Green Campus Expands Internationally

HeeJung Kim knew that energy efficiency needed a boost at her school, Hanyang University. Hanyang lies 20 miles southwest of Seoul, South Korea, and is one of East Asia's most prestigious universities. An environmental studies major, Kim wanted to lead a school-wide energy efficiency project. But she didn't know exactly how to do it.

Through an Internet search earlier this year, Kim found the Alliance's Green Campus Program, which serves 19 college campuses across California. Green Campus engages interns who lead a variety of projects that teach students about energy efficiency, make operational recommendations to administrators, and advocate for energy efficiency-focused curricula.

After reading about Green Campus tactics online, Kim decided that she needed to see the program in action. She contacted Alliance Project Manager Renee Lafrenz and asked if they could meet face-to-face about how to address energy efficiency at her school.

"The call was completely unexpected, and I was very excited at the prospect of working with her and expanding the Green Campus Program internationally," Lafrenz said.

But first, Kim needed a team of fellow students, as well as funding, to make her vision a reality. By springtime, Kim recruited three more pro-energy students and secured funding for a research trip to Oakland. The Global Frontiers Mission grant requires the students to put what they learn on their research trip into a project proposal.

A Visit Across the Pacific

On July 22, three leaders of Green Campus — Lafrenz, Senior Director of Education Jo Tiffany, and Senior Program Associate Ellie Kim — welcomed the four South Korean students for a one-day visit to the Oakland office and answered their many questions about how Green Campus works.

In extended question-and-answer sessions, the Green Campus leaders explained how they train students to lead projects and get students interested in energy efficiency.

"The visitors were especially impressed with the caliber of campus projects and our interns' high level of expertise," Lafrenz said.

The meeting was followed by a visit to the nearby campus of University of California, Berkeley. There, the Hanyang students met with UC Berkeley Green Campus interns Charles Dhong and Kimberly Lam, who discussed their personal experiences promoting energy efficiency on their campus.

"We shared project ideas, insights on how to overcome challenges, and advice about how to promote student involvement on campus," Lam said.

The Korean students were especially curious about engaging other students on campus and getting them to participate in energy saving activities.

"They asked us if we use 'the carrot or the stick' to increase participation in our events. Charles (Dhong) and I looked at each other, smiled, and said, 'Carrot. Definitely the carrot!'" Lam added. The interns went on to explain that university students respond best to positive incentives rather than threats about environmental problems.

Green Campus Crosses the Ocean Blue

Having returned to their campus in South Korea, Kim and her travel companions plan to feature the Green Campus Program model in their proposal for an efficiency initiative at Hanyang University.

The actual project is not set yet, but the students mentioned that they would like to conduct energy audits on campus, as well as work with their campus faculty, staff and administrators to promote energy efficiency. They also expressed interest in replicating the Green Campus "laboratory fume hood campaign," which has saved significant amounts of energy on several California campuses.

"This cross-cultural exchange between university students was enlightening, fun, and a first for the Green Campus Program," Lafrenz said.