by Ilana Schoenfeld, Program Associate for Strategic Initiatives, Second Nature

Many under-resourced colleges and universities rely heavily on their local and regional building contractors, including architects and engineers, to provide the technical expertise necessary to carry out green building projects. Institutions located in remote areas, or in regions where green buildings are few and far between, are often subject to higher premiums charged for these project by contractors with little training or experience in green building.

Second Nature, with funding from The Kresge Foundation, is inviting colleges and universities that have received Title III/V designation from the Department of Education and that are in states with relatively low numbers of green building projects (MO, SC, TN, UT, AR, KY, KS, ID, NE, LA, MS, WV, OK, WY, ND, SD, AL, IN, MT, NM) to apply for green building technical assistance grants of up to $2000 each.

Minority-serving institutions, community and technical colleges, smaller inner city, rural, and religiously-affiliated institutions, and public universities in under-resourced states will be encouraged to apply. The technical assistance grants will fund green building training opportunities for external building professionals (i.e., construction contractors, architects, designers, engineers) that work with these schools. These “Green Building 101” opportunities include workshops, webinars, online courses, and other activities that will provide local and regional building contractors with an overview of the benefits of green building and retrofits, case studies of campus green building projects, an introduction to third-party certification, and exposure to innovations in the field.

Ideally, the Campus Green Building 101 Technical Assistance Grants program will result in an increased number of campus green buildings and a reduction in the average premiums charged by building consultants in regions where green building is not yet widespread. Institutions that are building green are favored for philanthropic grants - such as the facilities challenge grants offered by The Kresge Foundation - and alumni gifts. Over the long-term, as a result of the increased green-building competence of the local and regional consultants working on their campus’ capital building and facilities projects, under-resourced institutions will be better equipped to pursue climate neutrality.

For Grant Guidelines, the Application Form and more detailed information about the Campus Green Building 101 Technical Assistance Grants Program, visit www.secondnature.org/gb101.html.The deadline for applications is February 12, 2010.