| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.41 |
| Liaison | Krista Bailey |
| Submission Date | Dec. 12, 2023 |
Pennsylvania State University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Lydia
Vandenbergh Assoc. Dir. Employee Engagement & Education Sustainability Institute |
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Name of the campaign:
A brief description of the campaign:
Penn State's Campus Race to Zero Waste program, initiated in 2019, is an ongoing sustainability campaign focused on waste reduction and educational outreach. Spearheaded by EcoReps in collaboration with student leaders, staff green teams, and operations staff, the program began with weekly events to promote sustainable waste management. Despite challenges posed by COVID-19, the campaign continued to adapt and innovate. In 2022, a special Green Basketball game was organized. EcoReps engaged fans with sustainability-focused activities on the concourse and conducted an extensive waste sortation exercise, salvaging recyclables from landfill-bound waste. This targeted effort successfully educated attendees and diverted a significant percentage of waste from landfills.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
The Green Basketball game in 2022 demonstrated measurable, positive impacts on Penn State's sustainability efforts. Spearheaded by EcoReps, the event engaged 150 fans through sustainability-focused activities on the concourse. A significant initiative during the game was the comprehensive waste sortation process carried out by EcoReps. This effort led to collecting an additional 523 pounds of recyclable material, which represented 42% of the total waste stream for the event, successfully diverting it from landfills. Post-event surveys confirmed increased recycling and sustainability awareness among attendees, highlighting the campaign's effectiveness in fostering a culture of sustainability.
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Every fall and winter, Penn State Sustainability supports all of the University's Green Teams and Sustainability Councils, across all 23 Penn State locations, to use the advertising resources that we create to urge Penn State employees to unplug electronics and appliances, especially refrigerators, printers, and lab equipment and shut off lights during the winter break holiday. In 2022, Penn State Sustainability interns created a poem to describe these actions, along with a fun and engaging video. Along with an image, these were disseminated to our peer educators to share throughout their units. Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/Zu4Uc0Lu_hQ
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
This marketing toolkit and campaign, along with lowered temperature settings in buildings, reduced the University's energy bill by over $350,000.
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns:
The Tailgate Ambassador program at Penn State aims to enhance the sustainability of tailgating practices and overall fan experience during home football games at Beaver Stadium. Volunteers from student organizations serve as liaisons, interacting with fans in tailgating lots surrounding the stadium. They provide recycling and trash bags, encourage proper waste disposal, and answer fan inquiries. The program strives to reduce litter, increase recycling, and create a more environmentally responsible tailgating culture.
The Tailgate Ambassador's impact has been substantial, yielding positive outcomes across various fronts. By actively distributing recycling and trash bags, the initiative has significantly improved waste management practices during home football games at Beaver Stadium, effectively addressing the challenge posed by the staggering 100 tons of waste generated per game. Introducing distinctive "blue bags" dedicated to recyclables like bottles, cans, and glass has increased recycling rates and fostered a culture of environmental consciousness among fans. Through education and engagement, the program has remarkably curbed littering tendencies, resulting in a visible reduction in post-game clean-up efforts, which traditionally incurred financial and social costs for Penn State. Beyond these environmental benefits, the Tailgate Ambassador program has elevated the overall fan experience, with volunteers serving as approachable resources, enhancing camaraderie and creating a welcoming atmosphere. Additionally, the campaign's emphasis on responsible tailgating has sparked community engagement and showcased the potential of student organizations to make meaningful contributions to the broader community.
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
We used the 2022 calendar year for this section.
We used the 2022 calendar year for this section.
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.