What is Green Cup?
Every spring since 2011, WashU’s Residential Colleges compete to reduce energy use and adopt more sustainable lifestyles, preventing hundreds of metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and helping the university save money on electricity costs.
The Green Cup competition will kick off this year on Friday, February 2nd and conclude at 11:59 pm on Thursday, February 22nd. The winning Res College will receive an ice cream sundae party as a prize!
During Green Cup, ResColleges compete against each other by gaining points across four categories:
- Energy usage reduction
- Attending green events, listed on this calendar
- Weekly quizzes that you can access above
- Stopping by BD to take green actions, which include taking the sustainability pledge, signing up for a compost bucket, participating in the white board activity, and showing your ReusePass code. Confirmed tabling dates: 2/2, 2/5, 2/15, 2/22, 6-8 pm
The Green Cup is a collaboration between Congress of the South 40 (CS40), Residential Life, and the Office of Sustainability.
Why is Green Cup so important?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 40% of all energy use in the United States is attributed to electricity, most of which is generated by burning fossil fuels.
Green Cup shows students how a more sustainable and energy efficient lifestyle contributes to a lower impact on the environment and builds good life-long habits.
How do I participate?
Participants must reside in the South 40 or the Village. If you are a resident of a South 40 Residential College, reach out to your Eco Rep. If your ResCollege does not have an EcoRep, your College Council will have more information for you.
What are some easy things I can do?
- Wash laundry on a cold cycle—heating water requires energy! And dry your clothes on low heat or hang to dry if you have the space!
- In these cold winter months, keep your thermostat temperature low (if you have control over your thermostat), 65-69 is ideal, and wear layers to keep warm
- Unplug any electronics not in use, this includes cell phone chargers!
- Find your computer’s energy saving mode
- Turn off all lights when leaving a room and take advantage of natural light during the day
For more tips, check out the Office of Sustainability’s Energy Efficiency Guide.
Any questions about Green Cup can be directed to Aamna Anwer, Sustainability Coordinator: aamna@wustl.edu