Spring Grants

These projects were funded during our Spring grant cycle, where projects receive more than $5,000 for projects that take between one to three years to complete. 

Max-R Bins

Project Description

This project will implement new Max-R centralized collection bins for landfill, mixed paper, bottles and cans, and compost, in large student use buildings. The addition of the new units in highly trafficked student buildings will help familiarize students with proper incentives to divert their wastes.

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Low Water Irrigation, Phase II 

Project Description

The Low Water Irrigation Project will install five new weather stations on campus and will hire a student intern for monitoring and analysis. The weather stations will collect local weather (microclimate) information, recording temperature, humidity, wind, and solar data and adjust irrigation percentages against the baseline.

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Lab Microscope Retrofits

Project Description

This project aims to alleviate a large part of the inefficiencies in research-grade microscopes powered by metal halide lamps by replacing them with thermally stable and efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps.

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Forest Power

Project Description

This project will replace the use of propane and grid electricity in favor of wood for heating water and space in the conference center at Blodgett Forest Research Station. Wood will be procured sustainably during the process of conducting research and demonstration activity done on adjacent University forestland. A hydronic heater placed outside of the building will combust wood and then heat water that will be sent into the adjacent building. This heated water will directly supply hot water and will interface with an existing forced air heating system to provide...

WattTime: GHG Reductions From Campus Facilities

Project Description

This project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to electricity use in facilities across UC Berkeley campus by identifying opportunities to shift energy use to times when the cleanest energy is available from the grid, and implementing software and building controls systems to take advantage of those opportunities.

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Telegraph Green: The Next Least Generation

Project Description

The Telegraph Green project is focused on reducing food-service waste from quick serve restaurants on and near campus, building increased awareness of the scope of the quick serve waste problem, and possible solutions.

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Sustainability in the Greek Community

Project Description

The Sustainability in the Greek Community team will install water aerators, motion sensor light switches, and LED lighting in order to improve energy efficiency and decrease water consumption.

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Solar Powering Sigma Chi

Project Description

The Solar Powering Sigma Chi grant aims to make Cal Sigma Chi the first fraternity house in California to derive electric power from solar energy and provide more sustainable housing for some 40 Berkeley students. It will set a precedent of sustainability not only within the Greek community but also the greater Berkeley community at large.

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High Efficiency Hand Dryers in Barrows Hall

Project Description

The project will install four high efficiency hand dryers in Barrows Hall. The high efficiency hand dryers are a sustainable alternative to paper towel dispensers, which create unnecessary waste.

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Mobile Hydroponic Unit (formerly Dual Flush in Cooperatives)

Project Description

In the midst of one of California’s most severe droughts in history, Berkeley Flow of the ASUC Sustainability Team will convert existing toilets in the Cloyne Student Cooperative into dual-flush toilets via retrofit kits. This project will serve as a first step in a plan to implement dual-flush toilets into Student Cooperatives beyond Cloyne.

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