Green Room Challenge
University students certify their residence hall rooms as 'green'
4:14 p.m., May 13, 2015--The Green Room Challenge, which ran from September 2014 through Earth Week in April 2015, dared University of Delaware residential students to certify their rooms as “green.”
Residents from all residential complexes participated in the challenge, with just over 600 rooms across campus certified as environmentally friendly.
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George Read Complex had the most participants of all complexes. George Read North third floor horizontal was one of three floors across campus to reach 100 percent participation and was the first floor to reach that goal.
For rooms to be certified, students completed an online survey regarding energy usage, methods of transportation, food consumption and purchasing.
“Some of the most impactful things students can do to contribute to the University’s sustainability goals begin right in their residence hall room,” said Dillon Kimmel, residence hall coordinator with Residence Life and Housing and coordinator of the challenge. “This program seeks to bring those practices to students’ attention.”
The 600 rooms certified this year far surpassed last year’s pilot program, in which 194 rooms participated.
“It was wonderful to watch the interest expand with Green Room Challenge this year,” said Kimmel. “I credit the success of the program to the student-run Green Teams in each complex and their work motivating and encouraging student involvement throughout the year.”
After completing the survey, residents received a door cling indicating their room had been certified and were entered into a drawing to win prizes.
George Read North third floor horizontal residents won T-shirts recognizing them as the most sustainable floor on campus, as well as a pizza and ice cream party to celebrate their accomplishment.