College of the Atlantic
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

All questions uploaded in PDF above and copied below: 1. I make an effort to be knowledgeable about environmental issues. 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 2. I make an effort to be knowledgeable about sustainability issues. 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 3. My daily behavior reflects a concern about sustainability issues. 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 4. I value knowing that my food is grown locally and/or organically. 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 5. How frugal would you rate yourself when it comes to your energy use? 1 2 3 4 5 I waste energy everywhere I go. I take cold showers and read in the dark. 6. I think about the carbon footprint of my choices. 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 7. I would like to learn more about sustainability while in college. 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 8. All of the following are forms of energy EXCEPT… Chemical Heat Mechanical Electromagnetic Coal 9. The amount of ENERGY consumed by an electrical appliance is equal to the power rating of the appliance (in watts or kilowatts)… Multiplied by the cost of electricity Added to the cost of electricity Multiply by the time it’s used Divided by the time it’s used Added to the it’s used 10. What does it mean if an electricity-generating power plant is 35% efficient? For every $100 invested in the production of energy, $35 is made into profit For every $35 invested in the production of energy, $100 is made into profit For every 100 units of energy that go into the plant, 35 units are lost during energy transformations For every 100 units of energy that go into the plant, 35 units are converted into electrical energy For every 35 units of energy that go into the plant, 100 units of electrical energy are produced 11. How much energy does a 60 Watt light use in a year if left on for 6 hours a day? 360 kWh 131,400 Wh 360 Wh 131,400 kWh 60 W 12. Renewable energy sources provided approximately what percentage of the total US energy consumption at the end of 2017? Less than 2% Between 2% and 15% Between 15% and 45% Between 45% and 75% More than 75% 13. Which is the most abundant fossil fuel found in the US? Coal Natural gas Crude oil (petroleum) Tar sands Wood 14. At the highest level, the US power system in the Lower 48 states is made up of three main interconnections. Which of the following statements best describes an interconnection? A wireless Internet connection A network of inter-State highways An electrical grid at a regional scale or greater A network of major airways coming into the US The complex interconnections between people’s lives in modern society 15. Which of the following household items uses the MOST ELECTRICITY in the average American home in one year? Lights Refrigerator Telephone Television Computer 16. TRUE or FALSE: Maine has the largest percentage of non-hydroelectric renewable electricity generation in the US. True False 17. What are the primary energy sources used to generate power in Maine? Natural gas and conventional hydroelectric Wood products and wind Coal and natural gas Nuclear and natural gas Solar 18. How much of the electricity used by COA comes from the college’s solar panels on the main campus and the farms? 0% 5% 15% 50% 100% 19. The electricity that COA buys comes from which of the following sources? Coal Wind Oil Natural gas Hydroelectric 20. Which of the following are true (mark all that apply)? There are three electric chargers installed on COA properties The wood pellet boiler heats all the Kathryn W. Davis Village plus Seafood COA has a policy in place stipulating that all new buildings must be carbon neutral COA has increased solar production on campus and the farms by over 200% since 2012 21. Is COA carbon neutral? Yes No If you're interested in learning more about sustainability and energy at COA, contact the Campus Committee for Sustainability (ccs-list@coa.edu) or the Community Energy Center (mdicommunityenergy@coa.edu) to find out how you can get involved!

The assessment was established by the student-led Campus Committee for Sustainability together with the Director of Energy Education and Management as part of an awareness-raising campaign about energy use in campus residences, and included pre- and post-campaign surveys. The survey was modified, refined and improved each year by Summer Energy Fellows, students working in COA's Community Energy Center, in collaboration with staff working in Student Life. The survey has been upgraded and strengthened, and now is administered to every incoming class during first-year orientation (which includes all transfer students as well as freshmen). The survey is also administered to every graduating class, for the purpose of assessing sustainability literacy both before and after students receive their COA education. The class of 2018 was the first graduating class to receive the survey as outgoing seniors.

This survey is administered during orientation to all incoming students, and is also administered to all graduating students during their final term of senior year, thereby reaching 100% of the student body twice (both pre- and post- COA education). The current assessment is administered on paper by the college's Student Life staff. Results are collected, entered, scored, and shared by students and staff in COA's Community Energy Center. In addition to expanding the sample group to target 100% of the student body over a 4-year cycle, the student response rate has climbed to nearly 100% with the hard-copy surveys.

The average score on the original pre- and post-competition surveys was 70%, likely reflective of self-selecting students keenly interested in energy, and also reflected a short period of time. The average score for incoming first-year students was 40%, reflecting all incoming students, whether interested in sustainability, energy, or neither. The survey is updated each year, and we give each graduating class the same survey they filled out upon entering COA. The average score for the post-education survey in Spring 2018 was 50%, with several questions consistently scoring low. This reflects an increase in sustainability literacy, and also encourages our efforts to update these surveys each year.