Indiana University Indianapolis
IN-4: Innovation 4

IUPUI has recently begun installing water bottle refilling stations throughout the campus, beginning with the most heavily trafficked areas. These stations allow users to avoid the purchase of disposable water bottles while subsequently promoting health by providing a convenient and cost effective alternative to vending machine beverages which are typically high in sugar. Each station also has an electronic display which counts each time someone refills a water bottle, providing an equivalent of the number of disposable plastic water bottles that would otherwise have been purchased and discarded. The initial water bottle filling stations were a pilot project paid for through Greening IUPUI grants. This grant program provides an annual total of $50,000 to fund selected proposals submitted by students, faculty, or staff that reduce the campus’ environmental impact. Now schools, departments, and offices are providing the funds to pay for the stations. Water bottle refilling stations are also included in design standards for new buildings. Since the first two stations were installed in the Campus Center in 2010, more than 160,000 plastic water bottles have been diverted from the waste stream, according to the counters on the stations. The IUPUI campus now has 35 of these stations installed.