Hampshire College

The Hampshire College Sustainability Revolving Fund

The Sustainability Revolving Fund (SURF) provides loans for campus improvement projects that benefit Hampshire’s sustainability by improving efficiency and conserving resources. The HCSRF exists to foster student, staff, and faculty involvement in increasing environmental, social, and fiscal sustainability at Hampshire College. Eligible projects must have a demonstrable and quantifiable reduction in at least one of the following categories: fossil fuel energy costs, waste disposal costs, or water use costs. Project loan amounts are expected to be paid back in five years or less by the annual financial savings as a result of the project, with an additional 50% of the loan amount paid back within seven years to allow the HCSRF to grow. The Environmental Committee has the discretion to approve projects with longer payback times or indeterminate/intangible cost savings as long as the SURF maintains its capital.

The SURF will be managed by the Environmental Committee. The Environmental Committee will oversee the application and review process, and will approve projects in consultation with the Hampshire College President, Business Office and Director of Facilities and Grounds.

The higher education participants in The Challenge are managed by Second Nature. To learn more about how Second Nature plans to expand use of GRFs in higher education, visit their page!