By Katelynn Liedtke

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Energy and Sustainability and Student Affairs have opened applications for the Sustainable Campus Fee Program for 2026, providing the campus community with an opportunity to support projects that promote energy efficiency and sustainable designs across the MTSU campus.

Kristin England, the systems engineer and sustainability manager for MTSU, said the student-led initiative was started 20 years ago because students wanted to purchase renewable energy. They added a fee, originally known as the Clean Energy Fee, that would go into a fund each semester to then be voted on by a predominantly student committee. 

“Back in the day, a lot of it went to purchasing renewable energy credits. Now we still do some of that through the green power switch with TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority), but a lot of the funding goes towards sustainable projects on campus,” said England.

Funds from the Sustainable Campus Fee Program have been used to build things such as solar-powered picnic tables made from poly-recycled materials, add items to the James E. Walker Library’s “Library of Things” project, and purchase battery-powered equipment for grounds workers. The program can also put 10% of the funding toward research efforts, if requested.

Projects submitted this year will be presented to the Clean Energy Committee for a vote by a board of four students and one faculty member. But act soon: Applications for sustainability project proposals close Wednesday, Sept. 30, and funds will start being awarded for approved projects in October.

For 2025, nearly $249,000 in funds were requested, and roughly $233,500 was granted. Of the proposals submitted, 26 of 27 projects were approved, and the one project denied was a proposal for another solar-powered picnic table to be installed at the recreational center, the library, the Keathley University Center or the Science Building.

Meanwhile, with October being Campus Sustainability Month, the Center for Energy and Sustainability has numerous events planned, including an open house for the Seed Library, a “From Plate to Planet” event to discuss food waste, a clothing swap and more. All these events can be found on their website under “upcoming events.”

MTSU’s Center for Energy and Sustainability is part of the Facilities Services Department within the Division of Business and Finance.

Journalism major Katelynn Liedtke is a practicum student in the Office of News and Media Relations. Reach her at [email protected].