Five Historically Black Colleges and Universities Selected by Sustain Our Future Foundation and Southface Institute for Sustainability Partnership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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September 16, 2025
Washington, DC - Sustain Our Future Foundation and Southface Institute have partnered to launch the Building Improvement Toolkits for Resilient HBCUs (BIT for HBCUs) initiative, a three-year pilot program designed to transform campus sustainability while developing the next generation of climate leaders.
As part of this collaboration, Clark Atlanta University, Morgan State University, Spelman College, Texas Southern University, and Xavier University of Louisiana have been selected to participate. Each institution will receive $150,000 in implementation grants along with comprehensive technical support, workforce development programs, and access to building management technology.
HBCUs are vital community anchors, serving as centers of learning, leadership, and innovation. Through the BIT for HBCUs initiative, Sustain Our Future Foundation (SOFF) brings its commitment to resourcing community-driven climate action together with Southface’s expertise in sustainable building practices, supporting HBCUs to lead in sustainability and climate resilience.
"This initiative positions HBCUs as sustainability hubs that extend their impact far beyond campus boundaries," said Yinka-Bode-George, Founder and CEO of Sustain Our Future Foundation. "Through building energy efficiency improvements and student workforce development, we are shaping a model for climate action that strengthens local resilience and ensures all communities share in the benefits of a sustainable future."
The comprehensive program includes five key components:
1. Building Improvement Toolkit (BIT) Access: Participating campuses receive full access to Southface's online platform that centralizes sustainability resources and best practices, helping HBCU students in coordination with facilities teams make data-driven decisions about energy, water, and waste efficiency on their campuses and within their community.
2. Professional Climate Action Planning: WSP, a leading global engineering and advisory firm, will provide funded consulting services to develop comprehensive climate action plans, including greenhouse gas inventorying, emissions reduction modeling, and net-zero roadmapping.
3. Community Partnership Model: Each campus will serve as a climate hub for nearby affordable multifamily housing complexes by extending building efficiency improvements into surrounding communities, lowering utility costs for community members, and reinforcing HBCU institutions' role in local resilience.
4. Student Workforce Development: Twenty-five students across the five institutions will be trained and certified as BIT Practitioners through year-long paid fellowships. Students will gain hands-on experience in sustainability while also receiving GPRO Operations & Maintenance Certificates, BIT Practitioner Credentials, continuing education credits, and expert mentorship.
5. Implementation Grants: Each participating HBCU will receive $150,000 from Sustain Our Future Foundation to support the implementation of their campus sustainability goals.
Unlocking Campus Potential Through Facility Savings
HBCUs have a unique opportunity to turn energy, water, and waste efficiency savings into a driver of campus innovation and reinvestment. The BIT for HBCUs initiative demonstrates how practical, cost-effective improvements can reduce energy consumption by 10%-20% without major capital investments. The resulting savings free up resources that schools can redirect toward advancing academic programs, student services, and other priority projects.
Art Frazier, Director of Facilities Management and Services at Spelman College, said, “This grant allows Spelman to modernize our campus with energy-efficient technologies while engaging students directly in our facilities, turning sustainable design into a hands-on learning experience that prepares them to lead in a greener, smarter world.”
Driving Measurable Impact with Southface
As the implementation partner for BIT for HBCUs, Southface Institute brings deep expertise in turning efficiency upgrades into measurable results. Since 2014, Southface has trained more than 5,600 individuals and saved over 202 million kWh through 545 GoodUse projects—including improvements for 23,000 affordable housing units. Typically, BIT Building projects reduce energy bills by 5–20% without requiring major capital investments.
Through BIT for HBCUs, Southface is extending this proven approach to campuses, helping facilities teams cut costs, reinvest savings into academic priorities, and prepare students for clean energy careers. Student fellows will gain hands-on experience alongside facilities staff and local housing providers, applying practical solutions such as optimizing HVAC schedules, reducing lighting waste, and leveraging utility incentive programs.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to work alongside students and channel their passion for doing good,” said Stephen Ward, Program Manager for BIT Building at Southface. “BIT meets campuses where they are and equips students with the tools and skills to partner with their facilities and sustainability teams—creating meaningful improvements on their campuses, in their communities, and far beyond.”
Looking Ahead
By aligning technical expertise with student training and community partnerships, Southface and Sustain Our Future Foundation are positioning HBCUs as national leaders in sustainability and resilience—creating a model that can be replicated across institutions nationwide.
The BIT for HBCUs pilot program begins implementation in Spring 2026, with participating institutions expected to serve as models for sustainable campus operations and community engagement. The initiative's success will inform efforts to expand the program to additional HBCUs nationwide.
Whether on campus or in the community, Southface’s Building Improvement Toolkit equips people everywhere with the tools to make a difference. Visit Southface.org/BIT or email info@bitbuilding.org to learn more.
For more information on the BIT for Resilient HBCUs Initiative, please visit: https://www.bitbuilding.org/s/bit-for-hbcus, and contact Tanvi Gadhia at tanvi@sustainourfuture.org
About the Organizations
Sustain Our Future Foundation (SOFF) is a national nonprofit organization that collaborates with corporate sustainability teams to de-risk and deepen the impact of sustainable infrastructure projects by ensuring that local communities' priorities are part of the planning, siting, and development phases. SOFF's mission is to raise the standard of sustainable development to promote economic development, community partnership, local self-determination, and environmental health for all communities.
Southface Institute, founded in 1978, is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting sustainable homes, workplaces, and communities through education, research, advocacy, and technical assistance. With a vision of a healthy environment for all, Southface leverages building science expertise to empower individuals—regardless of identity or circumstances—to enhance their wellbeing, security, and resiliency while protecting the environment for future generations.