Duke University
ER-2: Student Sustainability Outreach Campaign

Eco-Olympics is an annual, month-long energy, waste and water reduction competition between the 14 freshman dorms on East Campus. The competition consists of a series of events geared towards education and energy and waste reduction. When students participate in an event, they earn points for their dorm. Scores for dorms are based on student attendance at educational events, measured energy use, and amount of recyclable material in trash. The winning dorm gets a prize, such as an ice cream party. In the past, the university president has attended the ice cream party. There are also individual prizes for students who attend events. Members of an undergraduate student sustainability organization take names of the students present at each event and then names are selected randomly to win prizes at the end of the event. Waste and water reduction are not measured directly. Waste reduction is assessed through a garbology event, in which garbage samples are taken from random trash receptacles in each dorm. The garbage is weighed, the recyclables are separated out, and then the garbage is weighed again. A higher percentage of recyclables in the trash leads to a lower score. Water conservation cannot be measured, but it is encouraged during the competition. Energy reductions are calculated using energy readings provided weekly by Facilities Management and compared to a baseline.

During Eco-Olympics, freshmen learn about energy conservation, recycling, and worldwide environmental issues. The goal is to educate and engage students for the rest of their time at Duke and after graduation. Most Duke upperclassmen can recall the competition and at least one environmentally friendly practice that they learned while it was taking place. The freshman dorms have a greater sense of community than any other dorms on campus, which enhances the spirit of competition. Holding the competition on East Campus targets students early in their time at Duke, allowing them to later build on what they've learned. Energy reductions during the competition have been as high as 54% for the winning dorm, but the average is usually between 11% and 15%. These reductions are calculated from energy readings provided weekly by Facilities Management.