Green Revolving Fund

GRF projects are classified as either greenhouse gas emissions or utility reduction and/or innovation.  Eligible projects include ones that:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduce energy use
• Reduce water use
• Reduce sewage or stormwater
• Reduce pollutants
• Improve operations
• Educate occupants
• Install renewable energy

• Applicants must use Harvard’s Life Cycle Costing Calculator for greenhouse gas emissions or utility reduction projects (see application).
• Loans are repaid based on estimated annual savings.
• Applicants must pursue rebates/incentives.
• Projects must have a SIR of 1 or greater and be NPV+ (savings to University).
• There is no administrative fee for loans.
• Loans up to $1 Million will be considered.
• Loans must be paid back within 11 years.
• Funds must be drawn within one year of the approval of the application.
• Amount loan cannot exceed amount approved – applicants need to provide revised application if there is a change of scope requiring additional funds.
• Multiple conservation measures can be combined in one application.
• The loan can cover the full cost or the incremental cost of a conservation measure.
• Applicants are required to provide data verifying performance of implemented projects.

Download application

Applicants are encouraged to contact Sustainability Manager Jennifer Stacy when starting the process of applying to address any questions.  

Jennifer_ Stacy@Harvard.edu
617.496.1278 

Once any questions have been addressed, fill out the application form and email it and any supporting materials to Jennifer to begin the approval process. Upon approval, the applicant will receive an award letter with the project identification number.   

Payback schedules are generally based on the estimated annual savings calculated during the application process. Once part or all of your expenses for a particular project are incurred, email a copy of the paid invoice(s) to Jennifer Stacy, who will initiate the disbursement of the funds to the applicant. In order for funds to be disbursed, the applicant must provide the account coding for both the account(s) to which the funds will be disbursed as well as the account(s) from which the loan will be repaid. Repayments to the GRF begin the fiscal year after the funds were disbursed and will be drawn quarterly.

The most commonly funded categories (in order) include:

• Lighting
• HVAC
• Kitchen
  All types of commissioning 
• Behavior change
• Controls
• Insulation
• Renewable energy
• Metering
• Cogeneration