University of Wyoming

Conservation and Efficiency Revolving Fund

Emerging from a student project in the spring 2013 campus sustainability course, the University of Wyoming (UW) Campus Sustainability Committee (CSC) designed a revolving fund to reduce energy, water, and waste expenditures. The Conservation and Efficiency Revolving Fund (CERF) finances cost-effective projects, with an emphasis on good stewardship of state resources while utilizing UW as a living laboratory for student engagement and applied research. The CERF will also help address UW’s obligations for the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.

The CERF is based in the campus Physical Plant, which provided initial seed funding of $250,000. Lacking full-time sustainability or energy management staff, UW facilities staff and CSC members developed the fund and will continue to lead its management and identify initial projects. UW has plans to grow the CERF to a final value of $1,000,000 over time. Project selection, additional fundraising, and academic integration will be directed by a separate multi-stakeholder committee. Student involvement will initially be limited to assistance with the fund’s implementation and tracking to allow time for thorough development. Once the project selection process is established, the CSC will sponsor a campus-wide solicitation for student initiated projects.

The fund was launched on Earth Day, April 22, 2014. For more information see the CERF webpage.

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!