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News Release

Last modified: Tuesday, April 9, 2013

IU Sustainability Fund's first project: energy-efficient lighting at Ballantine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2013

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- In the midst of its fall registration drive, the Student Sustainability Council at Indiana University Bloomington has announced its first capital project: installing motion-sensing, energy-efficient lighting in Ballantine Hall's stairwells.

The project will be funded by the student-supported and student-directed Sustainability Fund, which was established via an 11,000-signature student petition in fall 2010. The fund gives students the option to donate $5 toward sustainability during online class registration.

Student support for the fund has allowed the Student Sustainability Council, collaborating with IU engineers, to start the Ballantine Hall lighting infrastructure project. This initiative, which involves one of IU's largest and most resource-intensive academic buildings, will translate into long-term energy savings as well as an immediate reduction in energy use. The installation is scheduled for this summer.

The council is working with IU physical plant staff to identify future Sustainability Fund projects. Potential projects include extending recycling coverage, installing solar panels or solar water heaters, and making changes to campus transportation infrastructure.

To show support for these initiatives and enable their continued presence on campus, the Student Sustainability Council is encouraging students to "check the box" to donate to the fund when registering for fall 2013 classes.

"Not only is the fund a great way for students to show the IU administration that there is real student interest in making IU a more sustainable campus, but it is a means of effecting tangible, immediate change," said Tom Ladendorf, finance director of the council. "Donations to the fund will be put to use in capital projects that will create an impact in the near future."

Ladendorf said the council will administer the Sustainability Fund with the utmost transparency; interested students may email iubssc@indiana.edu for details. Student organizations interested in campus sustainability issues can visit the Student Sustainability Council website to find out more about how they can get involved.

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