Mission Statement:
The Northwestern Sustainability Fund strives to empower members of the Northwestern community to take ownership of their environmental impact by providing resources for collaborative projects that increase sustainability at the university.
Executive Summary:
The goal of the Northwestern Sustainability Fund (NSF) is to create a revolving source of capital for projects that reduce Northwestern's environmental impact. It will provide the university with an excellent opportunity to promote sustainability, reduce energy and resource consumption, limit project-inhibiting up-front costs, and encourage student entrepreneurhip and innovation. Utility savings from the projects it finances will replenish the NSF. A board comprised of three students, one alumni representative, one Facilities Management representative, one Presidential appointment, one Business Chair, and two faculty members will govern the NSF. The board will review project proposals, which must adhere to strict application guidelines, interview the proposal teams, and grant loans based on specific criteria.
Key Points:
- The NSF will provide outside funding for campus sustainability projects, thus significantly reducing up-front costs and creating substantial savings for the university over time.
- Existing revolving loan funds at peer institutions have proven to beeconomically viable and environmentally beneficial. Projects financed by Harvard's Green Loan Fund havean average return oninvestment of 26%.
- Current and prospective students value sustainability as a significant factor when comparing universities.
Let the NSF know if you see any inefficiencies around campus that you think should be corrected, so as not to waste resources and harm the environment unnecessarily. Just send us an e-mail at sustainnu@gmail.com. Thanks for your help in making Northwestern greener!