| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.30 |
| Liaison | Andrea Trimble |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Virginia
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Nina
Morris Sustainability Outreach Coordinator Energy & Utilities |
Has the institution held at least one 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 at least one 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, including how students and/or employees were engaged:
Recyclemania is a national, eight-week competition amongst schools to reduce materials being sent to the landfill. At U.Va., Recyclemania includes dining hall waste audits, documentary film screenings and panel discussions, crafting from reusable materials events, and zero-waste events. Over 50 student volunteers help make one men's basketball game zero waste, impacting 14,000 fans and diverting hundreds of pounds of materials out of the landfill. UVA held its first zero waste game in 2016, with the highest diversion rate in the ACC.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
Over 50 student volunteers help make one men's basketball game zero waste, impacting 14,000 fans and diverting hundreds of pounds of materials out of the landfill. U.Va. has placed 1st in Virginia in the Gorilla prize for 6 years. The food waste audit diverted 2200 pounds of compost out of the landfill.
The website URL where information about the campaign is available:
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A brief description of the campaign, including how students and/or employees were engaged (2nd campaign):
On Thursday June 25, the University of Virginia will participate in its 6th annual U.Va. Saves Hour as part of a statewide test to reduce electrical demand. From 2:00 – 3:00 P.M., U.Va. has agreed to reduce its electricity consumption by 12 megawatts. As part of the Demand Response Program, this effort is designed to help prevent electric grid emergencies during peak demand periods in the summer months. When the electric grid is approaching high demand, the Demand Response Program taps large state institutions, such as U.Va., to drop their electric grid loads in order to accommodate increased demands from across the region. This program helps curb electricity consumption and increases the electric grid’s reliability through high demand periods.
The Demand Response Program relies on both individual and large-scale actions in order to reduce U.Va.’s consumption by such a drastic amount. An email to all staff, faculty and students was sent out the day of UVA Saves Hour. Moreover, a team of students went to each department across Grounds and talked to offices about UVA Saves Hour and passed out flyers.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
In past years, UVA reduces it's electric load by roughly 12 megawatts during UVA Saves Hour.
The website URL where information about the campaign is available (2nd campaign):
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns, including measured positive impacts:
To engage students and employees on sustainable living, the Food Film Forum series launched a Whole Living Challenge at their first film screening in Spring 2018.
In the documentary film In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, debunks the daily media barrage of conflicting claims about nutrition. Traveling the globe and exploring the supermarket aisles to illustrate the principles of his bestselling book, self-described as an "eater's manifesto," Pollan offers an answer to one of the most confounding and urgent questions of our time: What should I eat to be healthy?
The event will kick off an intentional effort to foster Whole Living, an approach to wellness that focuses on eating, activity, mental health, sleep, and mindfulness. The panel discussion features experts who bring specific knowledge in nutrition, mindfulness and sustainability.
The event will also provide informational materials on Whole Living as well as a postcard that attendees will fill out with their goals that will be mailed to them after two weeks to encourage commitment to whole living. https://www.facebook.com/events/625527251171846/
Laboratory Freezer Challenge
Used for the preservation of sensitive samples and reagents, freezers are a common find in laboratories but are extremely energy-intensive. In the Spring of 2017, UVA participated in the International North American Laboratory Freezer Challenge and received an Honorable Mention Award for saving close to 40,000 kWh per year. Check out the Sustainability Blog to read more about our labs’ efforts to save energy, and register for the Spring 2018 Freezer Challenge. https://sustainability.virginia.edu/news/blog/freezerchallenge.html
"Shut the Sash" Fume Hood Competition
The Green Labs Program conducted UVA's first Shut the Sash competition in October 2017 for the following buildings: MR5, Pinn Hall, the Chemistry Building, and the Physical Life Sciences Building. This friendly competition promoted safe, smart, and sustainable practices when using a fume hood. Fume hood sash sensors in PLSB revealed a 32% improvement on average sash position after the start of the competition. The award-winning labs who championed this cause help to make their lab spaces safer and more sustainable.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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