Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.48
Liaison Amy Brunvand
Submission Date Oct. 21, 2020

STARS v2.2

University of Utah
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Kate Whitbeck
Communications & Relationship Manager
Sustainability Office
"---" 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

Name of the campaign:
Recycle Rice Eccles

A brief description of the campaign:

Recycle Rice-Eccles (RRE) is a student-driven program under the Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) Sustainability Board. The mission of RRE is to divert recyclable waste from the landfill at the tailgate lot and at the stadium. Volunteers get free admission to the football games, a volunteer ‘green police’ t-shirt, food, and tons of fun! Every home game ASUU’s Recycle Rice-Eccles program helps minimize waste by recycling aluminum cans, glass, cardboard and plastic bottles. The great success so far has been made possible by the volunteers who have donated their time and energy to help recycle at tailgating events and at the stadium during the game.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:

Since its beginning 8 years ago, Recycle Rice-Eccles has collected over 29,000 pounds of recyclables. This great success is made possible thanks to volunteers who have donated their time and energy to collect recyclables from tailgate events and the stadium.
A brief story of the inception and development of Recycle Rice-Eccles, written in October 2015, can be found here:
http://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/recycle-rice-eccles/

The website URL where information about the campaign is available:
http://asuu.utah.edu/recyclericeeccles


Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Clear the Air Challenge

A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):

The Clear the Air Challenge is an annual statewide Utah-based competition that promotes alternative forms of transportation. The challenge, which is hosted by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, is all about improving air quality, reducing traffic congestion, and conserving energy in Utah by eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips. By eliminating a few vehicle trips and logging trips other than single-occupant vehicles (walking, biking, public transit, carpooling, working from home, etc) participants can make a big difference in air quality in our community while competing for weekly prizes, grand prizes, and statewide bragging rights. During the entire month of February, the Sustainability Office conducts an outreach campaign through Sustainability Office outreach and social media described in EN-4 and University Marketing & Communications to encourage University of Utah faculty, staff and students to sign on to the TravelWise tracking app and log trips in order to calculate CO2 emissions prevented, money saved and calories burned with better transportation choices.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):

In the 2019 Clear Air Challenge, the University of Utah took second place among large institutions. The University team consisting of over 300 participants logged over 7000 trips totaling over 73,000 miles (21.2 tons of CO2 saved & $20,000 saved).
During the challenge in February 2018, the U took first place with a total of 12,752 trips logged that avoided SOV commutes. These trips totaled 151,502 miles and 43.3 tons of CO2 saved. Information available at this link. https://travelwisetracker.com
The website URL where information about the campaign is available (2nd campaign):
http://cleartheairchallenge.org/


A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns:

Electric Bike Purchase Programs
The University of Utah coordinated two separate discounted e-bike purchase programs. The first was open to the broader campus community including faculty, staff, students and alumni; the second was limited to departments on campus. The goal of the program was to provide campus community members a way to get out of their vehicles and improve public health through increased physical activity and reduced carbon emissions, as well as easing congestion on our campus roads. The University of Utah campus is situated on a fairly steep incline. An e-bike allows for easy uphill trips so riders can arrive sweat-free to their classes or meetings. Through these purchase programs over 160 e-bikes were sold to campus community members.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/biking-to-the-u-no-sweat/
https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/e-bikes-on-campus/

Space Heater Exchange Program
Launched in late 2019, the Space Heater Exchange Program was designed to help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while keeping employees comfortable. University faculty, staff and interns are encouraged to bring in personal space heaters and exchange them for an energy-efficient electric blanket or plush non-electric blanket.
Personal space heaters are energy drains and greenhouse gas emitters that affect the air we breathe. Electric throws use 90% less energy than a typical portable electric space heater. Energy savings also result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
The program was launched in December of 2019. In that first month alone, 53 individuals signed up to participate resulting in the provision of 59 blankets. Thirty-eight space heaters were collected resulting in a reduction in 39,600 watts being used for personal heating.
URL: https://attheu.utah.edu/announcements/are-you-a-space-heater-user/

Additional documentation to support the submission

Recycle Rice Eccles
http://asuu.utah.edu/recyclericeeccles
http://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/recycle-rice-eccles/

Clear the Air Challenge
http://cleartheairchallenge.org/
https://travelwisetracker.com

E-Bike Purchase Programs
https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/biking-to-the-u-no-sweat/
https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/e-bikes-on-campus/
Space Heater Exchange Program: https://attheu.utah.edu/announcements/are-you-a-space-heater-user/


Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

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.