Sustainability Challenge

sustainaiblity representatives logo



Contact(s)

Mabel Miller, Sustainability Representatives Coordinator
Email: SustainReps@wwu.edu

Alyssa Tsukada, Sustainability Representatives Assistant Coordinator
Email: SustainRepsAsst@wwu.edu

Maia Heffernan, Sustainability Representatives Intern
Email: SustainRepsIntern@wwu.edu



The second annual Sustainability Challenge encompasses everything in the Go For The Green challenge—our previous annual challenge–and lots more. This collaborative challenge works toward creating lasting change for residents through education and Residence Hall improvements. Sustainability Reps create at least 4 sustainability-related goals for their hall to meet by the end of Winter quarter. These goals are brought to Hall Council and both the Sustainability Reps and Hall Council members will agree to a final set of goals to be accomplished together. We will host the Sustainability Challenge Celebration in early Spring quarter to celebrate the Reps’ hard work.
We partner with a suite of local businesses to collect prizes as incentives and rewards for the SReps’ work. Prizes are awarded at the Celebration based on accomplishment of goals, quality of work, and collaboration efforts between Hall Council and Sustainability Reps.
Each goal needs to focus on at least one area of sustainability as outlined below:

four way ven diagram with economy, ecology, human health, and equity as the circles. Overlaid on top of this is sustainability in a diamond touching all four circles.

Participants

  • Stairs leading up to brick building
    Beta/Gamma

Past Challenges

Go for the Green was a competition between all the residence halls on campus. It determined which hall reduced the most water, waste, electricity, and natural gas. Halls won based on their percent reduction in electricity and landfill waste, by signing the total reduction pledges, and attending sustainable education program/events hosted by their Sustainability Reps. This competition worked to educate WWU campus resident’s on sustainable practices that can be implemented in their living situations and hopefully will take with them beyond campus housing.

The point system worked as follows:

  • Electricity: 75 points for every 1% reduction per month
  • Landfill: 25 points for every 1% reduced per month
  • Pledges: 25 points for every 1% signed per month
  • Programs: 100-300 per program ** points based on participation, educational value, and innovation of the programs