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With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.
Name: Rob Best ‘10
Position (in student organization): Engineers for a Sustainable World President, Student
Member of Sustainability Council
Date survey submitted: July 21, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/ sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Engineers for a Sustainable World/Mudders Organizing for Sustainability Solutions
Number of active members: 30
Website: www3.hmc.edu/~rbest/eswmoss
Date of last meeting: May 7, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly, with occasional extra meetings
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Interdorm energy competition, trip to Ngomano, Kenya to promote sustainable water use and clean water, working on getting composting at the school, spread of energy use awareness and dormitory energy monitoring, distribution of reusable water bottles to students and faculty, Earth Week environmental awareness activities, education and petitioning for preservation of nearby natural land
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Dorm energy competition completed successfully and institutionalized as a yearly event, trip to Kenya achieved with a prototype solar still system for the village and a planned expansion into solar resources for water pumping, initial discussions on location and feasibility of composting with nearby schools which have done it and with our maintenance department, bottles distributed, energy awareness has become institutionalized yearly during orientation and the competition, monitoring is now in place in all 8 dormitories, Earth Week was successful, and the open land across the street will likely be preserved
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please list details for each competition.
#1 - Name of competition: Dorm Energy Challenge Year initiated: 2009 Frequency of competition: Yearly in October or November
Participants: All students
Incentives: Cash prizes to be used for increasing the sustainability of the dorm; use of funds must be approved by the sustainability club council
Goal of competition: Promote reduction of energy for the entire month and see which dorm can reduce the most Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: The winning dorm reduced electricity use by 33% relative to the previous month with the college as a whole reducing use 16% relative to the previous month.
Lasting effects of competition: Real-time monitoring of electricity has been installed on all of the dorms and energy reduction checklists were distributed to all students and remain posted in several hallways. The winning dorm has purchased a more energy efficient television for the lounge and the runner-up dorm purchased a more efficient vending machine.
Website: http://www3.hmc.edu/~rbest/eswmoss/energy_competition.htm
#2 - Name of competition: Campus Climate Challenge
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: Every other year
Participants: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont McKenna College, Scripps College, Pomona College, and Pitzer College
Incentives: A prize for the winning school and a party Goal of competition: Encourage reduction in energy use relative to the previous year
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: ~10-15% reduction in electricity use.
Lasting effects of competition: Energy reduction checklists were spread to all students and remain posted in some hallways.
Website: N/A
SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please describe: The position is a student member to the college's Sustainability Committee which is appointed by the student government. The sitting member does not attend student government meetings unless by choice. The student member does represent sustainability initiatives for the college to the student governments of other schools at events across the Claremont Colleges.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school: We sent 11 students to the PowerShift conference sponsored by the Energy Action Coalition in February, 2009. There are also several environmental research projects initiated by the students yearly which are sponsored by the college's Center for Environmental Studies ranging from water conservation to alternative energy.
5) Please list and briefly describe any other student-run organizations related to campus sustainability at your school, and provide URLs if available (e.g., student groups; student government committees; student-run food co-ops, gardens/farms, bike co-ops) and provide contact information of the student leaders, if possible:
Questions 6 is for informational purposes only; your response will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
6) Please list any regional or national networks with which your group is affiliated (e.g., Energy Action Coalition/Campus Climate Challenge, Sierra Student Coalition, a state PIRG, a state student sustainability coalition): We have a chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World.
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