Oregon State University
ER-2: Student Sustainability Outreach Campaign

The Building Energy Challenge (BEC) occurred in February 2012 and was sponsored by the OSU Sustainability Office. It involved competitions between campus academic, administrative, research and residential buildings to reduce energy use for one month. Buildings competed categorically (for fairer competition) to see which building can reduce electricity use the most, relative to a three-year-average baseline. All residence halls were also involved. In non-residential buildings all occupants were kept informed on at least a weekly, and in most cases daily, basis about progress toward reduction. Competition standings were updated weekly and awards were issued on this frequency as well. While oversight was from the OSU Sustainability Office, students did much of the legwork such as outreach, marketing, building walkthroughs, meter reading, data compilation and analysis, follow ups, prize distribution and other tasks. Student leaders and more involved student participants got academic credit for their work and other students participated to meet civic engagement and volunteerism requirements included in some courses. OSU's annual Campuses Take Charge program as well as participation in the Campus Conservation Nationals also help address this credit requirement.

Measurable outcomes included metered reductions in building electricity use; number of students assigned credit for being student leaders in the BEC; number of students participating as a course civic engagement requirement; number of faculty and staff engaged in BEC events.