Presentation to

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• Presentation to
• ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS CLASS
• March 7, 2007
• By Christina Erickson, Eco-Reps Program
  Coordinator

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What is the Eco-Reps Program?

• A joint venture between Residential Life and
  Physical Plant Departments
• Hire students to do peer education and outreach
  in campus residence halls
• Primary goals include reducing the campus
  ecological footprint and educating the
  residential student body on green lifestyle
  choices

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Background

• Began as a pilot project of the Recycling Office
  in Spring 2004 as a way to connect UVMs
  institutional commitment to environmental
  stewardship and individual student behavior
• Based on models at Tufts University and Harvard
  University
• Funded through Residential Life with support
  from Physical Plant
• In Fall 2005, the Eco-Reps Program was awarded
  the Governors Award for Environmental Excellence
• In Fall 2006 established a new home in the
  GreenHouse RLC in University Heights South

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Partnering for Success!
Eco-Reps undergraduate students living in
residence halls
Christina EricksonProgram Coordinator/ PhD
Studentprovides direct coordination, project
supervision, and mentoring of Eco-Reps, program
development and evaluation
Resource People provide technical assistance
advice Gioia ThompsonEnvironmental
Coordinator Richard Wolbach Energy Management
Engineer Corey BermanRecycling Program
Assistant Stephanie KazaENVS Faculty John
SamaLiving/Learning Director
Erica SpiegelWaste/Recycling Managerprovides
program oversight, hiring, budget
Res. Life Administration provide operating budget
to Recycling program, and by extension, Eco-Reps
program
Eco-Reps Advisory Team
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Who Are the Eco-Reps?

• Undergraduate students who live on campus
• Go through an application and selection process
• Variety of different majors and interests
• Work and are paid (8/hr) for 4 hours per week
• Required to attend a bi-weekly meeting to plan
  and discuss projects and reflect on past events
  and activities

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What do the Eco-Reps do?

• Learn about environmental issues and how
  lifestyle choices have an impact on the
  environment
• Bring those messages to their peers in the
  residence halls
• Represent the Program at their CAB meetings

• waste reduction
• energy conservation and efficiency
• water conservation
• eating for the environment

• transportation
• climate change
• consumption
• arts and celebration

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Website Manual
www.uvm.edu/ecoreps
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Bulletin Boards
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Waste Sorts
Results from October 2006 sort in MAT and
Harris/Millis
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Light Bulb Exchanges

• In partnership with the Office of Energy
  Management and the UVM Campus Energy Group
• 1,000 bulbs exchanged in Fall 2006 resulting in
  these savings
• 53, 000 kWh per year
• 6,400.00 per year
• 4800 lbs. of CO2
• 80 lbs. of NOx
• 200 lbs. of SO2

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Tours
Intervale Compost, Burlington
Materials Recovery Facility, Williston
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Earth Week

• Free smoothies to promote local and organic
  foods
• Sustainable Room Display
• Earth Day Clean-Up

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Spreading the Word

• On Campus
• Eco-Mind columns in the Vermont Cynic
• InSTALLments bathroom newsletter
• Tabling at class picnics, Student Activities
  Fair, Eco-Fair
• Website
• Brochure (coming soon)
• And Beyond
• Presentations at conferences and meetings

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Adding an Academic Component

• Program Expansion
• Fall 2007 students can earn one ENVS credit
• Potential expansion in the next 1-2 years into
  non-residential buildings such as academic
  departments, library, and administrative offices

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Program Development and Evaluation
Eco-Reps Program Logic Model (draft 2/07)
Also working on a draft of Outcomes,
Activities, and Indicators.
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Formalizing Network of Similar Programs

• Over two dozen similar programs across the U.S.
  and Canada
• Monthly conference calls around program
  development, implementation, and evaluation
• Submitting a proposal to present at the 7th
  Greening of the Campus Conference in Fall 2007

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For more information

• www.uvm.edu/ecoreps
• Christina Erickson
• Eco-Reps Program Coordinator
• Christina.Erickson_at_uvm.edu
• Erica Spiegel
• Manager, UVM Recycling
• Erica.Spiegel_at_uvm.edu