The sixth annual Green Cup launched on the Danforth campus last Monday, February 1. Green Cup is a competition to reduce energy use among South 40 Residential Colleges, North Side on-campus housing, on-campus fraternities, and the School of Medicine’s Olin dorm and Farrell Learning and Teaching Center (in four separate leagues). Students compete to reduce their energy usage below a baseline. The North Side and School of Medicine league locations will work collectively to reduce their energy use by 10%, and the South 40 and fraternity teams will compete using a point system. At the end of the competition, the winners in each league will receive prizes!
WUSM Student Sustainability Committee members Radhika Jain and David Ebertz are coordinating efforts for the School of Medicine league. They have partnered with the Facilities Management Department to collect baseline data from February 1 to 14 and competition data from February 15 to 28. In Olin dorm, measurements include electrical energy use from lights, dryers, laptops, chargers, refrigerators, microwaves, TVs, and other devices that are plugged in. In the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center, measurements include classroom and hall lights only.
Radhika, David, and other student champions will share quiz questions and tips on how to reduce energy during tabling events and via social media. They will also ask students to take a sustainability pledge to increase education and participation. When asked about their overall goals and impacts, David summed that, “Sustainability is a passion for many medical students because of its impact on global public health. By participating in Green Cup and contributing to positive action on the climate, we will not only benefit the planet but also our future patients.”
For more information, tips, and competition standings across the four leagues, visit greencup.wustl.edu.