Dear Paul, 

We here at My Green Lab thank you very much for your patience while the submissions for the 2023 Freezer Challenge were reviewed over the past number of weeks. You’re receiving this email because you were a site coordinator for the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign  this year. Thank you for encouraging labs to participate in the Freezer Challenge this year! You and your lab(s) are a part of over 1,900 labs from 170 different institutions, across 27 countries which participated this year, a new record! The combined efforts of the scientists and labs participating in the 2023 Freezer Challenge saved an estimated 20.6 million kWh over the past year, which is the equivalent of avoiding an estimated 14,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. 

66 scoresheets were submitted from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, representing a total of 94 labs, the combined actions of which saved an estimated 1293.5 kWh/day! Great job, and well done! Please see the attached Excel document for details of all the actions taken by labs at your organization this year, with each row being a different scoresheet submitted back to us. Total raw points for actions and kwh/day saved are on the far right. *Please note that all lab points of contact received a separate email from programs@mygreenlab.org in the past 24 hours informing them of their lab’s estimated energy savings too. 

The winners of the 2023 Freezer Challenge will be announced by mid-August via My Green Lab and I2SL newsletters and our social media channels, so stay tuned for that announcement! 

Thank you for engaging labs at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign to implement cold storage best practices through the Freezer Challenge! We hope you’ll encourage your organization to participate in the 2024 Freezer Challenge next year. 

Sincerely,  

My Green Lab & the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL)

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We have officially surpassed the highest number of labs participating and reached our highest avoided energy reduction at over $54k avoided annually at the current kWh rate.

We also have a lab receiving an award for the best lab in their category. See next email forward.

Best

Paul

Jun 2023 photos of the Florida Orchard Prairie have been added to the box folder.

Hi Paul,

Could you send me more information on the activities in the res halls that you wanted iSEE to help fund?

Thanks,

Elizabeth

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Hi Elizabeth,

Thanks for reaching out after our discussion!

We are looking to revive EcoOlimpics (EO) after the pandemic shut it down. ISEE has been a terrific supporter in the past , providing awards, moneys to purchase the sustainable prizes for the winning hall, and even sponsoring the energy monitoring platform, a combination of these when possible.

The attached is an original PPT that reflects how we got started, these efforts were collaborated with Housing and for the first few years supported by them as well. They ultimately withdrew there financial support in favor of making it 100% student led. Housing has continued to work with EcoOlympics for advertising, pushing the monitoring on digital displays and posting of posters etc.….

Here is a link that shares some of our achievements and captures some of the events across campus to the  (slightly outdated) website: https://ecoolympics.wixsite.com/eco-olympics

EO uses social media, advertising, tabling events and a host of other means to get the word out and encourage sustainable living within the dorm. Many of our officers participated as freshmen and joined the organizational team to grow and expand what they learned during the competition along with their personal/professional goals.

The organization is a typical business model. Start as freshman saving energy, then join as an officer, president, treasurer, media specialist, technical specialist, outreach chair etc. These roles help students gain insight and practical use of their chosen fields and interests. As juniors or Seniors they can choose to be a director and mentor the officers if they have pursued this path during their time here.

The competition

Each participating Hall creates a building captain team that motivates their residents to save energy and spread the word. We monitor consumption and create a confidential baseline that is used to compare results during the competition. The competition is anywhere from 3-6 weeks long and resolves in time for the awards to wrap up during the final week of spring semester.

The team that scores the highest points wins the trophy and bragging rights until the next competition, and gets to choose their award. Some awards have been a catered meal for the winning hall, water bottle dispensers in FAR, trees around Allen Hall, and solar battery backup devices for

Allen Hall was our last winning team in 2019 and they have presented the trophy until this year.

Thanks again and let me know if you have additional questions?  

Best

Paul Foote

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Thanks, Paul. What level of support are you requesting from iSEE?

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Hi Elizabeth,

The $1000.00 level would be greatly appreciated and go a long way to help us get back up and running.

Best

Paul

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Hi Paul,

Has housing agreed to be an active participant in this? It sounds like their active support will be critical.

Thanks,

Elizabeth

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Hi Elizabeth,

Yes, Housing has given the go-ahead for this year’s event.

Thank  you

Paul Foote

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Hi Paul,

Thanks for confirming housing’s willingness to participate in facilitating this EcoOlympics. Can you let us know who you have been coordinating with in Housing? Jen has been focused on working with them to get Sustainability training to the RAs and information in their newsletters so it would be good for her to be aware of you are working with.

I also wanted to connect you Codie Sterner, the newish coordinator for the SSC. We want to make sure that we engage the multiple stakeholders on campus when programs are being planned so that we can have as much impact and participation as possible.

Thanks,

Elizabeth