Creating Partnerships for More Effective Energy-Saving Competitions

Creating Partnerships for More Effective Energy-Saving

Competitions

Zachary DavidsonNew York University

zld202@nyu.edu

History of

• Green Grant• Holistic Consumption• Student Initiative • Institutionalization

Competition Organization

• Competitive Unit– Residence

Halls

• Performance compared to baseline

• Dashboard• Prizes and

Trophy to Winner

A New Trajectory

• Mission of our office• Expanding Reach• Coinciding themes • Past experience

Explaining our Vision

• What is NYUnplugged?• What do we want for students

to get from it?• Unplugging vs. Energy

Challenge

Handing Over the Reigns

• Hall Councils become Street Teams

• Green Captains • Unplugging vs. Energy

Challenge

Incentivizing Students

• Leveraging knowledge and experience– Pledge Cards (4,800 signed) – Prizes

• Using existing student engagement structures– Organizational structures – Decision making procedures

Education vs. Entertainment

Don’t Make Assumptions

• Where is your table going to be placed at the event?

• What will the events be that are coordinated by student ambassadors?– Events that attempt to promote sustainability

from non-experts

What Green Captains Learned

1. The more passionate about the event the organizer the more effective the event

2. Organizing in advance is essential for proper publicity

3. Flyers are ineffective, tabling works better4. Delicious food attracts students5. Paying for things students normally have to

cover (like laundry) encourages attendance6. Finding the “right time” for an event is

difficult/impossible7. Teaching sustainability is difficult, more

materials on effective greening are necessary

For more information…

zld202@nyu.edunyu.edu/sustainability/nyunplugged