Duke University
IN-2: Innovation 2

Green Devil Challenge -- An innovative, sustainability behavior change program at Duke University begins with a challenge to students, staff and faculty to take the Sustainable Duke Pledge. The pledge states, “I pledge to become an integral participant in the Sustainable Duke program. I will consider the environmental, social and economic impact of my daily decisions and make every effort to reduce my ecological footprint. I will also share my individual sustainability efforts with others at Duke.” The pledge can be taken in person at events or on the sustainability office website at any time. Individuals who take the Sustainable Duke pledge are added to the listserv of over 10,000 staff, faculty and students, which is then used for Sustainable Duke’s monthly behavior change promoting communication, the Green Devil Challenge.

The Green Devil Challenge encourages personal behavior change in specific areas of sustainability, such as water, waste, energy, transportation and diet. Recent challenges have focused on personal use of reusable food and beverage containers, shutting down electronics for the holidays and saving paper through strategies for reduced printing. The challenges are issued via e-mail and participants are directed to a webpage where they can pledge to take a series of actions during the month. The challenges guide individuals in reducing their carbon footprint at Duke through behavior change actions over time.

Participation in monthly challenges has ranged from 500 to 3,000, but is typically at least 1,000 faculty, staff and student participants each month. As an incentive for participation, prizes related to the month’s challenge are awarded randomly to participants.

A sample Green Devil Challenge is pasted below:

The Green Devil Challenge: October 2010
Think Before You Ink

On average, each American consumes 730 pounds of paper each year. That is equivalent to a stack of newspapers 21 feet tall. All those pages are also expensive. Last year, Duke spent $1.7 million on printer and copier paper.

By printing less often and printing double-sided we can all do our part to save paper, energy and money. Reusing paper that is printed on one side and printing with smaller fonts and smaller margins are a few other ways you can reduce your impact on the environment.

In October, we challenge you to think before you ink.

Accept the Challenge (participants select actions from the list below)

*I will print double sided whenever possible.

*I will reduce the amount I print by taking advantage of electronic formats for my personal use. If involved with print publications, I will consider options for using electronic formats for these too.

*I will reduce the number of pages I print and save on ink by using smaller fonts, smaller margins, and the "grayscale" option when possible.

*I will reuse paper when it has been printed on only one side, either for printing again or for notes.

*I will eliminate my personal desktop printer and use shared network printers instead.

*I will encourage my department to purchase recycled content printer and copier paper to save trees and energy.