Boston University: Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund

Author: Emily Flynn
Published: September 2011

Description: Boston University’s (BU) Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund was created in 2008 through an allocation of $1 million from the university’s administrative budget. The fund is administered by the Vice President of Operations. Potential projects are identified by the university’s Director of Energy Administration and Operations along with the Sustainability Director; projects are approved by the Vice President of Operations.

The fund achieves an average cost-savings of $70,782 per project, with an average return on investment of 57 percent, including utility incentives. As of December of 2010, the fund had invested $995,000 in projects on campus including lighting upgrades in the campus hockey rink and in a fitness center. Cumulatively, these projects have contributed to an annual energy savings of 2,546,000 kWh for the university. The fund does not charge interest, a policy that will maintain the fund at its original size of $1 million.