Creating Partnerships for More Effective Energy-Saving Competitions Zachary Davidson New York University [email protected]
Jan 12, 2016
Creating Partnerships for More Effective Energy-Saving
Competitions
Zachary DavidsonNew York University
History of
• Green Grant• Holistic Consumption• Student Initiative • Institutionalization
Competition Organization
• Competitive Unit– Residence
Halls
• Performance compared to baseline
• Dashboard• Prizes and
Trophy to Winner
A New Trajectory
• Mission of our office• Expanding Reach• Coinciding themes • Past experience
Explaining our Vision
• What is NYUnplugged?• What do we want for students
to get from it?• Unplugging vs. Energy
Challenge
Handing Over the Reigns
• Hall Councils become Street Teams
• Green Captains • Unplugging vs. Energy
Challenge
Incentivizing Students
• Leveraging knowledge and experience– Pledge Cards (4,800 signed) – Prizes
• Using existing student engagement structures– Organizational structures – Decision making procedures
Education vs. Entertainment
Don’t Make Assumptions
• Where is your table going to be placed at the event?
• What will the events be that are coordinated by student ambassadors?– Events that attempt to promote sustainability
from non-experts
What Green Captains Learned
1. The more passionate about the event the organizer the more effective the event
2. Organizing in advance is essential for proper publicity
3. Flyers are ineffective, tabling works better4. Delicious food attracts students5. Paying for things students normally have to
cover (like laundry) encourages attendance6. Finding the “right time” for an event is
difficult/impossible7. Teaching sustainability is difficult, more
materials on effective greening are necessary