Apr 7, 2011

EPA Green Power Partnership Webinar

Webinar on Greening the Bottom Line: How Campus Green Revolving Funds are Saving Energy and Money

On Wednesday, April 20, from 1-2 pm (EST), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Green Power Partnership (GPP) will host a webinar on Greening the Bottom Line: How Campus Green Revolving Funds are Saving Energy and Money. As colleges and universities face steep budget cuts and unstable energy costs, many institutions are grappling with how to finance urgently needed energy efficiency upgrades on campus when operating and capital funds are scarce. The webinar will cover innovative approaches, such as using return-oriented green revolving funds (GRFs) – a rapidly growing trend at colleges and universities. GRFs can help colleges and universities invest in a variety of cost-saving initiatives, resulting in significant financial and environmental benefits.

While GRFs are increasing rapidly on college and university campuses across the county, the concept can also be adapted for public and private sector organizations.

This webinar will explore the key findings and trends of Greening the Bottom Line, the first ever survey of GRFs at 52 colleges and universities published in partnership with GPP and more than 10 other organizations. It will also highlight the work of Harvard University’s $12 million Green Revolving Loan Fund, one of the oldest and largest funds in the country.

Webinar participants will learn:

· Innovative approaches to financing energy upgrades

· Trends from Greening the Bottom Line – a survey on GRFs being used at colleges and universities nationwide

· One college’s experience with a Green Revolving Loan Fund

Speakers include:

· Blaine Collison, U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership

· Mark Orlowski, Sustainable Endowments Institute

· Heather Henriksen, Harvard University’s Office for Sustainability

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future, is partnering with GPP on this webinar. More information about AASHE is available at www.aashe.org.

Program on the Environment