This year a group of Eco Reps has formed a 4-person team to compete in the national Project Green Challenge competition which began on October 1st. Project Green Challenge is a 30-day environmentally conscious living challenge that began in 2011 to improve students’ awareness of their impact on the environment.

As of right now these are the participation statistics:

Each morning, three to four challenges are posted based on that day’s topic. The main challenges (Green, Greener, Greenest) are worth varying amounts based on difficulty and/or effort required. They must be completed in the order presented (ex: you cannot submit Greenest until you have completed Green and Greener). Sometimes there is also an Extra Credit challenge posted. All challenges are optional and there is an opportunity to gain extra points for creativity and effort.

After each challenge, up to 10 entries are selected to receive a prize package associated with the day’s topic. Prizes are usually gift cards or gift baskets containing different environmentally friendly products.

The Team:

The four-member Team Eco Reps consists of Christina Hughes (Baker), Sena McCrory (McMurtry), Zach Bielak (Sid Rich), and Rande Patterson (Brown). We are in constant email (and sometimes Google Hangout) contact and typically divide up the different challenges among ourselves each day, sometimes working together and sometimes working independently depending upon our schedules and how much time we have available that day.

The main purpose of our participation is to gauge whether this competition is something we want to promote next year for participation across the larger Rice Student body. We are also using it as an opportunity to gather more information about “green living” challenges to hopefully incorporate into our Green Dorm Initiative competition in the Spring.

Resources:

Check out this site for more info about each of the topics, including short films and helpful websites.

Progress:

• October 1
• Topic: “Whole Body”  – investigating safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly personal care products
• Challenges completed: Green, Greener, Greenest, Extra Credit (still working on)
• October 2
• Topic: “Home Dorm Space” – Green Dorm options
• Challenges completed: Green, Greener, Greenest
• Deliverables: Made a Pinterest of ideas for Green Dorm products and living habits
• October 3
• Topic: “Labeling” – ‘greenwashing’ vs product certification labeling
• Challenges completed: Green, Greener, Greenest
• Winning submission: Greener Challenge
• October 4
• Topic: “School Profile” – identifying sustainability improvements on campus
• Challenges completed: Green, Greener, Greenest
• Winning submission: Greener Challenge 
• October 5
• Topic: “Food” – categorizing sustainable food options
• Challenges completed: Green, Greener
• October 6
• Topic: “Yoga”
• Challenges completed: Green, Greener, Greenest, Extra Credit
• Winning submission: Greenest Challenge
• October 7
• Topic: “Style” – environmental and social impacts of fashion and clothing
• Challenges completed: Green, Greener
• October 8
• Topic: “Meatless Mondays” – reducing meat consumption due to its large environmental footprint
• Challenges completed: Green, Greener
• October 9
• Topic: “Gardens” – the importance of community gardens
• Challenges completed: Green
• October 10
• Topic: “Zero Waste” – reducing consumption and waste
• Challenges completed: Green
• October 11
• Topic: “Voices” – advocacy and leadership
• Challenges completed: Green, Greener, Greenest
• Winning submission: Greener Challenge
• October 12
• Topic: “Packaged Food” – identifying health risks associated with preservatives and food additives
• Challenges completed: Green
• October 13
• Topic: “Eco Profile” – learn about leaders in the environmental movement
• Challenges completed: Green
• October 14
• Topic: “Sustainable Ag” – the importance of farming sustainably, ethically, and environmentally friendly
• Challenges completed: Green