Sustainability Grants - Hybrid Hydraulic Refuse and Recycling Collection Vehicles for Oberlin Public Works Department: In spring of 2014 the Green EDGE Fund provided $30,000 to support the City's investment in hybrid hydraulic drive systems for three new refuse and recycling trucks.
- Oberlin Farmers' Market Food Stamp (SNAP) Incentivization Pilot Program: In the spring of 2014, the Green EDGE Fund approved a sustainability grant of $1,300 to create a SNAP-incentivization pilot program for the Oberlin Farmers’ Market (OFM) over the summer of 2014.
- Oberlin Food Rescue Bike Trailer: In the spring of 2014, the GEF approved a sustainability grant of $1030.20 for the cost of purchasing a bike trailer for the purpose of bringing food from various places in Oberlin to Oberlin Community Services in order to reduce food waste and bring more healthy produce to food banks.
- Ecolympics 2014 Prizes: In the spring of 2014, the Green EDGE Fund awarded a sustainability grant to the Oberlin Environmental Sustainability Office to purchase three water refill stations as prizes for the winning dorms of the annual Ecolympics campus-wide competition.
- RCT Trash/Recycling Receptacles: In the fall of 2013, the GEF approved a grant of $36,000 for the purchase of new waste receptacle stations as part of a pilot study to decrease contamination of recyclables on campus.
- Carbon Management Fund Tree Planting Purchases and Labor Costs: In October of 2013, the GEF approved $900 to fund the purchasing of 10 white swamp oak trees and 8 red oak trees in North Fields on campus. A separate grant was also approved for $376 to fund the labor costs of planting the trees.
- Natural Meadowing: In the spring of 2014, the GEF approved a sustainability grant of $5,420 for the creation of natural meadows on campus.
- Foresight Leadership & Sustainability Summer Camp: In spring of 2014, the GEF allocated a sustainability grant of $11,600 for the purchase of 16 bicycles and 2 scholarships for local Ohio high school students to attend the new Foresight Leadership and Sustainability Initiative camp in Oberlin that summer.
- Covered Bike Racks:Starting in the spring of 2012 the Green EDGE Fund began a project to install covered bike racks across campus. After Installing a trial rack for $5000, a grant $25000 was allocated to fund 5 additional bike racks in 2013.
- Expansion of Dascomb Reusable Container Program: In the spring of 2012 the Green EDGE Fund allocated $7,000 to help expand the reusable food container program in Dascomb Dining Hall.
- Ecolympic Water Bottles: In the spring of 2012 the Green EDGE Fund funded water bottles as part of Ecolympics.
- Johnson House Compost: In the fall of 2011 the Green EDGE Fund gave a grant of $650 to build a compost enclosure for Johnson House.
- Energy Orb Installation: In fall of 2011 the Green EDGE Fund funded the installation of energy orbs in Residence Halls across campus.
- Residential Wonderwashes and Spin Dryers:
- OSWAMP Rain Gardens: In the spring of 2011, the Green EDGE Fund allocated $20,000 for the design and installation of two rain gardens on Oberlin's campus. The gardens are used as a sustainable means to mitigate rainwater runoff and erosion on campus.
- Replacement of Antiquated Lighting at Oberlin Early Childhood Center: In the spring of 2011 the Green EDGE Fund funded $20,000 for worth of electricity and lighting retrofits.
- Johnson House Cold Frame Project: In spring of 2011, the Green EDGE Fund gave a grant of to the Resource Conservation Team for cold frames to increase the growing season at the Johnson House garden.
- West Virginia Fruit Trees: In the spring of 2011, the Green EDGE Fund granted the purchase of 35 fruit trees to be donated and planted in Coal River, West Virginia. The fruit trees will provide local and more sustainable fruit to residents of the community.
- CDS Balcony Garden: In the spring of 2011, an ENVS 101 group and the CDS Recyclers proposed that garden boxes be placed along the balcony railing of Stevenson Dining Hall.
- High-Altitude Wind Power: In December 2010, the Green EDGE Fund voted to fund a student research project that sought to determine the feasibility of small-scale high-altitude wind power in Lorain County. The grant provided a generator, a weather balloon, and the materials to build a turbine.
- Kahn Hall Composting: In the spring of 2010, the Green EDGE Fund helped financed the College's first dorm-wide composting system, organized by the Compost Work Group and maintained by residents of Kahn Hall. The grant provided compost tumblers, a wheelbarrow, a hose, and scales for measuring the amount of compost generated.
- Johnson House Garden: In the spring of 2010, the Green EDGE Fund provided start-up funds for a student-run garden behind a residence hall on campus, providing a unique educational opportunity for Oberlin students. The garden's produce goes to dining halls and coops.
- Replacement of CRT Monitors: In December of 2009, the Green EDGE Fund approved a sustainability grant to replace old, inefficient CRT monitors still in use in research laboratories with efficient, ENERGY STAR LCD monitors. The project proposal was developed by Walt Owens of the Oberlin Technology Store, and the project is the EDGE Fund's first collaboration with the Technology Store.
- Compost Tumbler for Union Street: This compost tumbler was installed near Union Street housing during the summer of 2009. Please contact us (edgefund@oberlin.edu) for the padlock combination to access it.
- Spin Dryer for SEED House: The Green EDGE Fund provided SEED House with a grant for a spin dryer, to make their laundry system more sustainable and efficient. This model uses less electricity than conventional clothes dryers.
- The POWER Fund: The Green EDGE Fund provided a $5,000 seed grant for POWER to establish their offset program. POWER weatherizes and insulates low-income and inefficient homes in Oberlin as a carbon offset program. The amount provided was equivalent to insulating two homes given the insulation estimates provided by POWER.
- OCS Garden Expansion: The Green EDGE Fund provided $15,000 to expand and improve the Oberlin Community Services building's community gardens to increase productivity and accessibility to healthy and fresh produce. The garden is run through volunteer labor, and is always looking for your help!
| Efficiency Loans- Low-flow Shower Heads in Dascomb: In 2009, the Green EDGE Fund financed an efficiency project in Dascomb Residence Hall, installing low-flow shower heads on 30 showers.
- Water-Heater Jackets in Woodland St. Housing: Installing insulating water heater jackets in Woodland Street houses was the EDGE Fund's first project! Jackets were installed on 20+ water heaters, substantially improving efficiency in the houses receiving water-heater jackets.
- Veggie-oil Tractor Conversion: The Green EDGE Fund provided an efficiency loan to have Sam Merrett of Full Circle Fuels convert one of the Grounds Department's tractors to run off of veggie oil.
- Village Housing and Woodland Street Housing Efficiency Upgrades: The Green EDGE Fund provided an efficiency loan to fund a research project headed by two professors. The research aims to determine the effectiveness of three different methods of promoting energy efficiency. 31 of Oberlin College’s village homes were targeted, with 24 of them receiving one of the three treatments. 2 homes on Woodland Street received extensive efficiency upgrades from a separate loan but for the same research project.
- Hales Gym Lighting Retrofit: In the Spring of 2010, the Green EDGE Fund financed a retrofit of the lighting in Hales Gym. This is the quintessential efficiency project- replacing inefficient light bulbs with high efficiency CFLs.
- LED Bulbs for EXIT Signs: In February 2011, the Green EDGE Fund purchased 100 LED kits to install in EXIT signs on campus that use incandescent bulbs.
- Firelands Water Efficiency: In the Spring of 2010, the Green EDGE Fund awarded an efficiency loan to replace inefficient toilets and shower heads, and install faucet aerators in the Firelands apartment complex.
- Veggie Oil Tractor Conversion 2: New Holland: The Green EDGE Fund made an Efficiency Loan of $5,250 to convert a second facilities tractor to operate on waste vegetable oil, and a filtration system to purify the waste vegetable oil to fuel-grade SVO for both of the tractors.
- CDS Compost Pulper: In August of 2011, a compost pulper was installed in Stevenson Dining Hall to process post-consumer waste more efficiently. The Green EDGE Fund partially funded this project, partnering with the Senior Class Gift, Bon Appétit, and capital funding to cover the full cost.
- Backhoe Vegetable Oil Conversion:
- High Efficiency Hand Dryer: The Green EDGE Fund gave this efficiency loan for $5,000 to fund the installation of high efficiency in Mudd and Phillips Gym.
- Conversion of Lawn Mower to Run on Vegetable Oil:
Carbon Management Fund Grants |
