| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.96 |
| Liaison | Audrey McSain |
| Submission Date | Feb. 16, 2022 |
Lehigh University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Audrey
McSain Sustainability Program Manager Office of Sustainability |
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?:
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?:
Name of the campaign:
A brief description of the campaign:
RecycleMania (now known as Campus Race to Zero Waste) is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Lehigh participated in RecycleMania for the first time in 2013 and continued involvement in the 2014-2020 competitions. The competition is promoted through a large banner over campus walkway, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, public website, bus ads, tabling, events, and campus activities and events.
Lehigh was named winner of the "Waste Minimization" category in Spring 2021 for the submission of the Eco Container Program Case Study.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
- Increased awareness of recycling due to large banner over walkway, bus ads, emails, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, public website information, bus ads, tabling, events, and campus events and activities.
- Students, faculty, and staff are increasingly motivated to increase recycling efforts and reduce waste generation.
- Generated increased attention and support for campus recycling programs.
- Measured and benchmarked weekly trash and recycling numbers
- Increased engagement and attendance at the various RecycleMania events including:
Game Day Basketball
Southside Cleanup
Several of our usual events in 2020, such as the Trashion Show, were canceled due to campus closure associated with COVID-19.
In Spring 2021, we could not participate in CR2ZW through the recycling competition as we normally would. We submitted two case studies, on of which, named Lehigh the winner of the "Waste Minimization" category.
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Each November, Lehigh hosts an Energy Conservation Month designed to reduce energy consumption on campus and increase awareness of energy conservation topics. LU Facilities, Eco-Reps, and the Office of Sustainability organize and promote this through engaging events and programs as well as creative marketing.
Types of events:
- Energy Pledge: The pledge encourages faculty, staff, and students to commit to energy reducing behaviors throughout the month of November and beyond.
- One Hour, No Power Fitness Event: This event promote energy reduction by having students unplug for an hour to attend a low energy, dimly lit yoga class. Eco-Reps teach the students in attendance about energy conservation month and how they can help reduce energy consumption in their day to day life.
- Energy trivia: This event promotes learning about ways to save energy.
- Ugly Sweater Photo Contest: This event is open to faculty, staff, and students and promotes turning down the thermostat and wearing an ugly sweater to work to get people thinking about using less energy.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
During the 2013 competition, there was an 8.94% per capita energy consumption savings in participating Lehigh buildings. This was an increase over the 2012 competition's savings of 6.6%.
During the 2014 competition, over 100 staff and students signed the energy pledge.
During the 2015 competition, approximately 80 people signed the energy pledge.
During the 2016 competition, 72 people signed the energy pledge.
During the 2017 competition, 121 people signed the energy pledge.
During the 2018 competition, 76 people signed the energy pledge.
During the 2019 competition, 88 people signed the energy pledge.
During the 2020 competition, 40 people signed the energy pledge.
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns:
- Car Free Day: Lehigh participated in Car Free Day in September 2019 by encouraging members of the Lehigh community to choose an alternative method of transportation for the day. This included signing a pledge to be car free for the day. We hosted a vendor showcase and a celebratory breakfast for those who chose to go car free.
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
This credit was impacted by COVID-19. Considering the below explanations, the data above is representative of a normal year.
- We did not host Car Free Day in Fall 2020, but it was held in 2019.
- Energy Conservation Month was hosted in Fall 2020.
- Although Campus Race to Zero Waste (formerly, Recyclemania) in Spring 2021 was impacted by COVID-19, Lehigh participated in the Case Study segment of the competition. Additionally, Lehigh participated in Recyclemania in previous years by competing in the recycling competition segment.
This credit was impacted by COVID-19. Considering the below explanations, the data above is representative of a normal year.
- We did not host Car Free Day in Fall 2020, but it was held in 2019.
- Energy Conservation Month was hosted in Fall 2020.
- Although Campus Race to Zero Waste (formerly, Recyclemania) in Spring 2021 was impacted by COVID-19, Lehigh participated in the Case Study segment of the competition. Additionally, Lehigh participated in Recyclemania in previous years by competing in the recycling competition segment.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.