Organic compost tea, an LED spotlight, electric vehicle charging stations and desktop energy management are among the projects at the University of Pennsylvania that were received funding from the school's Green Fund, the school announced on Thursday.

According to a news release, seven wide-ranging projects were approved for funds up to $50,000 each (exact amounts for each project were not made available). The Green Fund was established by Penn's Green Campus Partnership in 2009, and approved projects that generate financial savings to the school are expected to repay the award in order to ensure the Fund's future. The university-issued release noted that the Fund received its largest number of applications to date.

Among the new projects:

- Zellerbach Theater LED Spotlight Installation: The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts plans to install a mobile digital LED-based spotlight system, replacing its 40 year-old system, reducing spotlight-energy consumption by about 70 percent and providing a return on investment within one year.

- Electric Charging Stations for Car-Sharing Vehicles: Penn Parking Services plans to install charging stations on campus to power electric vehicles furnished by Penn's car-share partners (Philly CarShare and Zipcar).

- Green Acorn Promotion: A 2009 Green Fund project that gained additional support this year will expand marketing and advertising to raise public awareness of the Green Acorn Certification and its "Acorn Nuts" frequent-customer rewards program.

- Environmental Education Kitchen: The Penn Women's Center plans to create a space that uses locally sourced, recycled materials and low-energy appliances, in addition to podcasts, tours and tutorials promoting the kitchen.

- Desktop Power Management: Up to 2,000 systems are planned as part of a desktop energy management program that will enable departments to minimize desktop energy use while providing users and Information Systems and Computing Division staff the flexibility to access desktops remotely.

- Organic Compost Tea: The Morris Arboretum is planning a brewing system for compost tea, a liquid compost extract that's an organic alternative to chemical fertilizers and will acquire equipment and training to implement a Sustainable Landscape Management program that will reduce its use of pesticides.

- Williams Hall LED Installation: Twelve ground-floor classrooms will get LED lighting as part of a long-term goal to replace fluorescents and incandescent, reducing labor, replacement and energy costs.

Source: University of Pennsylvania
Writer: Joe Petrucci