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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: Dan Omasta
Position (in student organization): CU Student Union Sustainability Director
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: University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU)
Number of active members: 40+
Website: www-ucsu.colorado.edu
Date of last meeting: July 9, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Bi-weekly meetings during official school year
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Students at the University of Colorado have a long record of environmental stewardship. As such, the Student Union (UCSU) has committed itself to understanding the profound array of environmental and social impacts generated by college students and university campuses. In addition to reducing its ecological footprint, UCSU is also dedicated to preparing the next generation of leaders to explore innovative, sustainable solutions to problems outside of the classroom. Every year, students, staff, faculty, and administrative officials combine their knowledge and resources to continually reduce the environmental impacts created by the CU campus; and every year, these solutions become increasingly innovative and interconnected. The following is a list of the projects implemented by this coalition since August 2008:
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Live Green Pledge (current) – New windows and low-flow sinks only do so much. For this reason, students in the Environmental Center have gone directly to their peers and have seeked their commitment to reduce their ecological footprint through everyday actions. As part of the pledge, the University commits five dollars to building improvements for every student that promises to Live Green!
Name of organization: University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU) Environmental Board
Number of active members: 8
Website: ecenter.colorado.edu
Date of last meeting: May, 2009
Frequency of meetings: weekly meetings during school year
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Since 1970, the Environmental Board governs the Environmental Center by approving the annual operating budget of the department, informing policy decisions, and guiding campus sustainability strategy and programs.
Highlights of the past year include:
- Reviewed funding proposals for the Sustainable CU initiative and awarded $250,000 in funding in 2008-09 for innovative capital projects.
- Participated in Boulder Campus Planning Commission which directs campus development projects.
- Reviewed proposals for funding various environmental events.
- Provided input on the Recycling facility relocation, CU Buffs Live Green campaign and Climate Action Plan.
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: RecycleMania
Year initiated: 2004
Frequency of competition: annual
Participants: campus-wide, over 200 campuses nationally
Incentives: recognition
Goal of competition: reduce waste and increase recycling rates
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 30% waste diversion rate
Lasting effects of competition: education about recycling
Website:
#2 - Name of competition: Live Green Pledge campaign
Year initiated: piloted in 2008 without funding incentive, formally launched in spring 2009
Frequency of competition: ongoing
Participants: all students, faculty and staff
Incentives: personal commitment to sustainable living (each pledge identifies 3 personal actions to initiate or improve) and a funding match of $5 per pledge goes to campus sustainability projects
Goal of competition: to increase the number of CU Buffaloes engaged in living green and to raise funds for sustainability projects.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 4000 pledges gained in spring 2009
Lasting effects of competition: education, commitment, funding for new projects
Website: ecenter.Colorado.edu/livegreen
#3 - Name of competition: EcoStar Challenge
Year initiated: piloted in 2007
Frequency of competition: semesterly
Participants: residence halls
Incentives: $1000 funding for winning hall for each category (water, steam, electricity and recycling)
Goal of competition: educate residents about resource conservation
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: measured individually in each hall
Lasting effects of competition: education, resource conservation, behavioral change
Website: n/a
*note that the EcoStar Challenge is organized by Housing Department, with outreach support from Environmental Center
#4 - Name of competition: Buff Energy Star
Year initiated: 2004
Frequency of competition: annual
Participants: all non-dormitory buildings
Incentives: $1000 award for proctor of building that meets all 5 Buff Energy Star criteria: conducting an audit, submitting work orders for identified efficiency projects, achieving 5% energy reduction, and posting conservation signage in building.
Goal of competition: initiate efficiency projects and educate occupants about energy conservation
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 5% electricity and steam
Lasting effects of competition: education, resource conservation, behavioral change
Website: http://www.colorado.edu/facilitiesmanagement/about/conservation/energystar.html
#3 - Name of competition: Power Showdown Residence Hall Challenge
Year initiated: piloted in 2008
Frequency of competition: several weeks in the Fall semester
Participants: Two largest Residence Halls
Incentives: $2000 in various prizes for students in the winning Hall who have registered for the competition.
Goal of competition: educate residents about energy (particularly electricity) conservation
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: measured individually in each hall
Lasting effects of competition: education, resource conservation, behavioral change
Website: http://ecenter.colorado.edu/powershowdown
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:
Director of Sustainability – This position has been a part of UCSU for over 15 years and is responsible for coordinating environmental awareness and outreach to students, working with building operators and directors to expand sustainability in a variety of areas, and instilling positive environmental values in all decision-making processes.
Environmental Center - Established in 1970, the CU Environmental Center assists with the educational mission of the University by providing information on environmental issues to students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. The Environmental Center gives students applied experience in interdisciplinary environmental problem solving. In addition, the Environmental Center assesses the environmental performance of the university and works with other parts of campus to improve our environmental performance. The Center provides direct services to the University community, including the recycling program, the student bus pass and bicycle programs, and energy conservation and renewable energy programs. The Center engages in the community with the environmental justice and earth education programs, and by sponsoring educational events.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
Ralphie’s Green Stampede - In an aggressive effort to recycle, eliminate waste and cut even more carbon emissions, the University of Colorado at Boulder is proud to present the “Ralphie’s Green Stampede” zero-waste and carbon-reduction program at Folsom Field. In 2008, the program diverted roughly 80% of potential waste from the landfill and expects to achieve 90 percent this year (2009). The Green Stampede is supported by over 600 student volunteers and is supplemented by commitments from the Athletics Department to offset all of the GHG emissions produced by travel and the stadium. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency information and other sources, Folsom Field will become the first major sports stadium in the nation, professional or collegiate, to collect all materials in recycling or compost containers, eliminate trash cans and transform its materials collections systems into a zero-waste process. This program is also beginning to change the food service industry – Frito Lay is exploring the option of compostable bags and candy vendors are seeking biodegradable wrappers. This exciting new initiative was the result of great leadership and a partnership between athletics and UCSU’s Environmental Center. It’s an amazing testimony to CU-Boulder’s values and vision at every level.
CU ASE – In Spring, 2009, the new UCSU Assembly for Sustainability and Equity (CU ASE) replaced the Environmental Justice Project Steering Committee established two years earlier. Both the structure and mission of CU ASE have evolved into a more inclusive and long-lasting format, thereby allowing substantial increases in student participation and outreach. The improved ASE organization will allow UCSU and the student body to become more aware of and responsive to the growing social and equity problems arising from environmental concerns such as climate change, pollution, waste, and drought.
CU Community Energy Connections – Stemming from The Environmental Center’s Social Justice Mission, a team of student employees created the CU Community Energy Connections in summer 2008. In its first year, the CEC developed outreach networks with communities in Boulder County often overlooked by efficiency and conservation outreach, primarily Latino and low-income communities. The CEC, in partnership with a local weatherization agency and the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, did energy audits and basic efficiency installations on over 500 low-income residents of the County. This program employed and trained 19 CU students. http://cucec.org/
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:
CU Biodiesel (www.cubiodiesel.org)
CoPIRG Student Chapters (www.copirgstudents.org)
CU Recycling (www.colorado.edu/recycling)
CU Wild (www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/cuwild)
Environmental Center (www.colorado.edu/ecenter)
Environmental Studies Club (www.colorado.edu/envirostudies)
Student Environmental Action Coalition
Green Teams (Environmental Center)
Earth Education (Environmental Center)
UCSU Environmental Board (www.colorado.edu/ecenter)
Environmental Law Society (http://lawweb.colorado.edu/students/orgs/organization.jsp?id=11)
Natural Resources Law Center (http://www.colorado.edu/law/centers/nrlc/)
Leeds Business School Net Impact (http://leeds.colorado.edu/Current_Students/interior.aspx?id=720)
Solar Decathlon Team
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): CoPIRG Student Chapters and the Campus Climate Challenge are on campus and actively engaging students.
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