Carbon Reduction Grant Program

Carbon Reduction Grant Program is sponsored by Oregon State University. Supports practical projects reducing greenhouse gas emissions across OSU operations.

Carbon Reduction Grant Program | Sustainability at OSU | Oregon State University Carbon Reduction Grant Program Carbon reduction grants ($1,000-$25,000) are intended for practical, measurable projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions across Oregon State University operations and activities.

This grant program is open to students, faculty and staff and is administered by the Faculty Senate Carbon Commitment Committee (C3) and the OSU Sustainability Office, using funding generously provided by Facilities Planning and Management . Hear it from the experts! The Faculty Senate Carbon Commitment Committee hosted a Lightning Talks event on Friday October 9, from 10:00-11:00 AM to showcase last year’s grant recipients.

Watch the recording of the event here: FY27 Grant Cycle Timeline Application portal now open! Proposals due: November 16, 2026 (11:59 p. m.

PT) Awards announced: December 18, 2026 Estimated funding allocation: January 2027 Download the Call for Proposals Nine awards were granted for Fiscal Year 2026, ranging from $988 to $10,472, with approximately 45% of total funding going to projects substantially led by OSU students.

Examples of funded projects include a study to identify and mitigate liquid nitrogen leaks at the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Institute (ATAMI) facility; a student-led program to increase bike commuting around campus; carbon sequestration tree planting; and support for an assessment of on-site hydrothermal carbonization of biosolid for waste valorization.

Grant recipients will provide progress updates and estimated impacts on OSU's carbon emissions as the projects move forward.

Reduce Energy Losses by Locating and Eliminating Nitrogen Gas Leak in the ATAMI Building Corvallis campus tree planting carbon sequestration project On-site Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biosolid for Waste Valorization and Carbon Emission Reduction Smart Labs for Renewable Utilization Energy Reduction with LED lighting upgrades Heat Harvesting for Corvallis Campus Apply Solar Control Film in Air Conditioned Spaces in Batcheller and Covell Hall An efficient specimen refrigerator for the Seabird Oceanography Lab YOUR PROJECT HERE!

Keep an eye out for the next application cycle. :) The program accelerates OSU’s path to carbon neutrality by investing in short, high-impact projects that reduce carbon emissions at OSU. It empowers bottom-up ideas and activities from students, faculty, and staff, channeling their creativity, expertise, and passion into practical actions that make a measurable difference.

Projects may combine operational improvements, technology, and behavior change. What matters most is a clear, defensible reduction in emissions.

• Funding available: Up to $50,000 total in FY26 • Awards: $1,000–$25,000 each • Project length: Up to 12 months (extensions considered case-by-case) • Who can apply: All current OSU employees and students (student-led teams must include an OSU employee advisor) In 2007 OSU signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment ( now the Carbon Commitment ) and set a goal of carbon neutrality by 2025.

In 2018 the Faculty Senate formed the Carbon Commitment Committee. In June 2024, the Faculty Senate passed a resolution to accelerate carbon emissions reduction at OSU (link here), which led to the creation of a dedicated fund supporting carbon-reduction projects initiated by students, staff and faculty. This program operationalizes that commitment.

Open to all current OSU employees and students. Proposed activities must have a direct connection to reducing OSU’s climate impacts and align with university objectives. Student wages are an eligible expense with grant funds, but faculty and staff wages are not.

The project lead must be able to spend funds within OSU systems (index/account required).

Review criteria & selection • Climate Impact (40 pts): expected reductions; persistence of savings; cost-effectiveness; scope alignment • Feasibility & Readiness (25 pts): realistic plan; milestones; risks/mitigations; required approvals; 12-month deliverability • Outreach & Replicability (20 pts): education value; audience reach; clarity of artifacts; potential to scale/replicate • Team & Partnerships (15 pts): skills match; unit buy-in; student involvement Cross‑unit collaboration and first‑time applicants will be considered positively in final decisions.

Projects submitted by students and projects that involve students will be given funding priority. FY27 Call for Proposals (PDF)