Skidmore College
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

Skidmore Unplugged is an annual three-week energy conservation competition designed to promote energy-conscious behavior through education and action. The program encourages students living on campus to achieve the greatest reduction in electricity consumption and teaches our broader campus community about the environmental and societal implications of energy use. Skidmore's Sustainability Representatives (S-Reps) develop education campaigns and programming to engage the community in conversations about energy use, its impact on people and the environment, and equip members with knowledge, tools, and skills to reduce their energy consumption. Skidmore Unplugged is one of Skidmore's largest campus-wide sustainability events. Sustainability Reps (S-Reps) often collaborate with a number of other offices, departments, and faculty across the College, including the Office of Student Diversity Program (OSDP), the Office of Religous and Spiritual Life, and student clubs like the Environmental Action Club, SkidEats, and more. Events are held throughout the three-week competition and have included activities like a meditation workshop, an acoustic concert and potluck dinner, and community dialogues about the privilege of unplugging. Beyond campus-wide events, the S-Reps work with residence assistants to develop hall programs and events to engage and educate peers.

The Sustainability Office monitors and tracks electricity use in all campus residence halls and the Sussman Apartment Village. A baseline is created for each hall or apartment building before the competition begins to compare changes in electricity use. The hall with the greatest reduction in energy use is declared the winner of Skidmore Unplugged. Results dating back to 2009 are below. 2015- Wilmarth Hall, 7% reduction 2014- Penfield Hall, 4.4% reduction 2013- Kimball Hall, 16% reduction 2012- Wilmarth Hall, 8.7% reduction 2011- Wiecking Hall, 4% reduction 2010 - Wiecking Hall, 4% reduction 2009 - McClellan Hall, 12% reduction

Give+Go is our annual move-out donation program designed to gather used goods that students leave behind and donate them to local and regional nonprofits where they can be reused or resold. This program diverts tons of material from entering the landfill and gives Skidmore students an opportunity to give back to their community. Over one hundred tons of material have been diverted from entering the landfill. Skidmore partners with Goodwill of New York and New Jersey and the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.) which supports workers at the Saratoga Horse Racing Track. Give+Go relies heavily on student and staff engagement. S-Reps and community volunteers organize efforts in every residence hall and apartment building to encourage students to pack early and donate any unwanted goods. Give+Go donation areas are set-up in every residence building at least one week before move-out. Multiple emails are sent to students and parents that explain the purpose of Give+Go, including information about the community groups that benefit from the program. The Give+Go has truly become a signature event for the Skidmore Community, bringing together more than 30 campus volunteers each year.

Every year, Give+Go prevents 6-7 truckloads of material from going into the landfill. Our donations of unopened food, personal care products, clothing, electronics, and household goods are made available to local and regional communities and organizations.

http://www.skidmore.edu/sustainability/initiatives/energy.php http://www.skidmore.edu/sustainability/initiatives/waste.php