WaterSense, and all-electric laundry machines for the Theater and Dance Department.
Facilitating Lab Optimization and Waste (FLOW) ($2,000)
FLOW (Facilitating Lab Optimization and Waste) aims to create lasting improvements in laboratory waste management at UCSB. In collaboration with UCSB Facilities, EH&S, and other student sustainability groups, FLOW is implementing infrastructure and educational initiatives to reduce waste and improve recycling in research spaces. Many labs struggle with waste mismanagement due to the lack of recycling infrastructure and confusion about what is municipally recyclable. In partnership with Facilities and TGIF, FLOW addresses this issue by providing free recycling and landfill receptacles, along with lab-specific signage to support proper sorting. To divert non-recyclable materials from landfills, FLOW has partnered with Art From Scrap, a local creative ReUse store, to collect lab materials monthly.
GGSE Learning Garden for Educators ($1,020)
Teaching with plants can increase students’ interest in environmental stewardship and a sense of ownership and agency. However, teaching future teachers how to implement and care for a “garden” that benefits students and the environment requires hands-on experiences. The “Learning Garden for Educators” is a self-watering planter that undergraduate, graduate, and teacher education students can use to develop activities and lessons on topics like pollination or sustainable food production. The planter will facilitate long-term observations of plant growth and health, engaging the educational community in discussions about topics such as the climate crisis and the role of environmental corridors, as well as experiments like soil testing, plant structures, and photosynthesis. The learning garden will be placed on the 4th-floor terrace of the Education Building. The funding will be used to purchase a large self-watering planter box, organic potting soil, and tools.
Solar Tables for Building 434 ($10,000)
UCSB Veterans & Military Services is in the process of expanding its patio area for students to include two additional SunBolt Pavilion Solar Carousel tables, which have solar umbrellas to provide cell phone, tablet, and laptop charging stations. TGIF matching funding will be used to help support the expansion.
The Green Initiative Fund chose 17 projects this year to help make UCSB a more sustainable campus. Sincerest gratitude to the student population whose fees make the implementation of these projects possible, and to the TGIF committee for their dedication to this great program. See below for summaries of each project you can expect to see completed over the next academic year:
High-Efficiency Laboratory Glassware Washer for Bren Hall ($15,167.6)
Funds will be used to purchase a new LEED-compliant Labconco FlaskScrubber laboratory-grade glassware washer, or similar, for use by students performing research in Bren Hall. This equipment is critical to improving water and energy use efficiency, and as an added benefit will accelerate environmental research.
Waterless Condensers ($6,000)
Funding will be used to introduce water-free condensers into the research and teaching labs to replace traditional jacketed water condensers. The water condensers utilize running water to keep the liquid cool. The water passes through the glass and excessive water use is disposed of down the drain. There are highly efficient air condensers currently available to perform water-free usage to achieve the same efficient results. TGIF funds will be used to purchase and replace water condensers with air condensers. The air condensers, such as those from Findenser, do not use external power to operate.
LED Lighting for the Image Resource Center ($5,234)
The Image Resource Center’s (IRC) primary space (the Center for Object-Based Research and Learning) is used for the display of and analysis of art objects by both faculty and students. The room only has overhead fluorescent lights. TGIF funds will be used to replace fluorescent lights with LEDs.
CCS Old Little Theater LED fixture trial retrofit ($6,450)
The College of Creative Studies will use funds to upgrade the lighting system in the Old Little Theater, a historical multi-purpose venue on campus, by replacing its outdated incandescent fixtures with modern, energy-efficient LED lighting. As a trial, this initiative aims to retrofit 8 of the approximately two dozen existing ETC Source Four Ellipsoidal fixtures with ETC Source 4WRD LED conversion kits.
Elings Hall Data Center Cold Aisle Containment and Energy Efficiency Study ($10,000)
Funding will be used to install ‘cold aisle containment’ curtains, whose primary purpose is to boost the cooling capacity of the Elings Hall data center that houses computer servers. It is currently close to capacity, as is North Hall, so this project will provide additional space for computing equipment that is used primarily in research (both graduate and undergraduate), as well as a few classes. Without it, a new air conditioning unit would need to be added to the data centers, at significant installation cost, and ongoing additional energy costs.
Environmental Justice For Engineers Workshop ($5,600)
Funding will be used to support a one-day Symposium on Climate Justice for Engineers that will be organized on August 30th, 2024 at UCSB. This event will bring together ~50 UCSB Engineering graduate students, ~30 summer undergraduate student researchers (e.g., from UCSB and from REU programs) and postdocs, and ~30 faculty and research staff from across Engineering, the Bren School, Social Sciences & Media Studies, and the Humanities. Guest speakers will present their work on various aspects of Environmental Justice relevant to major engineering research areas at UCSB. Participating Ph.D. students will be required to prepare a poster detailing aspects of climate justice related to their research to be presented at a poster session ~1 month after the initial event.
Environmental Justice Symposium ($3,950)
Funding will be used to support Bren’s seventh-annual Environmental Justice (EJ) Symposium in late May, 2025. This event brings together Bren students, UCSB undergraduates, community activists, and participants from other universities to teach and learn about justice and equity in the environmental field.
Edible Insect Initiative ($1,070)
Funding will be used to support the Edible insect exhibit hosted April 1st-5th at the UCSB GlassBox Gallery, with a reception event taking place Thursday, April 4th, from 5-7:30PM.
Lot 22 Electric Vehicle Charging Expansion; The Equitable Charging Access for Renters in the 805 region (E-CAR 805) Project ($30,000)
TGIF funds will support the installation of Electric Vehicle charging stations in Parking Lot 22. This TGIF grant would help cover costs that were not covered by the REACH 2.0 grant UCSB received for Lot 22 charging stations and installation.
Eco-friendly Painting Preparation Alternative ($50,000)
All buildings on campus have components and equipment that require periodic re-painting. Typically, old paint is removed using harsh chemicals that create hazardous waste. A new device from Laser Photonics has become available using a portable handheld laser that can remove paint and other coatings without hazardous chemicals or abrasive techniques that can cause air pollution. TGIF offered co-funding for the purchase of the Laser Photonics CleanTech cleaning and paint removal system. The applicants are currently seeking other potential funding sources to cover the full costs.
Campus Circular Clothing Economy ($500)
The Isla Vista Trading Post is a campus organization that has built and perpetuated a circular clothing economy within UCSB’s on- and off-campus community. IVTP members physically collect, store, and redistribute donated clothing at no cost to community members in need. Funding will be used to establish clothing collection bins in all 9 undergraduate resident halls, all 6 undergraduate apartments, as well as key community spaces in Isla Vista.
LEED Green Associates Exam ($2,500)
The LEED Lab class (ENVS 187 and ENVS 194GB) is guided by a LEED Accredited Professional, allowing students to learn and apply the LEED process through a collective hands-on effort throughout the school year. The funding for this grant will be used to offset the student cost of the LEED Green Associate ($100) by $100 total.
Commencement ClearStream Infrastructure Project Application ($4,084)
The current waste infrastructure at Commencement consists of disposable cardboard trash boxes causing unsustainable waste diversion due to poor signage and spillover from low capacity. New Clearstream waste bins will help provide a uniform waste infrastructure that helps waste diversion with visible signage and prevents spillovers. The funding will be used to purchase 40 Clearstream bin frames and lids (20 Landfill and 20 Recycling) which will have increased capacity and be easily monitored by staff with the see-through bins. The new infrastructure will also be made available for other campus events.
Expansion of Laboratory Glove Recycling Initiative ($9,903)
Over the last year and a half, the initial Glove Recycling Initiative program that was piloted by TGIF has proved just how many laboratories on campus use disposable nitrile gloves in daily research. The California NanoSystem Institute core facilities, MRL facilities, and a number of biological, physics, and chemistry labs have gone through nearly 3000 lbs of gloves since the pilot program was launched just over a year ago. With only 40 participating labs so far, there is plenty of room to grow this program and increase the impact of waste diversion we have already started. Additional funding through this TGIF grant will be used to expand the program.
UCSB’s Early Childhood Care and Education Services/ Ecological Playscape Project ($20,000)
Funding will be used to install an Ecological Playscape at UCSB’s Childcare Center.
As we confront the realities of climate change, there’s an increasing emphasis on sustainable practices across all sectors, including playground design. Sustainable playscapes not only reduce environmental impact but also offer opportunities to educate children about sustainability and nurture a connection with nature. Sustainable playscape designs positively impact the environment, rather than adding to the carbon footprint.
Associated Students Food Bank Seed ($1,000)
The AS Food Bank is offering free seeds, pots, and soil to all registered clients through their Seed Bank program. Over 5,000 students are registered to the ASFB and 1,200 to the Seed Bank program. This program was started in 2021 and has been an ongoing project maintained by the ASFB student staff. These materials are offered directly to students to help alleviate some of the financial burden of growing their own food. The funds from this grant will be used to supplement the cost of materials and pilot a closed-loop composting program.
CERT Club Backpack ($1,000)
This project consists of community-led disaster preparedness trainings offered at UCSB. CERT, or Community Emergency Response Team, is a nationwide disaster preparedness program designed by our Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program teaches participants a variety of skills, including basic first aid, light search and rescue, and fire safety, among many more. Ultimately, CERT aims to equip its participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect themselves and their families during a disaster event, such as a wildfire, earthquake, or tsunami. CERT basic training lasts 3 days (roughly 18-21 hours total). The funding will go towards CERT preparedness kits, which are gifted to all CERT participants at no charge. The preparedness kits consist of a CERT-labeled backpack, CERT-labeled vest, hardhat, gloves, flashlight, dust mask, and first aid kit. The preparedness kits are an essential component of CERT, as it provides participants with essential survival supplies.
The Green Initiative Fund chose 19 projects this year to help make UCSB a more sustainable campus. A big thanks to the student population whose fees make the implementation of these projects possible, and to the TGIF committee for their dedication to this great program. See below for summaries of each project you can expect to see completed over the next academic year:
Improving Sustainability in Isla Vista Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force ($4,500)
Isla Vista Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force is an ongoing project that tests the water quality of Isla Vista’s beaches weekly for the presence of Enterococcus bacteria. Testing sites include the UCSB Campus Lagoon, Campus Point Beach, Depressions Beach, Pescadero Beach, Devereux Beach, and Sands Beach. Funding was awarded to transition from single-use plastic to glass testing materials. Specifically, the transition will include the purchase of glass pipettes, jars, and an autoclave system.
SNARL Dormitory Energy Efficiency ($14,895)
Funding was awarded to purchase and replace the old and leaky windows in the SNARL dormitory with new energy efficient windows (Energy Star certified, gas-filled, low-e coating and low U-factor). This project is estimated to result in a savings of 5,522 lbs. of CO2 per year.
Reducing Energy Use and Sensory Overload on UCSB Campus ($17,950)
This project addresses the impact of human-sourced noise and light pollution and will simultaneously reduce campus energy use by reducing these sources of sensory overload. Excessive, glaring lighting impacts people and wildlife and weed control/vegetation management equipment noise impacts users such as neighbors and student housing residents. This project will address this by three means 1) purchase of battery powered (to be charged by solar panels) equipment for Cheadle Center Management of open spaces, 2) Intern team to work with us and Housing and FM/Energy team on identifying problematic lighting fixtures (free standing and on buildings) through day and night surveys of the campus areas adjacent to natural areas and use of secured drone photos, 3) Intern team to evaluate extent of issue for people and to educate people about dark sky work.
Surplus Sales Resale Catalog in Gateway Project ($20,600)
This project will provide the campus with a new resale interface for surplus property. The objective is to create a sales catalog for all UCSB property that is available for re-sale through the campus eProcurement platform, Gateway. The exposure to the campus community will reduce the campus carbon footprint by increasing the volume of property available for reuse and repurpose. The funding will be used to hire 2 to 3 students, part time, to set up an inventory system, and create a sales catalog that will be published in Gateway. The students will also work with our developers to create an automated surplus inventory system in ServiceNow.
Family Student Housing Swap Shop Restoration ($8,700)
This project will upgrade the current West Campus Swap Shop by refreshing and expanding the existing infrastructure. The Swap Shop is essentially a free thrift store for FSH (Family Student Housing) residents. The items are usually acquired from FSH residents when they no longer want something or are moving out. Money from this grant will provide upgrades to the West Campus Swap Shop and support 2 FSH residents as paid internships.
Capping the Cylinder: Securing a Green Nitrogen Supply ($10,000)
The Polymer Characterization Facility is one of the core research facilities in the MRL and is constantly expanding. A new differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) instrument was recently installed, and its operation requires both liquid nitrogen and compressed nitrogen gas. The compressed nitrogen is currently purchased in cylinders from Airgas in Ventura because the building does not offer house nitrogen. The new DSC will consume approximately 1-2 cylinders of nitrogen per week, depending on instrument usage. Funding will be used to install a nitrogen gas generator to operate two shared facility DSC instruments. The nitrogen gas generator employs membrane filtration to convert house air into nitrogen in a clean, electricity-free process. The nitrogen generator will eliminate the need to source out compressed gas from a company 36 miles away—thereby reducing overall operating costs and providing a greener alternative to compressed gas cylinders.
Solar Array to Support Research and Education at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve ($2,775)
The UCSB Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve has purchased a prefabricated 8’ by 12’ Tuff Shed to serve as a Research and Education Station (“The Station”) in support of the Reserve’s research, university teaching, and public outreach mission. The Station will provide Reserve users, university classes and public groups, including local K-12 students and colleges from across the state, a small, but enclosed, weather-proof space for conducting field assessments, inputting and reviewing data, servicing small autonomous environmental sensors, and reviewing imagery collected by drones or wildlife cameras. We will install a 43” 4K flat panel monitor to provide the ability to display a range of educational content. The Reserve has no electrical service. Funding was awarded to purchase and install four 100W solar panels and associated infrastructure to power the Station, and to purchase and install a single bank of energy efficient LED lights, an electrical power inverter and a storage battery.
Sustainability Through Equipment Efficiency at Rancho Marino Reserve ($1,900)
Funding was awarded to upgrade the washer/dryer at Rancho Marino Reserve. This project will help to reduce the energy use at the Reserve by replacing outdated appliances with newer energy efficient models.
Water Stations for Education Building ($4,000)
Funding will be used to purchase and install a water filling station on the fourth floor of the Education Building.
El Centro Arnulfo Casillas (Building 406) Indigenous and Native Plants Garden ($10,000 Matching)
Matching funding will help support the creation of an indigenous and native vegetation garden, including drought-resistant plants, to form as an expansion of the outdoor space at El Centro.
Greening the Environment, Greening the Plate ($5,100)
The Uhuru Gardeners is a collective led by African graduate students at UCSB which emerged out of the numerous difficulties that faced here over the last couple of years, such as invisibility, food insecurity, impoverishment, alienating curriculum, erasure, and isolation, all problems that the COVID pandemic accentuated. In May of 2022, the Collective secured a garden plot at West Campus Family Student Housing. “We cleared the land, used organic compost from overgrown heaps dumped in the area to rework the hard clay; we spent many weekends and weekdays in late Spring and early Summer erecting structures partly out of our own pockets, then planted our first seed. We put in uncountable hours almost every weekend and some weekdays, and by end of August, we had established a garden that no one had ever seen in the locality, boasting of daily leafy vegetables, ipwa, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs and a variety of other crops (grant application).” TGIF awarded funding for 2 Graduate Student Gardening Fellowship, garden materials, and Master class with undergraduates and UCSB Health and Wellness Program (Mallory Rusell).
Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Refrigerator Efficiency Project ($1,000)
Funding was awarded to replace a refrigerator/freezer at the reserve. The replacement of this appliance, which is over 20 years old, with a new Energy-Star model will help to maintain activities on the reserve and improve efficiency for the large number of visiting educational institutions and research teams.
Rebuild of hot compost stalls at Storke Family Housing Community Garden ($1,000)
Funding was awarded to purchase materials to construct 3 replacement stalls at the Storke Family Student Housing (FSH) community garden hot compost site. The wood was rotting over time in 3 of the 4 stalls at Storke FSH and it is imperative to have access to a fully functional space in order to continue to divert the food waste. Additionally, the Department of Public Worms (DPW) plans to expand the volume of compost received at this site with the launch of the FSH Composting Project also funded by the TGIF grant in the 2021-2022 cycle.
Isla Vista Food Forest ($1,000)
Funding was awarded to create signage, both physical and online, that name plants at the IV food forest, their contribution to the local environment, and their potential uses for nourishment. This database will also serve as an educational tool and as a roadmap for expanding and replicating this in neighboring locations.
Environmental Justice Symposium ($500)
Funding was awarded for Honorariums for the fifth-annual Environmental Justice Symposium, a hybrid symposium in late May, 2023. This brings together Bren students, UCSB undergraduates, community activists, and participants from other universities to teach and learn about the importance of justice and equity in the environmental field.
Providing Fresh Water for Heavily Impacted Graduate Student Space ($2,770)
Funding will be used to provide a new water station to the Annexed building 434.
Bat Garden at NCOS ($1,000)
The garden, which will be planted at the North Campus Open Space (NCOS), seeks to protect native populations of Bats. Native plants that specifically promote healthy habitats for local bats in the Isla Vista community such as the night blooming Oenothera Elata will be selected. Along with native plants, scannable QR codes on non disruptive signs will be placed at the garden. These codes will take scanners to the webpage being created on the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) website to provide information on this project to raise awareness and acknowledge collaborators and funders. The funding will be used to purchase the native plants and for part of the irrigation needed during the plants’ first year.
LEED Green Associate Exam Scholarship Fund (1,000)
The LEED Lab class (ES 194GB and ES 193GB) is guided by a LEED Accredited Professional, allowing students to learn and apply the LEED process through a collective hands-on effort throughout the school year. The course objective is to prepare students to take the LEED Green Associate exam, accrediting students in the field of green building and preparing them for careers in sustainable development. The funding will be used to offset the student cost of the LEED exam by $100.
TGIF Equipment Rebate Program (10,000)
This year’s committee has awarded $10,000 to the Equipment Rebate Program. The program offers $4,000 rebates (while funds last) to labs that recycle their old ULT freezers and buy an Energy Star model. The program also offers a rebate of up to $1000 for replacing old equipment (commercial refrigerators, washers and dryers, dishwashers, etc.) with significantly more efficient models.
The Green Initiative Fund chose 14 projects this year, awarding a total of $122,773 to help make UCSB a more sustainable campus. A big thanks to the student population whose fees make the implementation of these projects possible, and to the TGIF committee for their dedication to this great program. See below for summaries of each project you can expect to see completed over the next academic year:
UCSB’s Environmental Research Podcast ($8,870)
Funding will be used to launch a podcast highlighting environmental research being conducted by UCSB scholars. This podcast will elevate diverse researchers’ voices and increase science communication to the broader community. By educating the public on cutting-edge discoveries and areas of innovation in the environmental sector, this podcast will promote more informed decision-making to support eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyles.
The Human Crusade ($4,553)
The Human Crusade is an exhibit booked to open Winter 2023 at the UCSB Library Ocean Gallery. It will tell the story of humanity and the environment through a span of four large collage art pieces. The exhibit will provide students with a new perspective on climate change. TGIF funds will cover the costs of the art installations created for the exhibit.
Building 434 Rear Patio Retrofit ($10,000)
The TGIF grant will help the Division of Student Affairs remove and replace very worn and outdated patio furniture between the rear of building 434 and front of building 477 with five new SunBolt Marquee tables, three of which will have solar umbrellas to provide cell phone, tablet and laptop charging stations. Other funding sources are being secured by Veterans & Military Services (VMS) to cover the full cost of this project, which is around $42,000.
ECCES Pollinator Project ($7,000)
UC Santa Barbara’s Early Childhood Care and Education Services (ECCES) provides high quality early care and education to more than 300 children each year in two beautiful settings, the Orfalea Family Children's Center (OFCC) located on the west campus and the University Children's Center (UCC) located at the Student Resource Building on the main campus. The ECCES Pollinator Project seeks to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards while protecting our planet’s precious pollinators. The goals and objectives of the project include:
- To install and maintain native pollinator-friendly gardens throughout both Centers.
- To plant native tree species that provide important sources of food for pollinators in the spring.
- To become a certified Monarch Waystation by adding milkweeds and nectar sources to existing gardens.
- To provide hands-on, nature-based tools and learning opportunities to the children and extended UCSB community.
- To support learning about the environment and link between pollinators and food.
Family Student Housing Composting Project ($4,000)
This project aims to expand upon the existing composting program at the Family Student Housing (FSH) West Campus and Storke complexes. The existing composting program is maintained by the Associated Students Department of Public Worms (DPW). Funding will be used to purchase household composting bins for interested residents and for proper signage and advertisement of the program to ensure residents are aware of the composting facilities, as well as what food scraps can and cannot be composted.
Water Free Condensers ($6,500)
Funding will be used to introduce water-free condensers into the research and teaching labs on campus to replace traditional jacketed water condensers. The water condensers utilize running water to keep the liquid cool. The water passes through the glass and excessive water use is disposed of down the drain (~0.5 GPM). Depending on the size and use of the labs, an annual savings of up to 66,000 gallons of water is achievable.
COPR Electrification and Expansion Project ($9,577)
Funding will be used to electrify gas-powered landscaping equipment (replacing 15 year old energy inefficient equipment) at Coal Oil Point Reserve (COPR) and purchase a shed to ensure the equipment lasts a long time. COPR staff has been restoring the habitats degraded by early ranching activities for the past 20 years. The COPR reserve includes 170 acres of restored habitats and over 1,000 species.
9.72 kW Solar Array for Santa Cruz Island Infrastructure Project ($20,846)
The Santa Cruz Island Reserve (SCIR) is building two new staff accommodations, which will be entirely powered by an independent solar array. The new staff homes will provide living space for staff and will increase the support of UCSB undergraduate education and UCSB faculty research at the Reserve. TGIF funding will be used to partially support the purchase and installation of the 9.72 kW solar array to supply electricity to the new accommodations.
Sustainable Drinking Water Solutions at the Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserves ($6,138)
TGIF funding will be used to purchase and install 2 hydration stations at the Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserves – one at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL), and another at Valentine Camp Reserve. Both are field stations of the UCSB Natural Reserve System located in Mammoth Lakes, CA. These facilities are heavily used by students for classes ranging from Geology to the Humanities (each year over 3,500 university level students utilize these sites; nearly half of this use is from UCSB students).
Disposable Gloves Recycling Program for Scientific Laboratories ($7,850)
Many laboratories on campus use disposable gloves to protect their hands from chemicals and samples from contamination. The California NanoSystem Institute core facilities and similar research labs can go through hundreds of gloves in a single day, which then end up in landfills to decompose over the course of several decades—neither a sustainable nor environmentally responsible process. TGIF funding will be used for a pilot program to collect disposable gloves used in Elings Hall and Material Research Lab core research facilities, Nanofab, and the Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition facility, and send them for proper recycling using Zero Waste boxes.
The Carbon Action Plan: UCSB Decarbonization through Electrification ($16,819)
TGIF funds will be used to hire two graduate students over summer 2022 to to measure, verify, and analyze the fossil fuel burning infrastructure used by Housing, Dining, and Auxiliary Enterprises (HDAE) on the campus, to identify where changes can be implemented to reduce carbon emissions. Clean Water UCSB ($15,000) Funding will be used to purchase and install additional Hydration Stations in Residential Halls on campus.
Hand Dryers for Greek Houses ($3,600)
The Grant will be used to purchase 4 Dyson hand dryers to install in Greek Life chapter housing bathrooms to replace paper towel usage. By eliminating towel dispensers, this project reduces the consumption of single-use products. In addition, an electric dryer uses less water, and exudes less carbon dioxide in its lifetime than does the process of creating and disposing of paper towels.
California Art Museums Climate Plan ($2,020)
UC Santa Barbara’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum (AD&A Museum) is drafting a climate action plan. This grant will fund an internship position working with the AD&A museum to draft the climate action plan.
The Green Initiative Fund chose 16 projects this year, awarding a total of $151,620 to help make UCSB a more sustainable campus. A big thanks to the student population whose fees make the implementation of these projects possible, and to the TGIF committee for their dedication to this great program. See below for summaries of each project you can expect to see completed over the next academic year:
Alternative Decking Solution ($9,338)
The funding will be used to purchase an alternative decking solution called Steeldeck. Steeldeck is a platforming system that is used to create stages in theaters and for dance. Steeldeck platforms are made of a metal frame topped with plywood. The platform design is modular so it can be used in many different applications and is highly versatile. This Steeldeck platforming system will reduce the use of traditional two by four framed wooden platforms and wooden triscuit decks. Steeldeck’s wooden counterparts are far less durable over time and are more difficult to maintain and fix, which in turn makes them disposable. This project will save an estimated 10 tons of decking waste annually.
Sustainable Restoration Equipment ($4,748)
Funding will be used to purchase two Oregon brand battery-powered string trimmers and extra batteries that will be recharged with the energy supplied from the solar panel system at NCOS. The electric string trimmers will significantly reduce UCSB’s environmental impact by saving energy, limiting air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing the noise level.
Water Bottle Filling Stations for Education Building ($9,000)
Funding will be used to purchase and install three filtered water bottle filling stations in the Education building. The project will not only increase access to drinking water and reduce the need for single use plastic water bottles, the Department has also committed to discontinuing all of its water bottle delivery service to the building, which will in turn reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Lighting the Way to Savings with LEDs at UC Santa Barbara’s Early Childhood Care and Education Services ($19,550)
The Orfalea Family Children’s Center (OFCC) on west campus is lit by its original inefficient fluorescent light fixtures. Lighting uses large amounts of energy and costs a substantial amount of money each year. Funding will be used to replace fluorescent lighting with LEDs. This project will save an estimated 16,224 kWh of electricity annually.
Bren Hall Lab Corridor LED Retrofit ($2,619)
The proposed project will replace the existing compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) fixtures along the interior corridors of 3 floors in Bren Hall with LEDs. This project will save an estimated 6250 kWh of electricity annually.
Reducing fossil fuels and increasing solar energy at UCSB’s Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserves ($8,303)
The proposed funding will be used to purchase and install a high-efficiency, solar-supplied heat pump water heating system at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL). The proposed system will replace a very old (~20years) propane-powered tank water heater, which will result in a ~3000 lbs reduction in annual CO2e emissions.
Updating solar infrastructure on the Santa Cruz Island Reserve ($10,428)
Funding will be used to replace the solar batteries and inverter used at the on-site Director’s Residence, which are nearly 20 years old and in desperate need of replacement. Their replacement will increase the electrical efficiency of the staff residence and decrease reliance on carbon-producing backup generators resulting in a ~2500 lb reduction in annual CO2e emissions.
Connecting the UCSB Solar Grid to the Greenhouse and Garden project ($3,050)
The requested funds will be used to connect the greenhouse and adjacent teaching area to the UCSB grid via a transformer box located close to the greenhouse.
Comparative Analysis of Accredited Electronics Recycling Certifications ($1,579)
Funding will be used to hire a student for an academic quarter to do a comprehensive written analysis between the two existing accredited certification standards for electronics recyclers:
- Responsible Recycling ("R2") Standard for Electronics Recyclers
- e-Stewards® Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment© ("e-Stewards®")
Lotte Lehmann Sustainable Lighting Initiative ($10,009)
Funding will be used to continue to transition the existing stage lighting in the concert hall to LED fixtures. In addition to saving approximately 3533 kWh annually, this project will also improve the quality of light, and reduce the amount of labor hours put in by the department’s technical staff, as they will no longer need to work at-height in a lift to replace color gels or lamps.
American Indian and Indigenous Foods Garden Project ($7,438)
Funding will primarily be used for one student intern to help sustain the garden (The American Indian and Indigenous Gardens Project is a garden and community space hosted by UCSB West Campus Family Housing) (planting, watering, tending); coordinate and educate student garden volunteers; and plan, coordinate, deliver workshops in cooperation with our Chumash relatives on indigenous gardening practices (T.E.K.).
UC Santa Barbara Natural Reserve System Sustainability Assessment ($5,975)
Funds will support a UCSB undergraduate student intern, under the supervision of Katie Maynard, UCSB Sustainability Coordinator and the UCSB PACES program, to work directly with UCSB NRS Reserve Directors and staff to carry out a “sustainability assessment” of the seven UCSB Natural Reserves over the course of a one-year period.
The Sustainable Technology Repair Initiative ($22,624)
The Sustainable Technology Repair Initiative (STRI) strives to be an affordable, accessible, and sustainable technological repair resource in order to reduce digital inequality and e-waste on campus, launched as a pilot in 2019 with start-up funds from TGIF and the Office of Financial Aid. TGIF funding will be used for student salaries. The ultimate goal for STRI is to obtain a permanent funding source through a lock-in fee, which the student body would tentatively vote on in Spring 2023. In the interim, TGIF funding will allow STRI to continue developing from a pilot project to a fully operational permanent repair resource.
Isla Vista Theater 2 Lighting Retrofit ($10,510)
This project will upgrade the dimmable incandescent lighting system in Isla Vista Theater 2, which will provide better light quality, reduce maintenance needs, and be easier to operate for staff and faculty. The project will save ~6690 kWh in lighting energy annually. Additionally, the incandescent lighting system does not provide adequate light for note taking, or for events. The upgraded system will provide better light quality, reduce maintenance needs, and be easier to operate for staff and faculty.
Energy Efficient Window Film in the Intercollegiate Athletics Building ($16,450)
Funds will be used to install 3M Affinity Sun Control Window Film on all South facing windows in the Intercollegiate Athletics Building. Adding the 3M Affinity Sun Control Window Film will save energy needed for HVAC.
TGIF Equipment Rebate Program ($10,000)
This year’s committee has awarded $10,000 to the Equipment Rebate Program. The program offers $4,000 rebates (while funds last) to labs that recycle their old ULT freezers and buy an Energy Star model. The program also offers a rebate of up to $1000 for replacing old equipment (commercial refrigerators, washers and dryers, dishwashers, etc.) with significantly more efficient models.
The Green Initiative Fund chose 14 projects this year, awarding a total of $168,398 to help make UCSB a greener campus. A big thanks to the student population whose fees make the implementation of these projects possible, and to the TGIF committee for their dedication to this great program. See below for summaries of each project you can expect to see completed over the next academic year:
Healthy Beverage Initiative (HBI) Hydration Stations ($24,340)
TGIF is funding the installation of 6 hydration stations as a partial match to the 22 hydration stations that HBI secured funding for from UC Human Resources. TGIF funding, will be used to install hydration stations at Theater and Dance on the 1st floor of HSSB, the Baseball Stadium, EEMB in North Hall, and Sociology and Global Studies in SMSS. These are all student centered academic departments and athletic spaces with high foot traffic. The Healthy Beverage Initiative aims to support students, staff, faculty, and campus administration to reconsider beverage choices in terms of both what we are consuming and the environmental impact of single use containers.
Storke Apartments Electric Vehicle Charging Stations ($12,050)
The Storke Apartments Electric Vehicle Charging stations project will provide accessible, cost effective, charging capabilities within the West Neighborhood apartments for students, families, and visitors to Family Student Housing (FSH). Moving towards EV usage will help reduce the need for fossil fuels, especially as UC Santa Barbara and California increase the percentage of renewable energy to the electric grid.
Energy Efficient Window Film in the Ombuds Office ($3,382)
Funds will be used to install reflective coating on South facing windows in the Ombuds office, which will help to maintain and enhance both comfort and confidentiality, while reducing the energy required to maintain this environment. This project has the potential to reduce the incoming solar energy by 61% (source, 3M). The sun control window film also rejects 99% of harmful UV light while increasing privacy for visitors.
LED lights for campus plant growth chamber facilities ($17,050)
TGIF awarded matching funding for energy-saving upgrades towards two new plant growth chambers, to incorporate LED growth lights into the instrument design. The LED upgrades eliminate labor, bulb-changeout time, and the generation of mercury-containing wastes required by fluorescent and halogen lights. Furthermore, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions (57,700 lbs/yr for both units) and provide astonishing energy savings ($8774/yr for both units) as compared to the older technology which is default on these units.
The C3JN and UCSB Environmental and Climate Justice Hub (EJCJ Hub) ($13,800)
The Central Coast Climate Justice Network (C3JN) and UCSB Environmental and Climate Justice Hub (EJCJ Hub) have partnered on a scholar-activist research collaboration rooted in climate and environmental justice. The overarching purpose of this collaboration is to cultivate a practice of scholar-activism in Santa Barbara focused on developing research skills and leadership for environmental and climate justice. A newly formed ‘lab space’ at UCSB, under EJ/CJ, is the hub of this collaboration, consisting of undergraduate and graduate students and faculty from departments across campus. In this lab, students have the opportunity to work in teams on projects with organizations in C3JN, participate in a series of workshops on scholar-advocacy methods, learn more about key environmental and climate justice issues along California’s Central Coast, and receive guidance on making academic research publicly accessible, legible, and relevant. Funding from TGIF will be used primarily to fund undergraduate student researchers.
TGIF Irrigation Improvements for Pardall ($11,000)
Funding will be used to extend recycled water infrastructure to 17,540 ft2 of turf, and 41,762 ft2 of ornamental shrubs, that are currently being irrigated with potable water. This project will save 655,829 gallons of potable water annually.
TGIF Alternative Vehicle Incentive Program ($12,500)
This year’s committee has awarded $12,500 to the Alternative Vehicle Incentive Program. The program offers departments a ~10% rebate on their purchase of an alternatively fueled vehicle. Offering an additional incentive helps push departmental car buyers away from making the mistake of purchasing conventional gas powered vehicles instead of EVs/hybrids, or greener options.
Early Childhood Educators for Water Resource Education ($4,900)
TGIF Funding will be used to purchase an ENERGY STAR certified Lamber DSP4DPS dishwasher (estimated savings of 5,000 gallons of water) for the Orfalea Family Children's Center and to support water conservation curriculum.
Lotte Lehmann Sustainable Lighting Initiative ($23,961)
The Department of Music will use the funding to begin transitioning the existing on-stage theatrical lighting in Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall (LLCH) to a more modern and energy-efficient system. This is the first phase in a multi-phase plan to eventually replace each current fixture with a safer, more capable, and longer lasting commensurate LED instrument. In addition to saving approximately 126,256 kWh annually, this project will also improve the quality of light, and reduce the amount of labor hours put in by the department’s technical staff, as they will no longer need to work at-height in a lift to replace color gels or lamps.
Improving electrical efficiency on the Santa Cruz Island Reserve ($7,070)
As an off-grid location, the majority of the Santa Cruz Islands Reserve’s electric use comes from solar arrays or a gas-powered backup generator when solar is unavailable. One of the largest single sources of electrical draw on the Reserve’s solar power comes from outdated and inefficient refrigerators that support both research and class users, as well as staff. TGIF funding will be utilized to purchase six new Energy-Star refrigerators, transport the old refrigerators off-island for proper recycling, and transport of the new refrigerators to the island for installation. This project will not only reduce generator gas costs and emissions, it will reduce the cost and emissions associated with transportation of fuel from the mainland to the reserve.
Building clean energy, electric transportation infrastructure at UCSB’s VESR ($4,947)
TGIF has awarded matching funding for the installation of two Level-2 electric vehicle charging stations at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL) to support the growing need for clean low cost transportation at this remote UCSB facility. The charging stations will be available to all students, researchers and visitors to the reserves, where there is currently no alternatives for efficient car charging.
Autoclaves Across the Campus - Retrofit for Water Efficiency ($3,616)
Most modern autoclaves utilize a large amount of water, TGIF funding will be used to purchase and install WaterEco Basic units which drastically reduce the water consumed by the autoclave.
LED Retrofit of UCSB Recreation Center Tennis Court Lights ($27,327)
TGIF has awarded matching funding to the Department of Recreation to retrofit the current light fixtures at the UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) Recreation Center tennis courts with LED lights (OSQ High Output - 40L). There are 46 tennis court light fixtures over six tennis courts that are on from dusk to midnight. This retrofit will not only reduce UCSB’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 39,000 pounds CO2e annually, it will also save money for the Recreation Center from reduced energy use, and save time and money for Facilities Management from reduced maintenance. The Recreation Center is an auxiliary facility at UC Santa Barbara - meaning they pay their own energy bill from student service fees - so the efficiencies that come out of this project will directly benefit the students who pay student services fees.
CHESC ($2,475)
TGIF funding will be used to cover registration costs for 33 UCSB students to attend the 2020 California Higher Education virtual Sustainability Conference (CHESC). This conference brings in over 700 people from UC, CSU, CCC, and private colleges from all around the state to highlight proven best practices in sustainability. Topics include green building, energy, water efficiency, social equity, waste management, sustainable procurement, sustainability in curriculum, transportation, and more.
The Green Initiative Fund chose 19 projects this year, awarding a total of $187,864 to help make UCSB a greener campus. A big thanks to the student population whose fees make the implementation of these projects possible, and to the TGIF committee for their dedication to this great program. See below for summaries of each project you can expect to see completed over the next academic year:
CCBER NCOS Solar Application ($50,000)
Funds will help construct a 24.5 KW Solar Panel system on the south facing roof of a maintenance shed currently under construction on North Campus Open Space. Not only is this a high profile location with good opportunities for interpretation to the broader public, but it is also a significant contribution to campus carbon neutrality goals.
Electric Leaf Blower ($20,403)
The grant funding will be used to purchase 48 electric leaf blowers to replace all of the gas leaf blowers currently used on campus. The electric leaf blowers will significantly reduce UCSB’s environmental impact by saving energy, limiting air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the noise level.
Robertson Gym Water Laundry Conversion ($16,638)
Funding will be used to add an Ozone cleaning system to the two industrial laundry machines in Robertson Gym. This system will shorten wash cycles and allow all laundry to be done using cold water, significantly lowering natural gas, water, and electricity use.
IV Theater Lighting Upgrade ($10,635)
This project will upgrade the dimmable incandescent lighting system in Isla Vista Theater, which will provide better light quality, reduce maintenance needs, and be easier to operate for staff and faculty. The project will save 7,056 kWh in lighting energy, 2328 in cooling energy, and over three metric tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, annually.
TGIF Equipment rebate program ($10,000)
The TGIF rebate program encourages departments considering replacing old or buying new equipment (refrigerators, washers and dryers, dishwashers, etc.) to purchase the most efficient model. TGIF offers an efficiency rebate of up to $1,000 to departments purchasing new equipment and or replacing old equipment with an energy or water efficient model. The rebate program requirements, terms and conditions, and application can be found here.
Reducing Energy Consumption at Val Reserve ($5,221)
Funding will be used to replace some of UCSB’s Valentine Eastern Sierra over 20 year old refrigerators, reducing electric energy consumption. Replacing the old, inefficient refrigerators is estimated to save 8,692lbs. (or the equivalent) of CO2 per year.
Cambro Riser Stands ($2,180)
TGIF funding will be used to purchase stands for Cambros, the insulated beverage containers that UC Santa Barbara uses at events where food is catered. These stands will elevate the container so that standard reusable coffee mugs or water bottles can fit underneath, decreasing the amount of disposable cups used.
Isla Vista Trading Post ($1,300)
The funding will provide Isla Vista Trading Post, a student run organization that hosts community trading events, with a permanent location and baskets to enable members to pick up donations on bikes as opposed to cars. This organization limits the waste produced by fast fashion and has the potential to divert over one million pounds of textile waste from the landfill.
CHESC Registration Support ($7,560)
Funding will cover costs for UCSB students to attend the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC) July 8th-11th, 2019.
Food Cycling Program ($1,205)
To ensure the longevity of food recovery operations, TGIF has awarded the FoodCycling program funding to cover the costs of one year of routine bike maintenance and tune-ups, and a new bike, trailer attachment, and cooler so that they can continuously expand service to additional dining locations/cafes (i.e Tenaya Market, Courtyard Café, Coral Tree Café). TGIF also awarded funding to cover the costs of a workshop series on ways to reduce food waste.
HSSB Courtyard Solar Table ($9,119)
The TGIF grant will help the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts purchase one Sunbolt CampusXL solar tables This tables, located outside the HSSB, will use solar energy to power student devices, reducing the campus’s environmental impact and allowing students to interact with the tangible benefits of sustainable energy.
Orfalea Family Children’s Center Solar WorkStation ($8,819)
The TGIF grant will help Early Childhood Care and Education Services purchase one Sunbolt CampusXL solar table for the Orfalea Family Children’s Center. This will bring clean solar power to the children’s center while creating educational opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math for the children.
Fostering a Green Generation of student Athletes ($995)
Funding for this project will be used to support student leaders within sports programs of Recreation and Athletics to attend the PAC 12 Sustainability Conference.
Carbon Sequestration Study ($15,195)
This grant funding would enable studies at North Campus Open Space to include an assessment of the carbon sequestration potential. This project will help sequester carbon and will empower student participants through hands-on, mentored, research experience in the newly evolving field of “carbon farming”.
SSMS 2nd Floor Replacement Hydration Station ($3,000)
This project converts an existing hydration station on the 2nd floor of Social Sciences and Media Studies to the newer model. This model is more accessible for disabled individuals and allows students to fill water bottles more efficiently, leading to fewer single use water bottle purchases.
Sustainable Tech Repair Pop-up ($16,812)
The project creates a Sustainable Tech Repair Pop-Up service that provides minor software and hardware repairs of smartphones, tablets and computers for students. The goal is to reduce e-waste by increasing students ability to repair — rather than discard — technology, contributing to UCSB’s zero waste goals.
Hatlen Theater Hydration Station ($3,000)
Grant funding will cover the cost of installing one hydration station unit in Hatlen Theater to help students access water for their reusable containers. Installing a station in an area that currently has none will reduce that amount of single-use water bottles purchased.
Marine Biotech Lab Hydration Station ($2,782)
Grant funding will cover the cost of installing one Elkay filtered bottle filler hydration station on the first floor of the Marine Biotechnology Laboratory, limiting waste production created by single use plastic bottles.
Hydration Station for Education Build ($3,000)
Funds will go towards the installation of a hydration station in the Education building. This would advance the plan to discontinue having a water bottle delivery service in the building, thus reducing the building’s overall environmental impact.
UCen Big Belly Trio at UCen ($3,500)
Grant funding will be used to cover part of the cost of purchasing a Big Belly Trio for the UCen lawn. By replacing the current Bertha receptacle with a Big Belly trio, it will help minimize pest scavenging and increase diversion away from landfill toward compost. In addition to having a larger capacity than the Bertha receptacle, the Big Belly uses the sun’s energy to automatically compacts trash at the point of disposal, decreasing the amount of disposal trips needed.
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Grant Making Committee is pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2017/18 funding cycle! The Committee awarded funds to 21 projects, totaling $180,378. Below is a summary of the projects that you can expect to see completed within the next academic year:
Department of Theater and Dance Rehearsal Space Lighting Retrofit ($27,165)
Funding will be used for a lighting retrofit of the dance rehearsal space in the Department of Theater and Dance. This is the most widely used space in the department. The lighting retrofit project will cut the energy consumption in rehearsal spaces by 70%.
UCen Dining Herb and Teaching Garden ($4,287)
TGIF Funding will be used to help the UCen grow their own organic herbs in a container garden located on the side of the University Center. The garden will increase local and organic produce in a fiscally sustainable way, increase the visibility of food production on campus, and provide an educational opportunity to the UCSB community.
Reducing Energy Consumption at UCSB’s Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserves ($3,850)
The proposed project is part of a comprehensive energy conservation and generation strategy for the reserve. The funding will be used to purchase and replace 350 fluorescent and 100 incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs, resulting in saving of 17,385 pounds of CO2.
UCSB Bookstore LED ($27,935)
The TGIF grant will be used to replace the fluorescent lighting at the UCSB Bookstore in the University Center with LED fixtures. University Center Governance Board is also offering matching funds for this project. Changing the lighting in the UCSB Bookstore will save 72,663.9
kilowatt-hours per year, saving upwards of $10,000 annually.
Measuring and Reducing the Life-Cycle Impacts of Food Purchases by UCSB’s Residential Dining Services ($2,831)
The grant will fund one summer internship. The intern will work with UCSB’s Residential Dining Services to measure the life cycle impacts of UCSB’s food purchases by Residential Dining Services, using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework. The objectives of the project is to identify the food categories purchased by UCSB with the greatest sustainability impacts, or “hot spots”. The intern will then evaluate and recommend strategies to reduce life cycle impacts of food purchases, and develop measurable targets and a roadmap for more sustainable food procurement and sustainability information.
Model Offices for Sustainability ($6,546)
In the summer of 2018, the Geography department will be remodeling two office spaces — one new faculty office and one existing administrative office – with new carpeting and paint using their own budget. The money from the TGIF grant will be used to fund PACES (Program for the Assessment and Certification of the Environment and Sustainability) office recommendations that are not matched by the department’s existing budget. This includes LED overhead lighting for the 2 office spaces, furniture alternatives that meet criteria for recycled content, as well as suggested supplies and peripherals to demonstrate the department’s commitment to sustainability. By recreating the office spaces so that they utilize sustainable products, the geography office can serve as a model for campus departments to follow.
The Future is Electric: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Expansion ($12,000)
UC Santa Barbara’s electric vehicle drivers have unmet needs for more Level 1 Electric
Vehicle Charging infrastructure than we currently have in supply. Funding will be used to convert some of the existing 135 make-ready Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure already installed from Level 2-readiness to Level-1 functionality. Slower charging is less expensive to provide and increases productivity for faculty, staff, and students on campus parked for a full day.
San Clemente Pilot Composting Project ($1,830)
TGIF funding will be used to launch a pilot composting program in San Clemente Graduate student housing. Currently at San Clemente, there is no formal option for residents to compost food scraps. This pilot project will provide composting solutions to two of the five San Clemente villages, diverting up to 200,000 pounds of organic material from landfills over the next year. Funding will specifically be used to purchase 158 household composting bins to pilot the program in the Arrowhead and Bradbury villages.
PACES: Sporting Sustainability ($8,910)
Launched in the Fall of 2017, the PACES Green Event Certification Program offers resources and recommendations to event hosts for decreasing the environmental impacts of their events. With this grant, PACES will extend the certification process to sporting events, which are not supported by their current model. TGIF funding will go towards hiring an intern who can perform the research to create separate checklists, criteria for certification, and reference materials for sports teams, as well as seek feedback from key stakeholders. Additional funding will go towards covering the costs of AS Recycling waste audits for the first five sporting events that are certified.
Single Pass Cooling & Autoclave Replacement Effort ($20,000)
2015-2016 TGIF funded a single pass cooling replacement project. This was led by LabRATS who, with EH&S, determined labs on campus that still used single pass cooled condensers. While LabRATS were able to replace around 50 condensers, there are still labs on campus that have not made the switch. With this year’s funding, LabRATS will order additional units to further their replacement effort. LabRATS will also install autoclave ecosavers which can save 200 gallons of water a day.
TGIF Alternative Vehicle Incentive Program ($10,000)
Personal vehicles account for more than 25% of California’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs). An Electric Vehicle (EV) in California emits 4,000 lbs. of CO2 equivalent, compared to a gas powered car which emits 15,000 lbs. Making a transition to electrified or hybrid transportation is needed as soon as possible in order for us to meet global climate change mitigation targets. Unfortunately, EV/hybrid adoption in California (which has the highest adoption rate in the US) remains low. High upfront costs, commonly referred to as “sticker shock,” are often cited as common obstacles preventing car buyers from choosing an EV.
Funding from this grant will be used to continue our Alternative Vehicle Incentive program which offers incentives to departments buying electric or ultra efficient vehicles.
LEED Exam Scholarship ($2,000)
TGIF funding is intended to encourage students studying green building and sustainability to become LEED accredited by subsidizing LEED certification fees for students in the Environmental Studies Green Building course (ES 194GB).
Building Sustainability Leaders Through Green Building ($3,500)
LEED Lab is an undergraduate course in the Environmental Studies department that is designed for students interested in green building and sustainability. The objective of this course is to provide students with hands-on experience in LEED certification by giving them the opportunity to manage part of the project, communicate with stakeholders, draft feasibility reports, and analyze collected data in a team-oriented environment. The funding will be used for building registration and certification costs, so that students can work on feasible buildings on campus that are ready for LEED certification.
The Fly Project ($14,264)
The Craig and Denise Montell labs together constitute the largest Drosophila facility on
campus and likely among the largest in the UC system. Through a multi-faceted approach, this project aims to reduce the environmental impact and energy use of Drosophila stock-keeping practices. The central focus of the proposal is the replacement of standard refrigeration incubators with thermoelectric units. Based on data collected through the 2017 TGIF-funded pilot study, this transition corresponds to a reduction in energy consumption by 35,828 kWh/yr. TGIF funding will be used as matching funds to purchase and install two thermoelectric incubators. TGIF has also provided funding for the purchase of 8 foot pedals and reusable trays for the lab stocks.
CHESC Scholarships ($10,000)
TGIF grant will provide financial support for a group of students and staff from UCSB to attend the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC) July 9th-12th at UC Santa Barbara. $7,500 has been awarded for full student scholarships, and $2,500 has been awarded for partial staff scholarships. CHESC brings together campus sustainability leaders from close to 90 campuses in any given year totaling close to 1,000 people. This funding provides our students and campus stakeholders a chance to explore and learn from professionals in the field about new practices in sustainability.
Enabling Active Transportation; Bike Lockers ($3,289)
This proposal would fund three additional bike lockers on campus to support students and campus employees who bike to work. Currently there are 40 bike lockers on campus, which are well utilized.
TGIF Equipment Rebate Program ($10,000)
TGIF is piloting a new equipment rebate program to encourage departments considering replacing old or buying new equipment (refrigerators, washers and dryers, dishwashers, etc.) to purchase the most efficient model. TGIF is offering a efficiency rebate of up to $1,000 to departments purchasing new equipment and or replacing old equipment with an energy or water efficient model. The rebate program requirements, terms and conditions, and application can be found here.
Uprising Leaders Immersion Program ($2,000)
This project aims to provide students from low income, first-generation and/or underrepresented communities who have never had an internship before the opportunity of attaining professional development training and experience through a week long spring break immersion program. During this one-week training, students will be able to explore how they fit into the sustainability movement by exploring the intersectionality between their identities and its connection to the environment. The training will allow students to develop a short-term project of their own. The TGIF funding will be used to fund an intern to help with curriculum development for this new program.
Installation of Hydration stations throughout Campus
- SSMS 3rd Floor Hydration Station ($3,310)
TGIF Funding will go towards converting an existing water fountain into a hydration station. - Childcare Center ($6,000)
Funding will be used to install one hydration station at the the Orfalea Family
Childcare Center located on the west campus and one at the Student Resource Building Childcare Center on the main campus.
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Grant Making Committee is pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2016/17 funding cycle! The Committee awarded funds to 23 projects. Below is an summary of the projects that you can expect to see completed within the next academic year.
UCSB Energy Dashboard ($5,011)
Funding will be used to design a public Energy Dashboard hosted on http://energy.ucsb.edu. This dashboard will provide the UCSB community with real-time energy consumption information and will enable building energy use comparisons throughout campus.
Campbell Hall Lighting Retrofit ($18,160)
TGIF Funding will be used to retrofit Campbell Hall, the most widely used lecture hall at UCSB, with energy efficient, dimmable LED lights. The retrofit will include replacing 96, 100 watt incandescent well lights with 96, 31 watt LED, dimmable lights.
Optimizing solar energy at UCSB’s Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve ($12,720)
Funding will be used to purchase and install one active indirect solar hot water system for the dorms at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL), part of the Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve located in Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Scholarships for the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference ($9,212)
This grant will provide financial support for 50 UCSB students and 15 faculty or staff to attend the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC), June 24th to June 30th, here at our UC Santa Barbara campus. CHESC is an important gathering of key stakeholders from across the state of California who are working on UC System wide and state wide policies.
Food Recovery Pilot Project ($8,003)
The TGIF grant will be used to fund a Food Recovery Pilot Program on campus. The groups plan is to team up with a local nonprofit to conduct food pickups from the University Centers retail operations and deliver it to their distribution partner SB Rescue Mission (a homeless shelter in downtown Santa Barbara). Funding will be used for one year to implement the pilot, including the hiring of a student intern, purchasing supplies, and reimbursing volunteer gas mileage.
Case Study of -70°C ultra-low temperature freezers ($15,223)
This project will fund the purchase of two highly Energy efficient ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers that will then be run for at least one year at -70°C instead of -80°C in order to quantitatively test the quality of sample storage over that time. Turning up ULT freezers by just 10°C can decrease energy consumption by over 40% in some cases, and has been done successfully at several universities, but the evidence regarding sample safety over time is largely anecdotal. Two faculty on campus have agreed to use their existing -80°C freezers as controls and create duplicate samples for comparison in a -70°C freezer over a one year period. Following this, the old freezers will be decommissioned and a report of their results will be produced in a publication style that can be shared with UCSB Environmental Health & Safety, University of California Office of the President, and the national green labs working group. In addition to the $15,223 TGIF awarded this project this year, the remaining $18,050 from last years freezer incentive program will be used for this project.
Greening of the UCSB’s Children’s Center ($14.252)
The Greening of the UCSB’s Children’s Center has been awarded $6,000 for the purchase and installation of two hydration stations (to reduce single use plastic bottles) at the Children’s Center, $1,500 for Curriculum materials, and $6,742 to hire a Green Curriculum Coordinator. The Green Curriculum Coordinator will be hired on a part-time basis, and will promote environmental literacy by integrating education for sustainable development to the children, staff, and families.
Increasing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction of the North Campus Open Space (NCOS) Wetland Restoration Project through the Application of Biochar soil amendment ($18,085)
The NCOS Wetland Restoration Project recaptures coastal wetlands previously developed into residential and industrial areas. Reestablishing the wetland will help mitigate flooding issues and simultaneously increase the land’s ability to act as a carbon sink for atmospheric greenhouse gases. TGIF funding will be used to purchase a carbon sequestering soil amendment, call biochar, thereby increasing the project’s total GHG emission reduction. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance typically associated with biomass energy production.
Increasing Diversity in Greenhouse Garden Project ($5,715)
Funding will be used to hire a student outreach coordinator for the Greenhouse and Garden Project. The student outreach coordinator will design and manage an outreach program that encourages low income students to participate in the Greenhouse Garden Project. The coordinator will also manage a ‘garden knowledge’ program where students cultivate a plot at the Greenhouse and Garden Project.
Urban Agriculture Education Series ($5,185)
Funding will be used for an urban agriculture educational series run by the edible campus program. The series will highlight the innovative ways that our community and others are addressing issues through creative efforts to grow food in urban and suburban spaces.
Replacing Paper Towels with Electric Hand Dryers in High Use Restrooms ($20,729)
TGIF funding will be used to purchase 20 electric hand dryers to convert the highest use restrooms in Girvetz, Physical Sciences Building North, North Hall, and Harold Frank Hall. Electric Hand-Dryers provide a quick, sanitary, and waste-free alternative to paper towels. In addition, an electric dryer uses less water, and exudes less carbon dioxide in its lifetime than does the process of creating and disposing of paper towels.
Replacing Paper Towels with Electric Hand Dryers in Bren Hall ($6,193)
Funding will be used by the Bren School Sustainability Committee (BSSC) to purchase and install 4 hand dryers in the bathrooms on 2L and 4L in Bren Hall. T
Replacing Paper Towels with Electric Hand Dryers in the Library ($5,000)
Funding will be used to install 4 hand dryers on the first floor of the Library.
HSSB Courtyard BigBelly ($7,410)
Funding will be used to purchase a set of BigBelly solar powered recycling, compost and landfill bins for the outdoor courtyard by the Humanities and Social Science Building (HSSB). HSSB is a hub of activity on campus and houses events, meetings, and study space for UCSB students. Currently, the only outdoor waste receptacles are two Bertha 4bin cluster which is serviced by A.S. Recycling. Bertha 4bin cluster receptacles contain only recycling and landfill bins. The BigBelly solar powered bins have a much larger capacity than the Bertha bins, and these bins would have a compost bin, which the Bertha bins do not have.
Note: The BigBelly units were installed by lot 22 instead of the proposed original location
Max R Trash Can ($2,603)
Partial funding was grated for the purchase one set of Max-R waste receptacles for Bren Hall. Max-R waste receptacles offer a more efficient alternative to UC Santa Barbara’s current waste management system.
Sticker wrap waste signage for UCEN Compost, Recycling, and Trash Receptacles ($3,255)
The UCen is about to convert its trash disposal process from a 2 bin system with commingled landfill and recycling, to a 3 bin system. Currently the risk of people putting the wrong items into containers is high because the signage is not as visible as it could be. TGIF funding will be used to purchase sticker wraps for all of the cans to make it more apparent to people using them what goes where and thereby reduce contamination and increase sustainability.
Theory of Change research for Energy Sustainability at UCSB ($1,906)
This project will research and develop a Theory of Change (TOC) for engaging students in the effort to achieve energy sustainability at UCSB. TGIF funding will also be used to hire a student intern.
Nerd Night ($2,500)
Nerd Night is an event where faculty from UCSB give informal and engaging talks about their research in a laidback environment. In the paste, locations like Giovanni’s Pizza in Isla Vista have been used. Nerd Night raises student awareness of faculty who contribute towards sustainable research and strives to build meaningful relationships between faculty, students, and the local community. Funding will be used to cover the cost of these events, including the sound system.
Replacing Dissection lamps for EEMB lab courses ($2,550)
Three laboratory courses (EEMB 111, 112, and 116) share equipment including dissection microscopes, dissection lamps, and compound microscopes. The dissection lamps are incandescent, which are inefficient, dim, and outdated. The funds from TGIF will be used to purchase energy efficient LED dissection lamps to replace all of the old incandescent lamps.
Nepantla Techna Calpulli Student Project ($3,700)
The Nepantla Techne Calpulli Student Project attempts to design and optimize an open source bike-mounted phone charger. Funding would be used to buy parts and supplies for the design and production of the phone charger.
UCSB Student Health Patient Transportation Program ($5,000)
TGIF funding will be used to purchase an electric golf cart devoted to student transportation.
The UCSB Student Health Patient Transportation program is intended to transport sick and/or injured students seen at Student Health to their homes in Isla Vista or anywhere on UCSB campus. The golf cart will also reduce fossil fuel emissions since it is electric, not gas-powered.
Refrigeration for A.S. Food Bank ($6,000)
The A.S. Food Bank will use the funding to purchase and install two refrigerators within our lounge area located on the third floor of the UCen. The Goal of the Food Bank is to decrease local food insecurity by bringing healthier and more sustainable food options that are accessible for undergraduates and graduate students. Refrigeration will allow the Edible Campus Program to supply campus grown produce to the Food Bank.
GIVE Project ($3,071)
Funding will be used to purchase supplies for the annual GIVE Sale. GIVE responds to the problems of overflowing dumpsters, accumulated trash, arson, and discarded useful and recyclable goods by asking students to donate their reusable and useful goods The GIVE project mitigates the impacts on the university and Isla Vista community each June as thousands of students move out of their residence halls and apartments. The donations are sold and the proceeds benefit organizations and projects that improve the quality of life in Isla Vista.
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Grant Making Committee is pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2015/16 funding cycle! The Committee awarded funds to 15 projects. Below is an overview of the projects that you can expect to see completed within the next academic year.
Water Recycling System for Mineral Science Laboratories ($5,325)
Funds will be used to install a water recycling system in the mineral science research laboratory housed in the Department of Earth Science. The laboratory currently utilizes two gravity-driven ‘shaking’ tables (akin to large-scale automated gold pans) to separate minerals based on their density and hydrodynamic characteristics. The major drawback is that each table requires a significant amount of water to operate. The TGIF grant will be used to develop a simple, yet novel solution – to capture the used water, filter it (to avoid contamination between samples) and recycle it back onto the tables, saving over 380,000 L of water annually.
Edible Campus Program Student Farm ($38,006)
Funding will be used to construct a small campus farm that will allow students to learn and practice agricultural techniques that address social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability while at the same time supplying the AS Food Bank with up to 12,000 pounds of healthy produce. Funding will cover the initial costs of the farm’s infrastructure, including site preparation, fencing, irrigation, lighting, raised beds, and other supplies, and for a student intern who will oversee the initial implementation of honorarium trainings.
Bren Hall LED Lighting Retrofit ($14,821)
Funds for this project will be used to purchase LED fixtures for the interior Workspace, Lab Wing Corridor, and exterior lights at Bren Hall. The project also received matching funds from Facilities Management which will cover the installation costs. By converting existing fixtures to LEDs, Bren Hall will drastically reduce energy consumption and lighting costs. This project is estimated to save 39,795 kWh per year and reduce CO2 emissions by over 27,000 lbs per year.
Drosophila Incubator Replacements for Montell Laboratories ($12,343)
Funding will be used to purchase one high-efficiency incubator from Darwin Chambers to replace one of the three current drosophila incubators shared by Dr. Craig and Dr. Denise Montell’s labs. As the two largest fly labs on campus, the energy required for their space is extremely high due to the strict environmental conditions necessary for consistent drosophila culture. The new incubator, which utilizes relatively new technology, will sharply reduce energy consumption in the laboratory. This project is estimated to save 29,980 kWh per year and reduce CO2 emissions by over 16,666 lbs per year. In addition to the immediate environmental impact, LabRATS will use this project as a case study for the replacement of other energy-intensive incubators on campus and nation-wide.
Growing New Ideas and Fueling Inspiration through CHESC ($12,551)
This project will provide financial support for 21 students and 3 staff from UCSB to attend the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC), June 27th-July 1st at California State University, Fullerton. CHESC is an important gathering of key stakeholders from across the state of California who are working on UC system and state wide policies. Student fellows from the UC Global Climate Leadership Initiative and the UC Global Food Initiative will be attending, as well as members of the UC System wide working groups on water, climate, green building, operations, transportation, waste, food service, and more. This grant will allow students who are engaged in sustainability to attend this event.
Creating a Solar Campus ($7,492)
The project, proposed by two undergraduate students will examine the solar potential of every roof on campus. The majority of the funding will be used to hire a graduate student advised by Professor Keith Clarke in Geography, to conduct an assessment of the solar potential on campus. The information will be presented in the form of a project proposal and report, as well as an interactive map.
Mechanical Engineering Senior Projects focused on campus sustainability ($7,500)
The proposed project is focused on engaging Mechanical Engineering seniors to work on campus sustainability initiatives as part of their senior-year projects. The TGIF funding cycle and the ME189A,B,C senior project course milestones are not in synch. To remedy this, the TGIF committee is reserving funding for projects that juniors will define in spring 2016, and complete as seniors in the 2016/17 school year. Teams of students in the junior-year engineering design class, ME153, work on team projects. This year the focus of the projects will be on finding engineering solutions to sustainability related problems. Two of the 15-20 junior-year projects will be selected to go forward as the year-long senior design project funded through TGIF.
ICA Building Hydration Stations ($6,175)
Funding will be used to install 2 Hydration Stations in the Intercollegiate Athletics Building (ICA). This will reduce the amount of single-use plastic bottles on campus and in the community. With 580+ student athletes, staff, coaches, donors, and season ticket holders utilizing the ICA building, we estimate that with the hydration stations over 96,860 plastic bottles a year will be eliminated from the environment.
Composting Infrastructure at Sedgwick Reserve ($5,201)
Funding will be used to purchase an Earth Cube for Sedgwick reserve. An earth cube is a small, solar powered, in-vessel composter with a capacity of 250 gallons and a thermophilic composting process as low as 21 days. Sedgwick Reserve is one of the seven reserves managed by the UCSB Natural Reserve System. As it is in a remote location, there are no waste hauling services provided to help manage the reserve’s waste from ongoing operations, temporary occupants, and events. The Earth Cube will not only reduce the amount of waste generated by the reserve, it has the potential to be an educational tool for university students, researchers, and Sedgwick staff.
UCSB Bike Share Voucher Program ($12,343)
Funds will be used to establish a voucher program within the Gaucho Rides bike share program, vouchers (~$350) will help the department purchase a new, used or donated bike from AS Bike Shop, UCSB Bookstore, CSO bike auction, etc. The Gaucho Rides bike share program is a sustainable transportation option for faculty and staff to get around campus. Benefits to this program include: promoting health and wellness; increasing employee efficiency and productivity; building on local cycling infrastructure and culture; alleviating parking issues; improving our bike-friendly status; encouraging community comradery; and, reducing our campus carbon footprint.
Note: One voucher was given and the rest of the funding was returned to TGIF
Pardall Center BigBellys ($7,410)
Funding will be used to purchase a set of BigBelly solar powered recycling, compost, and landfill bins at the Associated Students Pardall Center. The Pardall Center is a hub of student activity in Isla Vista and houses events, meetings, and study space for UCSB students. Currently, the only outdoor waste receptacle is a single Bertha 4-bin cluster which is serviced by A.S. Recycling. Due to the open-top nature of the Bertha, rodents, raccoons and other pests have easy access to bin contents and infestations have developed. Capacity is also a problem, as the Pardall Center is too far from the rest of A.S. Recycling’s campus routes to be serviced daily. The BigBelly solar powered units are pest proof and hold a much larger capacity than the Bertha bins, and will solve both issues. In addition, it will increase the composting infrastructure at Pardall.
El Centro Hydration Station Project ($1,803)
TGIF funding will be used to install 1 hydration station in building 406, otherwise known as El Centro. El Centro is a heavily used student space that at this time has no access to any form of drinking water. This project will help to reduce the usage of disposable water bottles used by students, staff, and faculty that utilize the space.
American Indian & Indigenous Gardens Alliance ($3,299)
The mission of the American Indian & Indigenous Gardens Alliance’s Indigenous Foods Garden Project is to promote the well-being and health of the UCSB Native American Student. The funds awarded will be used to purchase the tools and materials necessary to build sustainable infrastructure for the garden space, which includes a tool shed, tools, fencing, and materials for the permaculture-style wicking beds. The garden will serve as a space for American Indian & Indigenous students and west campus gardeners/residents to learn about social responsibility through sustainable living practices via closed-loop food systems, to have an outdoor study area for indigenous foods to be integrated into UCSB’s Native American & Indigenous Studies curriculum and co-curriculum (under the Department of Religious Studies), and to have a means to develop a close-knit community for American Indian & Indigenous Students and allies, in addition to the Family Student Housing community through cultivation, preparation, and cooking of the foods grown in the garden.
Vehicle Incentive Program ($17,050)
Personal vehicles account for more than 25% of California’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) per year. An Electric Vehicle (EV) in California emits 4,000 lbs. of CO2 equivalent, compared to a gas powered car which emits 15,000 lbs. making a transition to electrified or hybrid transportation is needed as soon as possible in order for us to meet global climate change mitigation targets. Unfortunately, EV/hybrid adoption in California (which has the highest adoption rate in the US) remains low. High upfront costs, commonly referred to as “sticker shock,” are often cited as common obstacles preventing car buyers from choosing an EV.
A TGIF Vehicle Incentive Program (VIP) is being established to address this issue. Offering an additional incentive will push departmental car buyers away from making the mistake of purchasing conventional gas powered vehicles instead of EVs/hybrids or greener options. Criteria is currently being developed to determine the incentive amount that will be offered for each EV vehicle. The incentive per EV will range between $2-5k depending on the make and model.
Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer Replacement project ($20,050)
This grant will be used to provide monetary incentives to laboratories on campus to replace old Ultra Low Temperature (ULT) freezers with new, energy efficient ULT freezers. The new freezers consume about one third to half the amount of power of the old freezers.
The TGIF committee is offering a $3,000 incentive for labs to purchase new Stirling Ultracold freezers to replace existing freezers. We are also offering a $1,000 incentive to purchase new Thermo Fisher TSX600D freezers, which are slightly less energy efficient than the Stirling freezers, but still far more energy efficient than conventional freezers.
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Grant Making Committee is pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2014/15 funding cycle! The Committee awarded funds to 15 projects, totaling $ $138,950. Below is an overview of the projects that you can expect to see completed within the next academic year.
Single Pass cooling system replacement ($ 24,994)
This project led by LabRATS involves the removal of 41 Single Pass cooling system from the Chemistry and Materials Research laboratories which will be replaced by closed loop cooling systems that recirculate the water instead of disposing it down the drain. The project also received $10,000 in matching funds from be smart about safety to replace these systems. Single pass cooling systems circulate water once through a piece of equipment and then dispose it down the drain. These systems tend to flow constantly at 1-2 gallons per minute so a lab can consume up to 1,000,000 gallons per year if left on continuously. Reducing single-pass or once-through cooling provides an opportunity for significant water savings.
Lab composting pilot ($ 2,500)
Currently, laboratories at UCSB send their waste to the landfill instead of composting it. LabRATS will use these funds to help initiate a program to compost animal bedding from the Animal Research Center (ARC) in the biology II building. In order for the researchers to transfer the animal bedding to the compost dumpster they would need to lift the toter up and into the dumpster. With up to 700 pounds of animal bedding in a red toter this can be difficult. The Grant will be used to purchase one dumpster lifter to transport the animal bedding into the compost dumpster corral. Roughly 700 pounds of compostable waste are created weekly by UCSB laboratories. Instead of releasing methane by rotting in a landfill, compostable waste can be transformed into nutrient rich soil at a composting plant.
Recreation Center Aquatics Pool Deck LED Retrofit ($16,935)
Funds for this project will be used to retrofit 13 Recreation Center Aquatics Pool Deck LED fixtures. The project also received $15,000 in matching funds from the Recreation Center. By converting existing fixtures to LEDs the Recreation Center hopes to reduce energy consumption and outdoor lighting costs by at least 50 percent annually. This LED retrofit project aims to help move the campus towards our 2025 carbon neutrality goal with an estimated aggregate reduction equivalent of at least 7365.9 lbs of CO2 and 10139.3 kWh annually.
Lighting Retrofit for UCen 2/MCC Building ($40,244)
TGIF funding will allow PowerSave Campus, a student-driven organization that generates actual energy savings and increases awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability to facilitate a lighting retrofit of the University Center 2 here at UC Santa Barbara. The replacement of all Halogen bulbs with LEDs is estimated to save the University 47,351 kilowatt-hours and $5,208.61 annually. Using significantly less energy will reduce the amount of GHGs emitted throughout the process of energy production.
Growing New Ideas and Fueling Inspiration through CHESC ($7,840)
This project will provide financial support for 12 students from UCSB to attend the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC), July 20th-24t, 2015 at San Francisco State University. CHESC is an important gathering of key stakeholders from across the state of California who are working on UC System wide and state wide policies. Student fellows from the UC Global Climate Leadership Initiative and the UC Global Food Initiative will be attending, members of the UC System wide working groups on water, climate, green building, operations, transportation, waste, food service and more will be gathering as well. This grant will allow students who are engaged in sustainability to attend this event.
A Road Map to Climate Neutrality ($5,448)
UCSB Bren master’s students will collaborate with campus staff to develop an optimal roadmap and timetable for achieving carbon neutrality at UCSB by 2025.The students will work closely with UCSB Utility and Energy Services, the Chancellor’s Sustainability Committee Subcommittees on Alternative Energy, and the Subcommittee on Coordination of System wide Initiatives. The students will work through the summer to collect information on different strategies for achieving carbon neutrality which will include an analysis of the associated costs and will provide recommendations to the campus on how the campus might best achieve carbon neutrality.
LEED Exam Scholarship ($5,000)
This grant will encourage students studying green building and sustainability to become LEED accredited by partially subsidizing the LEED certification fees for students in the Environmental Studies Green Building course. Although this grant is aimed toward students in the Environmental Studies Green Building course, other student who are interested in taking the exam are eligible to able to apply for the scholarship. The vision for this grant is to expand upon the scope of student study by reducing the monetary obligation of the LEED exam, which often acts as a deterrent of taking the exam. This project is student run, and will be directly benefitting prospective green building students.
Electric Hand dryers ($4,612)
The Grant will be used to purchase and install Dyson Airblade electric hand dryers in the restrooms adjacent to the central courtyard of Bren Hall. Electric Hand-Dryers provide a quick, sanitary, and waste-free alternative to paper towels. By eliminating towel dispensers in the first floor restrooms, this project eliminates the opportunity to mindlessly consume single-use products. In addition, an electric dryer uses less water, and exudes less carbon dioxide in its lifetime than does the process of creating and disposing of paper towels.
Campus Climate Impact Assessment Analysis ($4,437)
The Project, proposed by two undergraduate students will provide information about vulnerable areas and habitat within UCSB campus boundaries, including Devereux Slough that will require the most attention in order to combat the issues of climate change and rising sea levels. This information will be presented in the form of a project proposal and report, as well as an interactive map.
Bertha Labels and Bin Upgrades ($7,661)
This grant was awarded to Associated Students Recycling to purchase and install 100 updated recycling labels and 100 updated landfill labels for the Berthas on campus. As well as 100 new bins for the interior of the Berthas. Berthas are 4-slot beige outdoor recycling and landfill receptacles that are serviced by AS Recycling and Facilities. The new labels will increase the clarity of UCSB’s current waste infrastructure, which will help UCSB staff, students, and faculty sort their waste more appropriately. Better sorting of waste will increase UCSB’s diversion rate, which will help UCSB move to meet the UC goal of producing zero waste by 2020. Replacing the Bertha bins will help control the campus rodent infestation.
New Banner Signs & CalFresh EBT Card Reader at the Gaucho Certified Farmers Market ($2,907)
Part of this Grant will be used to purchase updated banner signage for the Gaucho U Farmers Market. The current banners have the former location of the market and need to be replaced. Banners will have updated information on the location, and the CalFresh program. The other part of the grant will be used to purchase Eco-tokens, which help to reduce the stigma associated with food assistance by utilizing a Card Reader that serves all shoppers with a card in exchange for tokens, the equivalent to cash with vendors.
Library Waste Infrastructure Update ($10,706)
This funding will be used to update the waste infrastructure in the Davidson Library with one style of matching waste receptacles for recycling and landfill complete with signage. Currently, the Library at UCSB has over 10 different styles waste receptacles, totaling over 140 all together with limited signage, which is also outdated. With over one million visitors each year, the Library is the most visited building on campus, and as a result is the largest single generator of landfill waste at the university, largely due to the inadequate and confusing waste infrastructure. This project will help UCSB recover more recyclable material since majority of the waste disposed at the Library is recyclable, such as bottles, cans, and paper.
LED Lighting Replacement in Career services Workshop Room ($5,376)
This Grant will be used to replacement current hanging fluorescent lighting in Workshop Room 1109 in the Career Services Department. This room is used extensively by students for all of Career services quarterly workshops on interviewing, cover letters, resumes, employer info sessions, classroom presentations, careers-in series, internships, employer recruitment/hiring, etc. The project will have substantial Energy savings and will help to reduce our campuses GHG emissions.
Using Microbial Indicators to Assess the Biological Function of Stormwater Wetlands and Bioswales ($650)
TGIF has decided to fund a student intern to aid in field sampling and lab analysis (1 intern, for 2 quarters) for this project which is aimed at developing approaches to assess nutrient removal in wetlands and bioswales.
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Grant Making Committee is pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2013/14 funding cycle! A total of 22 projects applied for TGIF grants this year, requesting a total of $264,802. The TGIF Grant Making Committee awarded funds to projects, totaling $184,614. Below is an overview of the projects that you can expect to see completed within the next academic year.
Additional Hydration stations for the UCSB Library ($4,241)
This TGIF grant will go towards the installation of two additional hydration stations in the Library. During the 2011-12 funding cycle, TGIF funded 22 hydration stations, where students can fill up their reusable bottles with filtered water for free! The 2011-2012 funded hydration stations installed in the library are so popular that they are currently being used beyond their planned capacity and, consequently, have slow flows delivering reverse osmosis and filtered water. TGIF hopes that funding additional hydration stations will help to decrease the amount of plastic waste generated on campus and yield energy savings by eliminating chillers in each water fountain.
Art Department LED Retrofit ($25,995)
The funding will be used to retrofit the Art Department Studios and Museum by replacing inefficient incandescent lamps with a total of 542 LED lamps. This will require a total of $25,995 allotted from The Green Initiative Fund. This grant will increase campus energy efficiency and reduce UCSB’s environmental impact. LEDs are estimated to have a 90% higher efficiency rating over incandescents, so this project will result in huge energy savings in the Art Department. Current energy use is just over 111,000kWh per year for 542 incandescent bulbs. Once we replace these with LEDs, usage will drop to 15,000kWh per year. Savings per year translate to 96,000kWh of energy, 66,000lbs of CO2, and $12,500. Over the average lifespan of an LED bulb (50,000 hours or about 17 years), this equals 1.5million kWh, 500 metric tons of CO2, and more than $200,000 in savings. Less money towards lighting over time means more funds for other necessities on campus that may be undervalued.
Indoor Compost Bin Project ($3,812)
Associated Students Recycling will be adding 23 gallon compost bins to department kitchens and lounges around campus. The goal is to capture the large number of low volume food and compostable products that are currently being discarded in landfill bins. The goal of this project is to reduce UCSB’s impact on the environment by reducing the amount of waste it sends to the landfill and subsequent GHG emissions, and to save the University money by reducing disposal costs.
Mercury Free Fluorescent Microscopy ($17,581)
This project will reduce waste and provide a demonstration to the campus that mercury free illumination can be used successfully in research and teaching applications. The NRI-MCDB Microscopy Facility plans to replace two of the eight mercury arc sources that are traditionally used as high intensity light sources for fluorescence microscopy with solid state light engines that do not contain mercury. Integrating the light sources into this core facility will be the best exposure for this alternative light source, as well as immediately reducing the generation of waste from the systems. This project could have a lasting impact on the choices researchers and educators make when selecting new instrumentation.
Give Project ($8,375)
The funds will be used for the purchase of items badly needed to successfully process, collect, protect, and display over 30 tons of donated goods. From June 13th-22nd, residents can donate unwanted food, clothing, furniture, books, and electronics to several site locations throughout campus and IV. Ninety percent of the items collected come from students. Volunteers sort and organize the donated goods to prepare for the GIVE sale at Embarcadero Hall on June 23rd & 24th. The proceeds generated from this project are given to local Isla Vista non-profits.
The First Net-Zero Energy Building for UCSB ($20,000)
The Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL) is in the process of designing a new fully-funded classroom/lecture hall for its facility near Mammoth Lakes, CA. The project objective is to make the building a “net-zero” consumer of fossil fuel by employing photovoltaic energy generation and ground source (aka geothermal heat loop) heating and cooling.Donor funding has been secured for 85% of funds needed to install the two energy systems and the TGIF Grant will cover the remaining 15% of the cost of the 15 kW PV and ground source heating/cooling systems. This will be the first “net-zero” energy building in the University of CA. We hope this project will encourage others to adopt this sustainable technology.
Vermicompost Bin Project ($4025)
The Associated Students Department of Public Worms (DPW) is a student-run organization that works to reduce UCSB’s compostable waste through on-site vermicomposting and that conducts workshops designed to teach students the benefits of composting and how to do it at home. The TGIF funds will be used to purchase materials for the construction of 3 4’x8’ worm bins, to purchase composting worms to stock the bins, and to print vermicomposting guides and fact sheets. Additional bins will also allow DPW to increase the amount of compostable waste that can be processed on site, keeping it out of landfills and avoiding the transportation impacts associated with commercial composting. New bins will also improve outreach potential by allowing visitors to view all stages of the process and by providing finished compost to the UCSB community.
Energy Conservation Initiative ($30,000)
Approximately one half of UCSB’s daily energy demand supports the operation and ventilation of campus research laboratories. Due to the complexity of lab operations, only scattered work has been done in recent years to optimize campus lab ventilation, and no coordinated projects or campus-wide policy exists. This project proposes to provide 1 000 hours of experienced staff researcher time to assess and implement new strategies for energy-efficient laboratory ventilation in existing and new campus lab buildings. At other UC campuses, lab building energy costs have been cut by as much as 61%, utilizing demand-controlled ventilation schemes, chemical hazard assessments, occupancy sensors, and low-flow fumehoods and also obtaining variances from CalOSHA and fire marshal standards to operate these labs using newer, non-traditional safety technologies. Such measures present potential savings for UCSB on the order of $2-3 million, as well as significantly decreasing energy, water, and carbon footprints. This proposal has secured matching funds from Facilities Management, approved by the vice Chancellor of Administrative Services, demonstrating concrete support of this project.
My Tree Keeper and Invasive Species Mapping Project ($15,201)
This project will build on more than $90,000 invested in the Campus Flora project by upgrading the Facilities Management program to “MyTreeKeeper.” Mapping the exotic species in an effort to form a weed management plan may decrease the colonization rate of invasive species on campus and help to maintain a more sustainable habitat for the native flora and fauna that occupy UCSB’s natural areas. The Treekeeper 7 information is currently not available to the public. The MyTreekeeper upgrade will educate the public about our special and diverse tree specimens and the sustainable and low impact practices they serve on campus. It offers user-friendly navigation and includes tools that measure Yearly Eco Benefits, Greenhouse Gas, Water, Energy, and Air Quality benefits of campus trees. Additionally, this grant will provides a skill building opportunity through the funding of a two quarter undergraduate student internship for the mapping component of the project, and a graduate student internship which will provide technical writing experience through the preparation of the weed management plan under the CCBER Director of Ecosystem Management.
UCSB Energy Management Initiative ($16,137)
UCSB Bren master’s students will collaborate with campus staff to develop an Energy Management Initiative implementation plan for the Campus. The Bren master’s students will develop an implementation plan for the eventual roll out of the Energy Management Initiative, which will be a user-based incentive model that will enable energy conservation within academic units at UCSB. If successful, this initiative could reduce energy use at the building level by 10-15% by incentivizing improvement in user behavior through education, outreach, and financial incentives
Office Desk side Recycling Bins ($17,900)
As 2020 rapidly approaches, UCSB must continue to make advancements in its waste management practices in order to meet the UC-wide goal of Zero Waste by 2020. One of the key elements of becoming a Zero Waste institution is establishing a high recycling rate on campus. The funding will be used to purchase 5,000 new recycling bins for offices throughout campus. Adding recycling bins in offices will directly increase the accessibility of recycling for many people on campus, and in turn, will increase UCSB’s waste diversion rate and allow the University to meet its waste management goals.
Lithium-Battery Powered Lawnmower ($7,487)
This grant is for the purchase of the first electric lawnmower for the Facilities Management (FM) Grounds Department. The EPA states that gas mowers are responsible for nearly 5% of our nation’s total air pollution, and that over 800 million gallons of gasoline are consumed each year for lawn mowing purposes. The lithium-powered electric lawnmower would replace an existing gasoline-powered lawnmower, and, therefore, decrease UCSB’s gasoline consumption and GHG emissions. As the first electric lawnmower in the department’s fleet, not only will it provide direct environmental benefits, but it will also significantly encourage the department to make future environmentally-preferred purchases in a field dominated by fossil fuel powered
Student Scholarship for UCSB Student to attend CHESC ($4,657)
This grant would provide scholarships for 12 students from UCSB to attend the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC), June 16th-20th, 2014. CHESC is designed by and for campuses from each of the four systems of higher education in California, the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, and private and independent colleges and universities. As a result of this unique partnership, CHESC provides top quality sessions highlighting the most innovative best practices in campus based sustainability efforts from the past year. Speakers include staff, administrators, faculty, and students from colleges and universities throughout the state, often speaking on teams representing the stakeholder collaborations which are the foundation of campus sustainability efforts.
This project will provide real-time electricity usage information and metrics on Building Dashboards within the Santa Ynez, El Dorado, and Storke 2 apartment complexes as well as weekly reports to students living therein that details their weekly energy consumption and associated impact. The weekly reports will also include energy-saving tips and overall average consumption patterns in the respective complexes.The project is expected to result in reduced electricity consumption and carbon footprint in UCSB student housing facilities.
For more information, please contact Jewel Persad, TGIF Grants Manager, at jewelpersad@ucsb.edu or 805-893-8367
TGIF is up for Reaffirmation, so remember to vote yes for TGIF on gold during April 21 thru 24 if you want to keep funding sustainability projects.
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Grant Making Committee is pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2012/13 funding cycle! A total of 23 projects applied for TGIF grants this year requesting a total of $341,310.93. Of those projects, two were removed from the review process, as they received funding from other sources. The TGIF Grant Making Committee awarded funds to 13 projects, totaling $171,172.33. Below is an overview of the projects that you can expect to see completed within the next academic year.
Bren Hall Inverter Upgrade ($25,000)
Bren Hall currently has a 45-kW photovoltaic array mounted on its rooftop. However, the inverter for the array has not been functioning properly since last spring (2012). The 45-kW inverter and isolation transformer will be replaced with six 8-kW string inverters using the TGIF grant. This multiple inverter configuration ensures that Bren Hall will still produce electricity in the event that one of the inverters has a problem. Bren Hall serves as living example of green building on campus. The dashboard located in the Bren Hall Edison International Visitor Center will inform students and the public of the improvements.
CHESC Scholarships for UCSB Change Agents ($4,150)
UCSB is hosting the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC) on June 23rd-27th, 2013. This TGIF grant will be used to provide scholarships for 20 students and about five change agents from UCSB to attend the event. CHESC is designed by and for campuses from each of the four systems of higher education in California. CHESC provides top quality sessions highlighting the most innovative best practices in campus-based sustainability efforts from the past year.
Educational Energy Efficiency Video for the Residence Halls ($950)
This TGIF grant will go towards the production of an educational energy audit video aimed at students living in the UCSB residence halls. The video will cover different energy and water saving techniques one can implement daily in a dorm room. It will be produced just before the start of the PowerSave Campus annual energy competition in the residence halls and will be one of the main ways of marketing the event and promoting energy conservation on campus.
Electric Hand Dryers in Library Bathrooms ($11,148.60)
This project will complete the installation of energy efficient electric hand dryers in each of the four bathrooms on the first and second floors of the library as a pilot. The amount of paper towels purchased and used in these areas will be greatly reduced, thus saving the campus money and reducing our use of natural resources. Educational plaques will also be installed near the dryers to educate users about the project. The monetary savings and impact on electricity will be monitored during the project.
Energy and Comfort Re-commissioning of the ICA Building ($15,550)
Leveraging two successful previous TGIF projects (SRB and Student Health), this project focuses on another UCSB Student Affairs building to perform re-commissioning for building environmental systems. The ICA building is relatively new, but consumes a significant amount of energy. An initial walk through suggests that better operation of the HVAC systems can be performed to save energy. Interns will use energy modeling and data analysis to identify optimal operation of the building.
UCSB Farmer’s Market ($8,000)
The UCSB Farmer’s Market project was brought to us by a group of staff participating in Human Resources’ new Gaucho U program. The TGIF grant will be used as initial funding for a one-year pilot project in which a weekly Farmer’s Market is held on campus. Farmer’s Markets provide local and sustainable food, and soon faculty, staff, and students will be able to stock up on fruits and vegetables for the week and learn the benefits of local and organic food.
Green Grow Lights for Greenhouse Expansion ($38,785)
The Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology department is finishing construction of a $1.7 million research greenhouse project funded by the National Science Foundation, which includes funds for 1000-watt high intensity discharge (HID) light bulbs and ballasts. The TGIF grant will enable the acquisition and installation of 325-watt light emitting diode (LED) grow-lights instead of the planned HID lighting. The LED lights produce the same light intensity but eliminate 70% of electricity consumed by HID lights. LED lights also facilitate plant growth and last over twice as long as HID lights.
Interactive Campus Map Mobile Application ($8,861)
This project will increase the number of impressions via the Interactive Campus Map (ICM) Sustainability Dashboard by developing a mobile application that can be used on smart phones. This is an exciting opportunity to further raise the bar regarding how universities can demonstrate to the online community the advanced, cutting-edge use of spatially displayed data. Recently, an Energy Dashboard module that works on standard computing platforms has been integrated into the ICM. The TGIF grant will allow for the continued development of this and other modules (sustainability tours, hydration station locations, TGIF projects, etc.) for use on a mobile application for smart phones, reaching a significantly larger part of the student population.
Last Mile Delivery ($5,050)
At UCSB a large fleet of gas burning vehicles delivers packages to hundreds of locations in and around the campus every day. Many of these deliveries originate from a small population of vendors that could significantly reduce their carbon emissions by consolidating delivery routes to a single delivery point for “last mile” delivery by a dedicated campus-based fleet of low impact green vehicles. The TGIF grant will allow a student intern to work with purchasing staff to identify and convert high impact vendors to a last mile delivery model.
Refuse & Recycling Research Center ($5,425)
The Refuse & Recycling Research Center (R3C) will refine existing waste management programs and develop new programs and practices that will assist UCSB in meeting the University of California’s Zero Waste by 2020 goal. The TGIF grant will fund two student researchers that will have opportunities to collaborate with faculty, staff, and other organizations at UCSB, as well as local, regional, and state agencies. They will investigate new waste management technology, the UCSB community’s behavior towards waste, and best management practices.
Sustainable Food Distribution and Education ($1,861)
The goal of this project is to increase students’ access to healthy and sustainable food by offering fresh produce at the Associated Students (AS) Food Bank and educating students about how they can grow more at home. In order to accomplish these goals, TGIF is granting funds that will be used toward cold storage for fresh produce and other perishable items at the AS Food Bank.
UCSB Students GIVE! ($2,060)
TGIF is supporting a brand new component of this project. Funds will pay two students to develop educational and outreach materials to explain the impact of our actions on the environment and raise awareness about sustainable and practical actions students can take locally, highlighting the benefits of donating items they no longer want or need to GIVE. The goals of this new educational component are to promote conscious consumption, showcase GIVE as an opportunity to reduce, reuse and recycle, and generate a spirit of giving to the community. The students will disseminate the materials widely to their peers during student organization meetings, in classrooms, at events, in the residence halls, and through social media.
Water Minimization ($44,450)
This grant will be used to install faucet aerators and dual flush valves in the balance of the restrooms across campus. We anticipate that the water reduction from this project will garner an annual potable water savings of approximately 23,767,400 gallons, decreasing our total potable water consumption on campus by an additional 8%. This project will unify all restrooms on campus with the same low-flow infrastructure.
I’m pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2011-12 Funding Cycle. 18 projects applied for TGIF grants requesting a total of $314,302. Of those projects, 13 were awarded funds totaling $172,932.
Sustainability through Solar Power at Sedgwick Reserve ($30,000)
Funds will be used to install an 11 kW photo voltaic system at the Sedgwick Reserve located in Santa Ynez Valley. The new PV system will provide electricity needed to power the well pump that delivers water to the reserve’s 25,000 gallon cistern. This cistern is integral to the cooling system for Sedgwick’s new Platinum LEED rated Tipton Meeting House and is also used for all non-potable water needs on the reserve, including maintaining a small pond that is used for fire protection and wildlife habitat. This project is a key component of Sedgwick Reserve’s plan for energy sustainability.
Student Health Building Energy Retrofit using Advanced Sensing and Control ($25,000)
Faculty, staff and students will retrofit energy control systems at the Student Health Building. Working with building occupants and the Facilities Management Department, the collaborative engineering team will update building communications systems to implement advanced energy efficiency strategies. This project is projected to yield huge energy savings and improve the indoor environment for patients and health care professionals.
UCSB Hydration Stations ($22,250)
TGIF has funded 22 hydration stations, where students can fill up their reusable bottles with filtered water for free! This is part of a larger effort to install 45 of these filtered water stations at locations throughout campus. By offering convenient free filtered water, this project aims to drastically reduce the need for single-use plastic water bottles on campus. As a result of the hydration stations, TGIF hopes to decrease the amount of plastic waste generated on campus and yield energy savings from eliminating chillers in each water fountain. This effort has been supported by the Plastic Pollution Prevention Coalition, the Chancellor’s Sustainability Committee, Student Affairs, UCSB Reads as well as other partnering organizations.
Green Gateway Procurement ($17,000)
This project aims to “green” the new campus procurement system, Gateway. A team of students will assemble and classify green product data into the Gateway product catalogs. By providing transparent and reliable green information that is easily accessible to campus buyers, this project should drastically increase the purchase of sustainable goods and services at UCSB. Data on purchasing behavior resulting from the project will help procurement staff identify patterns and training opportunities in environmentally preferable purchasing.
Water Conservation–Dual Flush Valves/Low Flow Urinal ($16,325)
This water conservation project will install 200 dual-flush valves for toilets and half-flush handles for urinals in 10 student support buildings going through the LEED for Existing Buildings certification process. The efficient fixtures save up to 50% of water per flush as compared to the current valves. These new fixtures will help the campus achieve further water reduction goals
Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory Reserve Solar Systems ($13,400)
Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory SNARL will be off-the-grid with the installation of 6 kilowatt photo voltaic system to run two solar hot water systems on the reserve. This energy project is part of a comprehensive energy conservation and generation strategy for the research station, a unit in UCSB’s Natural Reserve System (NRS). This new photo voltaic project follows the installation of a ~24 kilowatts PV system in 2011 which meets 100% of SNARL’s electrical demand. TGIF has contributed funding to both projects.
Bren Photo Voltaic Efficiency Optimization ($12,304)
This project will optimize the existing photo voltaic panels on the roof of Bren Hall. Currently, the Bren solar panels are mounted flat on the roof top and are performing at an efficiency rate of 50-60% of their possible capacity due to shading. This project will maximize the use of the existing panels through mounted them on a frame angled ideally for our latitude. This along with optimizers will maximize electricity generation.
UCSB Sustainability Dashboard ($11,218)
The Sustainability Dashboard will display real-time information on electricity, gas and water use on campus as well as highlight locations of TGIF projects across campus. This dashboard will be integrated with the Interactive Campus Map in order to display sustainability data to the public. The dashboard and map will provide a flexible means to visualize energy consumption, savings, and generation at UCSB. By making this information available to the campus community and building occupants, the project hopes to influence behavioral changes in energy use.
Water Action Plan ($8,861)
UCSB Bren master’s students will collaborate with campus staff to develop a comprehensive Water Action Plan for the campus. Students will collect and analyze water data and provide recommendations to the campus on how to maximize water use efficiency. The plan will include total reduction targets for water use, along with mitigation measures for Improvements. The Water Action Plan is intended to be a model for other universities looking to achieve water reduction targets.
Solar Power for Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration ($8,300)
CCBER will have 40-50% of their electricity produced through solar panels with the installation of a new 4.8 KW solar panel array. The committee approved combining this year’s funding with previous allocated TGIF funds. In total, TGIF is providing 100% funding for the photo voltaic array located on the rooftop of the Harder Stadium Annex. This project will compliment CCBER’s current 4.8 KW installation and effectively double the building’s power production. CCBER promotes sustainable practices on campus through native plant restoration that restores ecosystems and maximizes efficiency in the utilization of finite resources such as water and fossil fuels.
Rethinking Campus Landscaping ($5,425)
This landscape education project administered by the Chancellor Sustainability Interns will install signs across campus highlighting sustainable landscaping. The signs will also correspond with podcasts easily accessible from smart phones and ipads. This educational project compliments the interns research which analyzes different landscapes on campus in regards to maintenance costs, ecological benefits, and quality of human interactions.
GIVE project ($2,107)
TGIF has funded publicity and advertizing costs associated with the GIVE project. From June 13th-22nd, residents can donate unwanted food, clothing, furniture, books, and electronics to the several site locations throughout campus and IV. Ninety percent of the items collected come from students. Volunteers sort and organize the donated goods to prepare for the GIVE sale at Embarcadero Hall on June 23rd & 24th. The proceeds generated from this project are given to local Isla Vista non-profits.
Greening Graduate Student Association Bagel Hour ($742)
The Graduate Students Association weekly bagel hour just became more sustainable! TGIF has funded reusable plates, mugs, utensils and 100% post-consumer recycled napkins for the group which previously produced two bags of trash weighing forty pounds each week. In combination with these sustainable products, the project aims to educate graduate students about sustainability issues, including waste production in the GSA lounge, and include them in the integration of smarter practices during bagel hour.
Announcing the selected projects for the 2010-11 Funding Cycle. 37 projects applied for TGIF grants requesting a total of $537,814. Of those projects, 18 were awarded funds totaling $177,080.
Isla Vista Theater Theatrical Lighting ($37,604)
This project will replace all of the high wattage halogen theater lighting fixtures at the Isla Vista Theater with low wattage LED fixtures,resulting in huge energy savings. This is the fourth major theatrical venue on campus to convert to LED lighting, showing a comprehensive approach to energy savings.
“Campus Pool” Pool Cover ($15,000)
This project will purchase a pool cover for the campus pool, which will prevent heat from escaping and water from evaporating during non-operating hours. Currently, much energy is wasted to keep the pool at 79F at all times. The project is estimated to save $48,750 per year in energy costs.
UCSB Student Food Collective Sustainable Food Cart ($30,000)
Funds will be used to construct and operate a student-owned cooperative food cart. The food cart will sell a combination of prepared grab-and-go items such as sandwiches, wraps, and salads, as well as fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, coffee, tea, and juices. The cart aims to provide fresh, healthy and ethically produced food to the campus community at an affordable price. SFC’s cart will also educate students about food sustainability and the local agricultural economy.
Family Housing Composting and Trash Reduction ($10,800)
In the County of Santa Barbara, 35 – 40% of food trash is compostable. Family housing produces almost 2 million pounds of trash per year that could be composted, but is currently diverted to landfills. This project will pilot a composting program at Storke and West Campus family housing, distributing 24 compost bins along with accompanying educational materials and programs.
Recycling the Brine from Campus Reverse Osmosis Systems ($3,555)
Currently, the Reverse Osmosis (RO) system at the Engineering Sciences Building (ESB) creates reverse osmosis water and reverse osmosis process water at the ratio 1:1. At present, ESB produces around 50,000 gallons per month of RO water resulting in an equal amount of reverse osmosis process water flushed down the drain. The project aims to capture that process water in a storage reservoir and pump it back into the building effectively recycling water. This project will save at least a half million gallons of water annually.
Aerator Retrofit Program ($4,136)
This project will add aerators to the least efficient faucets in 14 campus buildings in order to reduce water flow and thus usage. The project will result in an estimated savings of nearly 1 million gallons of water annually.
CCBER Native Algae Book ($1,200)
Two student interns will create a field guide of Santa Barbara algae specimens for use by CCBER faculty, staff, and students, in university classes, K-12 outreach programs, and for the general public.
Improving the Gathering of our Recycling Streams ($1,990)
Project to re-label the 89 outdoor berthas waste bins on campus to match the in-building recycling program for four types of waste: commingled, office pack, landfill and now compost! This effort will help standardize recycling across the campus with the goal of recycling 75% of our waste by 2012 and 100% by 2020.
Solar Power for CCBER, Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration ($21,000)
TGIF has awarded half of the funding required to install a solar panel array on the roof of CCBER headquarters at the Harder Annex resulting in total energy reduction of 40-50%. This project will supplement CCBER’s current 4.8 KW installation and effectively double the building’s power production. This project supports CCBER’s endeavor of modeling and promoting sustainable practices on campus.
Extending the Central Irrigation Control System ($9,000)
This project will extend the central irrigation control system to cover CNSI, Life Sciences Building, the Psychology building and the Student Resource Building for more efficient irrigating. Extending the smart sprinkler system will mitigate over-watering. The project could save 2,613 gallons of water per day.
Down with Styrofoam, Up with Reusables ($2,050)
Project to implement an educational campaign highlighting the benefits of using Eco-Clamshells Reusable Containers in place of styrofoam. The Eco-Clamshell reuse program will be advertised at food outlets on campus. Patrons initially buy the reusable container with a meal and subsequently exchange rinsed, used containers for sanitized ones with next meal purchase.
Commingled Recycling Bins for Student Affairs Buildings ($4,050)
20 commingled recycling bins will be purchased for Student Affairs buildings to assist in achieving 9 LEED-EB certifications, a top-priority for the division. This project will increase the campus’s solid waste diversion by placing these bins in heavily trafficked student services buildings with accompanying instructional signage.
Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) “Striving Toward Zero Waste” ($3,950)
This project will purchase recycling containers and distribute them throughout the ICA building and outdoor athletic venues including Harder Stadium, Caeser Uyesaka Baseball Stadium, and the Softball Stadium. An intern will be hired to oversee ICA’s first recycling program, especially targeting waste reduction at sporting events.
Extension of Campus Reclaimed Water Line to Psychology ($10,050)
This project will extend the reclaimed water irrigation line to serve the areas around the Psychology Building resulting in reduced potable water use. By expanding the existing reclaimed water system, the campus will continue to lower its impact on regional water consumption.
Santa Cruz Island Reserve Lighting ($5,842)
This project will replace the existing fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs with LED lights in Field Station buildings at the Santa Cruz Island Reserve (SCIR). The project will reduce diesel fuel use by 150 gallons annually and is part of an ongoing program to increase sustainability, self-sufficiency and improved energy conservation at the Santa Cruz Island research station, a unit of the UCSB Natural Reserve System.
Santa Cruz Island Reserve Solar Hot Water ($9,163)
This project will install solar water-heating panels on Field Station buildings at the Santa Cruz Island Reserve (SCIR). This system will replace the existing LPG gas dependant water heating system. Using solar instead of propane for water heating reduces propane fuel use consumption by 600 gallons annually.
Solar Powered Attic Fan ($3,190)
To address ventilation problems in the campus greenhouses, this project will install solar attic fans to draw out hot air and allow cooler air to enter without the use of electricity. The Attic fan project will use solar energy to conserve water through cooling plant temperatures and create a safe/comfortable environment to carry out student research.
Smart Water Use Project ($4,500)
This project will update current sprinkler infrastructure on the West Campus grounds and launch an educational campaign to inform campus staff, faculty, and students about the environmental impact of water use. The Smart Water Use Project will replace 435 Sprinkler Heads with MP Rotator heads, saving up to 30% of water used by the current sprinklers.
During the 2009-2010 funding cycle 27 projects applied, requesting a total of $650,000. Of those projects, 13 were awarded funds totaling $160,350.
Plastic Bottle Reduction Project ($2,450.67)
This project will install a filtered water spigot in the Arbor Store to encourage the use of reusable water bottles and decrease the purchase of bottled water.
Utility Conservation Incentive Program ($4,138.35)
This project will fund a summer student intern to perform research on decentralizing the UCSB utility bills, providing a more direct incentive for departments to reduce their energy consumption.
Energy Efficient Exercise Equipment ($6,500.00)
This project will retrofit existing treadmills in the Rec Cen, allowing them to generate electricity for the building while people work out.
Multiple Building Waste Audits ($10,200.00)
This project will allow the student-run Program for the Assessment and Certification for the Environment and Sustainability (PACES) to perform waste audits on ten UCSB buildings in the process of being LEED-Existing Building certified.
Laboratory Competition ($12,780.62)
This project will allow the student-run LabRATS program to increase the sustainability of UCSB laboratories through competitive incentives for participants.
Water Conservation Initiative ($4,138.35)
This project will provide funding for a summer student intern to perform research on ways to reduce the campus’ potable water use and conserve water.
Harder Stadium Bathroom Fixtures ($17,936.00)
This project will retrofit the old bathroom fixtures (faucets, toilets, etc.) to help conserve water, hopefully in time for the NCAA Final Four Soccer Tournament in late 2010.
b>Hatlen Theater LED Stage Lights ($22,800.00)
This project will replace two rows of traditional stage lights with LED lights, which will significantly reduce energy consumed and the heat produced by the older lights.
Energy Efficient Hand Dryers ($4,756.00)
This project will install two “air blade” hand dryers in Bren Hall’s third floor laboratory wing bathrooms as a way to reduce waste from paper towel use.
High Speed Electric Vehicle Charging Stations ($11,000.00)
This project will install an electric vehicle charging station in Parking 22 to help encourage the use of electric over gas-powered vehicles commuting to campus.
Wind Turbines at the White Mountain Research Station ($18,500.00)
This project will install, with the help of UCSB Physics students, a wind turbine to power a UCSB research facility, potentially powering the station completely off the grid.
Building Energy Visualization ($20,000.00)
This project will display a monitor in the Student Resources Building lobby showing the building’s and its occupants’ energy inefficiencies in order to make SRB are more energy efficient building.
Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL) Photovoltaic System ($20,000.00)
This project will help offset the cost of a photovoltaic solar array on a UCSB research facility in order to reduce the amount of energy consumed by the building and its occupants.
During the 2008-2009 funding cycle 34 projects applied, requesting a total of $984,000. Of those projects, 12 were awarded funds totaling $141,000 and 10 accepted their awards.
Save a Tree – Stop Junk Mail ($5,000.00)
This project will reduce the amount of junk mail received by Mail Services that just ends up in the trash.
Shower Minders ($5,800.00)
This pilot project will install devices on all the shower heads in one Residence Hall that will notify the user when they have reached a certain time in the shower in hopes of reducing water and energy use in the building.
Fume Hood Sash Stickers ($807.00)
This project will install stickers on fume hoods in labs around campus to remind users to lower their sashes in order to save energy.
The Real Food Challenge ($15,300.00)
This project will increase the amount of “real” food – food that is local, ethically produced, ecologically sound, and humane – in campus dining.
Energy Efficiency of the ESB Cleanroom ($30,002.00)
The cleanroom in the ESB is one of the largest users of energy on campus. This project will attempt to work with cleanroom users to modify their behavior and reduce energy consumption.
LED Lights for Embarcadero Hall ($7,000.00)
Stage lighting for Embarcadero Hall will be replaced with LEDs. The LED lights will not only reduce the energy consumed, but reduce the total number of lights needed. Plus, lecturers and performers will remain cooler while in the spotlight.
Campus Sustainability Champion ($11,135.40)
This project will create a faculty sustainability champion who will increase awareness of sustainability among the academic and research communities and link these communities with campus administration to create a more holistic approach to sustainability at UCSB.
Program for the Assessment and Certification for the Environment and Sustainability (PACES) ($3,400.00)
Formerly called Support our Sustainability (SOS). This program will send students to campus departments to assess their level of sustainability and offer suggestions for improving.
DNA Storage Technology ($2,000.00)
This pilot project will install room temperature DNA storage in several labs across campus in an effort to reduce the need for super-cold freezers on campus.
Reducing Organic Solvents from Organic Chemistry Labs ($45,000.00)
This project will attempt to replace organic solvents from chemistry experiments reducing the danger of these chemicals to students/researchers and the amount of hazardous waste produced by the labs.
During the 2007-2008 funding cycle 20 projects applied, requesting a total of $530,000. Of those projects, 11 were awarded funds, totaling $145,000.
Ecological Coalition ($2,856.60)
A network of campus and local student groups who have a shared interest in sustainability.
Documentary of the Rec Cen’s Photovoltaic Installation ($2,588.00)
This project will create a 20-30-minute documentary on UCSB’s first large-scale (133 kWh) photovoltaic installation on the Rec Cen’s Multi-Activity Center (MAC).
Solar Power for CCBER ($55,960.00)
Installation of a 7.6 kWh photovoltaic array on the roof of the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration under Harder Stadium, which will provide 30% of the office’s electricity.
Natural Gas Meters ($6,000.00)
Three natural gas meters with remote access will be installed on three buildings: Ellison Hall, Campbell Hall, and Davidson Library. The meters will allow for baseline measurements prior to the buildings’ LEED certification.
Waterless Urinal Installation ($20,120.00)
Remove and recycle a total of 20 high water consumption urinals and replace them with Waterless urinals in Ellison Hall, Cheadle Hall, and Davidson Library.
Green Cosmology ($20,300.00)
Installation of a 4 kWh photovoltaic array on the roof of the White Mountain Research Station located at 13,000 feet in the Eastern Sierras.
No Spectrometer Left Behind ($10,384.00)
A LabRATS web- and people-based program for laboratory equipment exchange that will reduce the amount of equipment that ends up in the Central Stores “graveyard” and ultimately in the landfill.
The Sustainable Media Team ($6,346.00)
A coalition of media organizations around the UCSB campus dedicated to raising awareness of programs, events, people, and projects that aim to reduce the University’s impact on the environment.
The Gaucho CarShare Program ($10,800.00)
An on-campus hourly car rental, ZipCar, placed near the student dorms in Lot 9 for their exclusive use in order to reduce the number of cars brought to campus.
Sustainable Business Plan Competition ($3,649.00)
Part II of a TGIF project funded in 2006-07 to infuse upper-division professional writing classes with sustainable principles and provide cash awards for the best business plans that look at the triple bottom line: environment, society, and profit.
Green Chemistry ($7,384.87)
A LabRATS program that will develop a plan and implement a set of pilot programs to reduce hazardous chemicals used in undergraduate laboratory courses at UCSB.
During the 2006-2007 funding cycle 18 projects applied, requesting a total of $490,000. Of those projects, 10 were awarded funds, totaling $150,000, and nine accepted their awards.
Laboratory Mercury Thermometer Exchange ($6,490)
Collect mercury thermometers from campus laboratories and replace them with accurate alternatives that are safe and non-toxic.
Adopt – A – Chemical ($17,791)
Create a website and an outreach program for the current Adopt – A – Chemical program, facilitating chemical reuse and waste minimization.
Sustainable Business Plan Award ($7,250)
Add a sustainable business plan award to the existing business plan competition sponsored by the Writing Program.
Zero Waste, One Step Ahead of the Game ($24,731)
Implement a comprehensive waste management program in Ellison hall that will achieve 75% waste diversion by 2008 and zero waste by 2012.
Waterless Urinal Installation ($10,242)
Remove and recycle a total of 9 high consumption urinals and replace them with Waterless urinals in Campbell Hall and North Hall.
Children of the Corn ($10,884)
Educate campus undergraduates about how much of their diet is based on corn from the Midwest, and the source of their tap and bottled water.
Greenhouse and Garden Project ($26,350)
Expand educational opportunities and hands on learning by replacing the old dilapidated greenhouse with new high quality structure.
Laboratory Assessments for Research Sustainability ($20,617)
Promote sustainable practices in laboratories through education and encouraging behavioral changes.
Curriculum Development ($1,500)
Educate interested faculty members on how they can infuse sustainability into their curriculum.
TGIF has selected projects for each year, please select a year from the menu above to view the Funding Projects.