Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 76.02
Liaison Stephanie MacPhee
Submission Date July 21, 2021

STARS v2.2

Dalhousie University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Yes

Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Yes

1st campaign 

Name of the campaign:
Ecolympics

A brief description of the campaign:
The annual Ecolympics competition is hosted by Dalhousie University’s Green Residence Forum (GRF) to help reduce energy and water consumption in residences through competition and education. The energy challenge is aligned with the Atlantic University Annual Energy Challenge. Before the competition begins, energy and water consumption baselines are determined for all participating residences.

Overall goals of Dalhousie University’s Ecolympics:
- Have an engaging and competitive residence wide energy and water consumption competition
- Heighten awareness of sustainability initiatives at Dalhousie
- Have the competition influence the adoption of more sustainable lifestyle choices
- Reduce Dalhousie’s carbon footprint
-Support community building in residence

A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
Before the competition begins, energy and water consumption baselines are determined for all participating residences. During the two-week competition each residence is challenged to decrease their energy and water consumption and take other sustainable actions, this is measured in real time and in shown on an online dashboard. Throughout the two weeks of the Ecolympics, sustainability will be promoted around the campus in order to educate and inform participants and campus members. On the Halifax campuses, winning residence will be determined by how much actual water and energy is reduced which is verified through metering. The AC campus competes in the electricity category, as water metering is being worked on. Involvement and participation are also factors in determining a winner, attending events and making commitments helps win each residence points. The winning residence for HFX and AC campuses gets to take home the residence trophy and other fun features such as a free movie night.

if reporting an additional campaign, provide:

2nd campaign

Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Commuter Challenge

A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
The Commuter Challenge is a week-long event during Canadian Environment Week in which cities and workplaces compete to encourage Canadians to leave their cars at home and reward those who are walking, cycling, carpooling and taking transit. Dalhousie has participated in the Commuter Challenge since 2011. During the challenge week, participants track the distances they traveled and their mode of transportation.

A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
At the end of the challenge, participants receive a summary that illustrates total impact for the transportation used (calories burned, fuel saved, and CO2 emissions avoided). Throughout the commuter challenge, active transportation is promoted to make a positive change for the environment.

https://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/get-involved/awards-and-competitions/commuter-challenge-/2019_Commuter_Challenge_Results.html

Optional Fields

A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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