Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.54
Liaison Tom Hartzell
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2020

STARS v2.2

Calvin University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete N/A Becky Haney
Associate Professor
Economics
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Kill-a-watt 2020

A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:

Kill-a-watt is a residence hall-wide sustainability competition and education program during the month of January. This initiative of Calvin College seeks to be a fulfillment of its vision to be "caretakers of creation and agents of renewal for creation in our daily lives and as a collective community."


Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Energy
Food & Dining
Transportation
Waste
Water

Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
EN-3

A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
Calvin Energy Recovery Fund (CERF)

A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:

Accomplishments: Since its inception in 2009, CERF projects have resulted in:
Savings of 3,621,681 kWh of energy
Reduction of 2,768 mtcoe
Reduction of water use by 7,290,335 gallons

Background:

The Calvin Energy Recovery Fund (CERF) is a revolving fund used to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions on campus. Plus, the cost savings from CERF projects are routed back into the fund for five years after project payoff—thereby growing the fund to support future projects.

Calvin seeded the student-proposed effort in September 2009, and the college's Environmental Stewardship Committee approved policies governing CERF in March 2010. The first CERF project reduced electricity usage on campus by automatically putting computers to sleep when not in use. With thousands of computers on campus, this adds up to significant energy cost savings.

Students are involved in project analysis, providing an opportunity for supplemental learning on energy stewardship and fiscal responsibility. In September 2010, the West Michigan Business Review cited CERF among other campus activities when it recognized Calvin with the “Greatest Green Initiative” award.


Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Air & Climate
Buildings
Energy
Water

Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
AC-8

A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
Calvin recognized by Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement

A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:

“Community engagement is a rich opportunity to learn with the community, through the community, and from the community, not merely in the community.” -- from the interview with Gail Heffner, Director of Community Engagement at Calvin University


Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Public Engagement

Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
EN-10

A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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