Sustainability Advice Magnets in Residence Halls Nicholas Kraley, Eric Whitaker, Jordan Spradlin Project Mentor(s): Susan Rivera, PhD
Residence halls play a major role in campus energy use, yet most students that enter CWU do so without guidance on how everyday habits affect heating, electricity consumption, and recycling outcomes. Heating remains the largest energy demand in residence halls, and students often adjust thermostats or windows without understanding how these actions interact, leading to unnecessary energy loss. Students also tend to forget about electronics left plugged in or powered on, which contribute additional avoidable consumption. Recycling practices also vary widely, and students frequently lack accurate information about how to prepare materials for proper processing. To address these gaps, this project introduces sustainability magnets as a simple, visible educational tool for daily use. Student Green Fund (SGF) support was requested to purchase magnets and the supply needed to design print and distribute them. During project development, housing stakeholders responsible for residence life operations and student engagement were consulted to ensure the materials aligned with existing educational efforts and were appropriate for placement in student living spaces. The magnets will be placed on every refrigerator in one residence hall as a pilot to evaluate their impact and determine whether broader distribution is warranted. Outcomes from this project will help determine whether expanding magnet distribution across additional residence halls can strengthen campuswide sustainability education and support long-term reductions in energy use and waste. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (May 21, 9:30am–3:00pm) Keywords : Sustainability, Residence halls SOURCE Form ID: 204 Introducing Local Vendors to Wildcat Shop to Promote University Sustainability Imani McClain, Autumn Graff, Angela Johnson Project Mentor(s): Susan Rivera, PhD Awareness of ethical and sustainable purchasing continues to rise, and many consumers opt for sustainable or local goods to shrink their ecological footprint. This shift reflects a broader cultural movement towards environmental responsibility and community-centered practices. In fact, 74% of all consumers prefer to browse or buy locally. Currently, the Wildcat Shop carries one small line of sustainable apparel and one stall of local products from the CWU Wildcat Farm. Buying from local businesses creates a circulation of money that stays within the Ellensburg community, and bringing local consumption to the Wildcat Shop will help bring sustainable consumption into the mainstream within the university. In response to growing student interest in sustainable purchasing, communication expanded between several small Ellensburg-based businesses and the university bookstore regarding opportunities to sell their goods. This project focuses on identifying, contacting, and building relationships with local vendors whose practices align with sustainability values, and facilitating their participation in the Wildcat Shop. By prioritizing direct engagement with small businesses, the project has shortened supply chains and reduced the environmental impact associated with transportation and mass production. The outcome of this project has expanded access to sustainably produced goods on campus while reinforcing the university’s commitment to sustainability and strengthening connections with the local community. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (May 21, 9:30am–3:00pm) Keywords: Sustainability, Consumption SOURCE Form ID: 142
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