Students proposed upgrades to the HVAc systems in Science D and E. The implemented project also incorporated monitoring based commisioning as an additional part of the project scope.

In 2009, the Humboldt Energy Independence Fund (HEIF) allocated approximately $79,000 to fund the retrofit of stadium lighting and the installation of a monitoring system for the Redwood Bowl. The project has concurrently reduced the amount of energy used to light the field as well as mitigated the impact of excessive light pollution experienced by the area’s surrounding natural landscape.  The project has been lauded as an example of a highly visible, energy-saving undertaking only made possible through the collaboration between students, faculty, staff, and off-campus entities

In 2009, the Humboldt Energy Independence Fund (HEIF) funded the installation of 4 lower embedded energy hand dryers in the Library’s 1st floor bathrooms. This project has concurrently reduced the amount of paper towels consumed by Cal Poly Humboldt and the amount of energy embedded in manufacturing and disposing of said paper towels.

In Spring 2010, HEIF approved funding to replace the 32 Watt 4 foot T-8 fluorescent lights with lower wattage 28 Watt lamps in the library.

In 2011, students developed and researched the replacement of outdated stage lighting found in Fulkerson Hall with new, more efficient and effective lighting. 

 In Spring 2010, HEIF received a proposal to “virtualize” 40 of Humboldt’s computer servers into four newer ones. Rapid advances in computer technology enables this consolidation, and for HEIF the new machines’ increased efficiency and fewer total number results in a net savings of electricity and reduced air conditioning of server rooms.

In 2014, the Marine Lab Seawater Circulation Retrofit addressed Cal Poly Humboldt’s (Humboldt) most energy intensive building, the Telonicher Marine Lab. The lab hosts students and guests for educational purposes related to marine sciences. The seawater recirculation system transports ocean water into the building’s live marine exhibits.  Water must constantly move through the filtering system to simulate movement and mimic a natural marine setting. At the time of the proposal, the pumping system of the seawater circulation used two oversized pumps.

The retrofit proposes to install a dedicated heating and ventilating (HV) system to the UPD to separate the heating system from the rest of the Student & Business Services (SBS) building. 

In 2012, this project was proposed to convert the main Natural Resources building air distribution system (Air Handling Unit-1) from a constant air volume system to a variable air volume system. The conversion would reduce gas and electricity consumption by allowing AHU-1 to provide an appropriate amount of air in a given moment rather than constantly providing maximum air. This project was defunded by the Committee in 2024.

In 2013, OZZI reusable food containers and OZZI return machines were purchased. Food containers were administered to Humboldt members via an exchange token system in which students paid a small non-refundable fee for an OZZI token. The program was integrated into Dining Services so that fewer single-use containers are consumed, and the energy associated with producing and transporting them was displaced.