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Green Cup ResCollege Competition Returns

What is Green Cup? 

Every spring since 2011, WashU’s South 40 Residential Colleges compete to reduce energy use and adopt more sustainable lifestyles, preventing hundreds of metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and helping the university save money on electricity costs. 

The Green Cup competition will kick off this year on Wednesday, February 16 and end on Friday, March 11, just as Spring Break commences. 

During Green Cup, ResColleges compete against each other by gaining points across several categories: 

  • Participate in EcoChallenge 
  • Attending “green” events 

The Green Cup is a collaboration between Congress of the South 40 (CS40), Residential Life, and the Office of Sustainability. 

Why is Green Cup so important? 

“Green Cup is, for many students, an introduction into the world of sustainability through an approachable competition to get people invested. And it brings students together! I think especially after a remote Green Cup last year, this (hopefully) in-person version will be so much more engaging and fun,” states WashU Green Ambassadors director, Maya Tsingos.  

Lauren Blaydon, Speaker of CS40, shares her experience with the competition. “Green Cup matters because it helps a larger part of the student body see the importance of sustainable actions and sheds light on certain issues like overconsumption and excessive energy use.”   

“A sad fact that I learned last year from Green Cup is that 70% of the net electricity generation in Missouri is from coal,” Lauren adds.   

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 40% of all energy use in the United States is attributed to electricity, most of which is generated by burning fossil fuels.  

When asked about the best part of Green Cup, Maya shares, “From my experience, I think the best part about Green Cup is learning little details here and there about how sustainability impacts our everyday life. I encourage participants to learn more about the role that WashU plays in the St. Louis region, that’s definitely something I found interesting in previous Green Cups.”  

How do I participate?

Participants must reside in the South 40. If you are a resident of a South 40 Residential College, reach out to your Eco Rep. If your ResCollege does not have an EcoRep, your College Council will also have more information for you.

What are some easy things I can do? 

  • Wash laundry on a cold cycle—heating water requires energy! And dry your clothes on low heat.  
  • In these cold winter months, keep your thermostat temperature low (if you have control over your thermostat), 68-70 is ideal, and wear layers to keep warm 
  • Unplug any electronics not in use, this includes cell phone chargers! 
  • Find your computer’s energy saving mode  
  • Turn off all lights when leaving a room and take advantage of natural light during the day 

For more tips, check out the Office of Sustainability’s Energy Efficiency Guide

Any questions about Green Cup can be directed to Aamna Anwer, Sustainability Coordinator: aamna@wustl.edu