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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: Emily Galanto
Position (in student organization): Co-coordinator
Date survey submitted: July 16, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: EcoHusky Student Group
Number of active members: 25 active year-round (total membership is ~500 students)
Website: http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/students.html
Date of last meeting: April 28, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Our main goal is to raise awareness and stir enthusiasm for environmental issues on campus and in the community. To do this, EcoHusky hosted the first “Green Week” where each day in the week had a theme, for example “Energy Conservation Day.” EcoHusky has also participated in RecycleMania, Sneaker Recycling and Earth Day. EcoHusky has volunteered at an after-school program to teach recycling to K-8 students and has helped sort bottles and cans for charity (Student First Fund) after the last weekend of the semester. Lastly, the group has been involved with “Late Night” which is an alternative, school-sponsored way to spend the weekend nights.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Green Week, Recyclemania, Sneaker Recycling, Earth Day and volunteering with K-8 students have become or will become annual, anticipated events. Recycling rates have increased and waste production has decreased, despite the growing student body.
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: 2008
Frequency of competition: Annually
Participants: Various colleges throughout the nation
Incentives: To be the grand champion of all the participating universities and colleges
Goal of competition: To reduce waste and increase recycling rates.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 12.25 lbs of items recycled per person, 305,864.4 lbs total.
Lasting effects of competition: A more competitive attitude towards recycling and waste minimization, and a continual increase in recycling and decrease in waste.
Website: Recyclemania.com - http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/Recyclemania.html
#2 - Name of competition: EcoMadness
Year initiated: 2006
Frequency of competition: Once a semester
Participants: Predominantly freshman dormitories at UCONN.
Incentives: An ice cream party for the winning dorm. Each dorm gains more “points” by attending “green” events as well.
Goal of competition: To raise awareness about conserving energy and water.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: The winning dorm reduced their energy and water consumption by 24.40%. The top energy conserving dorm reduced their energy by 28.29% and the top water conserving dorm reduced their water use by 9.7%.
Lasting effects of competition: Lower energy and water usage and more conservation knowledge.
Website: http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/ecomadness.htm
SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school: In 2007, EcoHusky asked President Hogan (UCONN President) to sign the President ‘s Climate Commitment (PCC) which enables UCONN to be carbon neutral by 2050. The Office of Environmental Policy at the University has hired a manager to take on the completion of the climate action plan.
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: Ecogarden Club – a sustainable gardening group that caters to a dining hall on campus and to the community. http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/VirtualTour/EcoGarden/DescriptionEcoGarden.htm.
Forestry and Wildlife Club-- http://www.cag.uconn.edu/nrme/nrme/pages/students/club/ForestryWildlifeClub.php
Soil and Water Conservation Society -- http://www.geocities.com/uconnswcs/
Real Slow Food - http://www.dining.uconn.edu/local_routes_realslow_food.html
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): None
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