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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: Brad Cobb
Position (in student organization): President, Active Energy Club
Date survey submitted: June 29th, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Active Energy Club
Number of active members: 25
Website: www.umnaec.com
Date of last meeting: May 4th, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Membership, financing, education, real world experience, saving energy
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Increased membership (about 1 student joins every week), set up financial future with yearly grants and partnerships with local businesses, multiple guest speakers and discussions regarding technology and common practice in the areas of sustainability, arranged "field trips" to power plants and other local business to gain real world knowledge, we also participated in numerous energy audits aimed at evaluating and implementing energy saving techniques.
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: Energy Efficiency Student Alliance
Year initiated: 2009
Frequency of competition: about once every semester
Participants: Currently: Active Energy Club, MPIRG (Minnesota Public Interest Research Group), and University of Minnesota Energy Management
Incentives: Saving energy
Goal of competition: Save as much phantom energy as possible
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: goal is 10% of all energy usage in office/classroom setting Lasting effects of competition: Awareness, monetary savings
Website: http://www1.umn.edu/italladdsup/ also www.umnaec.com
#2 - Name of competition: EWB-AEC Low Income Housing Audit
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: Once
Participants: Engineers Without Borders and the Active Energy Club
Incentives: Help a low income family evaluate their energy usage and implement any low cost solutions available.
Goal of competition: Provide a framework for low income families to use in order to audit their own homes.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: As much as possible.
Lasting effects of competition: Awareness, monetary savings, community outreach
Website: Unfortunately we currently use a wiki page only available on the University of Minnesota network. A webpage and report will be available upon completion of the project. Here is an article to further describe our efforts: http://www.mndaily.com/2009/04/22/u-students-do-home-energy-audit?page=2
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 Institute on the Environment is a major contributor to the sustainability related projects at the University of Minnesota.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
Light bulb distribution events, we participate in many awareness events hosted by the University of Minnesota (Energy forums, Beautiful U day, etc...). We also host guest speakers from local businesses and our very own campus to discuss sustainability issues. We have also initiated University energy audits in the past, providing information to Energy Management about problem areas in some buildings.
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):
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Name: Robert Bauer
Position (in student organization): freelance member, de-facto leader
Date survey submitted: July 14, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Energy Efficiency Student Alliance (EESA)
Number of active members: 10
Website: www.aec.umn.edu/eesa
Date of last meeting: July 13, 2009
Frequency of meetings: As necessary.
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Vampire power, energy awareness.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: We have saved $316 in phantom power annually. We have directly educated 25 office workers about phantom power. The Power Police (participants in EESA) also participate with the University of Minnesota Facilities Management in hosting renovation parties in each of the 40 building slated for energy renovation on the University campus in 2009-2010. During these parties students meet with building staff and become familiar and comfortable with the plug load audit process and the imperative of reducing phantom loads. With the help of everyone on campus (especially the Power Police) the University plans to reduce total energy consumption by 5% or $2 million by the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
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: Plug Load Audit Blitz
Year initiated: 2009
Frequency of competition: Monthly.
Participants: Students from clubs including the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) and the Active Energy Club (AEC); office workers at the University of Minnesota
Incentives: Academic departments at the University of Minnesota pay their own energy bills. If they cut back they can use the remaining money allocated for energy on other benefits for the department.
Goal of competition: Reduce phantom power use and raise awareness about energy use.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 5-10% of the energy used by office equipment is phantom power. By empowering people to eliminate phantom power we are working with the department of Energy Management to reduce consumption by 5%, or $2 million, by 2010.
Lasting effects of competition: We installed digital timers and power strips in office spaces. The timers are programmed to turn off 9:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. Monday-Sunday. The power strips are conveniently placed on the workers’ disks so they can turn off their phantom watts when they leave at night.
Website: www.aec.umn.edu/powerpolice
#2 - Name of competition: Dorm Wars
Year initiated: 2009
Frequency of competition: Annual
Participants: On-campus residential students at the University of Minnesota
Incentives: The winning dormitory receives a pizza party and a traveling trophy.
Goal of competition: Reduce energy consumption in one month compared to a three-year running average for that month.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced:
Lasting effects of competition: This year, EESA will work with the host of the competition, MPIRG, to install a sustainability checklist on the door of every dormitory room.
Website:
SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[X ] No: I am not aware of a functional student committee on sustainability.
[ ] 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:
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):
Minnesota Public Interest Research Group
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Name: Lance Brisbois
Position (in student organization): core member
Date survey submitted: July 20
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG)
Number of active members: more than 50 total; about 15 in the Environment Task Force
Website: www.mpirg.org
Date of last meeting: May 4
Frequency of meetings: weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: MPIRG's environmental task force helped with the PowerVote campaign on campus during election season by registering voters and having them pledge to vote for the candidates with the best plan for combating climate change and creating more green jobs for America. We rallied for student support around renewable energy and cleaner cars on campus through educational speakers and movies. We collaborated with other student organizations on a Campus Sustainability Summit, where students and faculty were able to discuss how to make the campus a leader in sustainability. MPIRG also started a new campaign to work on performing energy audits on campus buildings. Beginning this fall, we will be starting a campaign to increase access to local foods on campus as well to improve access to alternative forms of transportation on campus.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: After collecting more than a thousand PowerVote pledges, nearly 50 U of M students went to Washington, D.C. in February for a conference called PowerShift. We used what we learned there to further our projects on campus. This spring, we worked with other student groups much more than in recent years. By networking and collaborating, we are able to accomplish more on campus.
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please list details for each competition.
#1 - Name of competition:
Year initiated:
Frequency of competition:
Participants:
Incentives:
Goal of competition:
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced:
Lasting effects of competition:
Website:
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:
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: EcoWatch (http://www.tc.umn.edu/~ecowatch/) is working on getting the first green roof implemented on campus. Active Energy Club (http://www.tc.umn.edu/~aec/) is collaborating with MPIRG on the energy audits program. The Environmental Studies Club (http://www.sua.umn.edu/groups/directory/show.php?id=325) was another of the groups that worked with MPIRG on the Campus Sustainability Summit.
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):
MPIRG has chapters on several campuses across Minnesota, but is not part of the USPIRG. MPIRG members have been involved with the statewide environmental network, Trans-Campus Energy Action Movement Minnesota (TEAM MN).
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Name: Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas
Position (in student organization): President
Date survey submitted: 7/22/09
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Carlson Net Impact Chapter
Number of active members: 50
Website: www.carlsonschool.umn.edu/Page4968.aspx
Date of last meeting: 5/6/09
Frequency of meetings: Biweekly in school year
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Curriculum committee assessing new academic offerings
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Survey going out to students in 1 month, administration is working with us on options
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[x ] No BUT we do participate in teams for various competitions around the country
[ ] Yes. Please list details for each competition.
#1 - Name of competition:
Year initiated:
Frequency of competition:
Participants:
Incentives:
Goal of competition:
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced:
Lasting effects of competition:
Website:
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: Our club has someone assigned to campus greening initiatives
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
Starting a commuter board, monthly speakers on sustainability and corporate greening/corporate social responsibility efforts, starting a reusable coffee mug program
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: A new undergraduate Net Impact chapter just started which works with the graduate program; there is an undergraduate Green Biz Club that the MBA program intersects with; there are entrepreneurship courses and clubs that work on triple bottom lined business development; Ventures Enterprise program offeres projects on sustainable business models
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): Net Impact is an international organization that is a global network of leaders who want to change the world through business.
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