Beyond Tabling: Green Campus Interns Get Creative to Reach 88,000 People in 2011
Photo: Environmental rap superstar “Mr. Eco” is a Green Campus intern at Cal Poly SLO who has raised awareness about energy efficiency through his songs and videos.
Since the program’s inception in 2004, the Green Campus Program has empowered its interns to teach their campus community about energy efficiency. In 2011 alone, the program’s 75 college student interns in California reached over 88,000 people via conversation, class presentations, website hits and other social media. But two marketing campaigns stand out for their creativity and ability to attract huge audiences: UC Berkeley and Cal Poly SLO.
UC Berkeley: Green Greeks Compete to be Biggest Energy Loser
In fall 2011, Greek organizations at UC Berkeley competed against each other during the first annual Green Cup competition. Fighting for the title of biggest loser in energy usage, Greek organizations worked with Green Campus interns to identify low-cost and no-cost retrofits for their off-campus housing. Over 750 students participated in the two-month competition which saved nearly 30,000 kWh.
“After students move out of the residence halls, it can be difficult to keep them engaged in campus sponsored energy efficiency programs,” said Anton Walker, UCB Green Campus intern. “UC Berkeley's Greek system, which houses 12% of the students on campus, was the next best way to target a large group of student residents beyond the residence halls and an ideal location to generate major energy savings.”
Photo: UC Berkeley student replaces an old incandescent light bulb for an energy-efficient CFL.
Cal Poly SLO: Mr. Eco, Green Rap Superstar
Energy efficiency and rap music may not seem a likely pair, but Cal Poly SLO’s Green Campus intern Brett Edwards would argue otherwise. Donning the stage name “Mr. Eco,” Edwards has contributed to a unique environmental niche of the rap music genre, starting in spring 2011 with his first single “Power.” Since its release, the Power video has received nearly 3,500 views.
“Mr. Eco has paved the way for energy efficiency to be a more present and recognizable theme in college orientation programs and freshman housing,” said Edwards, aka Mr. Eco. “These music videos have opened the door for unique partnerships. This year, Green Campus showed my rap video to all 4,000 incoming freshman at their orientation.”
With the help of an athletic scholarship from Pacific Gas and Electric Mr. Eco’s videos have conjured quite a following. In total, Mr. Eco’s music videos received over 21,000 views on YouTube. Just one year in, this education campaign also has 500 Facebook friends and 80 Twitter followers.
