| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.95 |
| Liaison | Kathleen McCaig |
| Submission Date | June 14, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Berea College
IN-27: Innovation D
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Kathleen
McCaig Sustainability Coordinator Operations & Sustainability |
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
In Kentucky, basketball is taken extremely seriously. Between the University of Kentucky (UK), and the University of Louisville (UofL) consistently being two of the top basketball teams in the country – Kentuckians take pride and avidly follow all things related to college basketball. To leverage this passion in the pursuit of sustainability, in 2015 Berea College hosted its first carbon neutral basketball game against one of its chief rival Alice Lloyd College. This represented only the 2nd carbon neutral college basketball game ever played in the country and the first for Kentucky. This game was marketed and had over 500 attendees – as opposed to the normal Berea College basketball games which draws around 50. At the game, the college took the opportunity to educate the students about carbon neutrality and to explain that the game was being offset by trees that would be planted in the spring. These 24 planted trees were calculated to absorb the entire games worth of carbon – including the travel of the opposing team - in their first year. Meaning that these trees would continue to sequester a Berea College basketball game’s worth of carbon every year going forward. In addition to these trees, and the excitement the game and tree planting ceremony generated, Berea College hired an outside consultant to develop a carbon calculator specifically for the event. This calculator was branded for Berea college and could be utilized going forward to calculate the carbon associated with similar types of sporting events. Berea College made this calculator free to use and other colleges have utilized it throughout Kentucky to plan, calculate and host their own carbon neutral sporting events since. This basketball game was so successful, the Berea College hosts the event each February – along with the additional trees being planted to offset each game. This event is a perfect example of how a school can take a traditionally non-sustainable activity and make it sustainable and fun educational event.
Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Public Engagement
Air & Climate
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
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:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.