‘Eco-Reps’ aim to save energy

If students so choose, they can help change the world without even leaving their dorm rooms.

The campus is turning to students first in its campaign to make UM more sustainable.

A behavior modification campaign and a pilot project of "Eco-Reps" in the dorms kicked off this fall, targeting the habits of freshmen living on campus, after conducting a survey in the spring.

"We asked about whether you want to be more sustainable and what things prevent you from conserving energy," said Cherie Peacock, UM's sustainability coordinator. 

A canvas bag with fliers, stickers and door hangers was given to each freshman as part of the "Use Your Power Wisely" initiative.

Peacock isn't sure how many students visited the website packed with energysaving tips and links to relevant student groups, but she hopes many will.

The greatest uncertainty of how successful the behavior campaign will be also is one of the biggest challenges in achieving UM's ambitious goal to be "climate neutral" by 2020: will each generation of students care enough to make the suggested changes?

Many freshmen leaving Jesse Hall Wednesday evening had not heard about the campaign or test program yet. 

Some, like Joey Boyd, were interested in the opportunity.

"I think Missoula is better and greener than most of the cities in Montana," Boyd said.

Some said they already use low-watt bulbs in their dorm and are excited to hear more. 

One brought his car and not his truck to campus. Tom Cooney admits, however, he made the switch because the engine blew in his truck, not out of environmental concern.

Joe Petretee supports more sustainable practices, but thinks the discussion is overblown and misguided.

"Global warming is not quite an urban legend, but statistically speaking, many of our concerns are a representation of Al Gore, who's constantly lying in such a way that exaggerates the effects of greenhouse gasses," Petretee said. "In many ways, the US is not as bad as China or Russia. If we really want to address global warming we have to work as one whole society."

Three "Eco-Reps," who will help educate students in the residence halls about sustainable options are trying to be overzealous environmental crusaders, said Jennifer Hill-Hart, the Sustainability Coordinator for the Associated Students of the University of Montana.

"It's not us coming and preaching at them, but helping them have a dialogue together about these issues," Hill-Hart said. "It's not just hippies. It's people who really are concerned about their community, economically or environmentally, and you need everyone at the table in order to do that."

To help students understand all the benefits of sustainable living the ASUM "Eco-Rep" program is being piloted in four residence halls this semester.

Eliza Allison, David Schaad and Cate Epperson will conduct workshops, answer questions and oversee sustainability competitions in Jesse, Craig, Dunniway and Elrod halls.

The green role models also will lead a discussion about energy-efficient practices and UM's sustainability culture each week at um-ecorep.blogspot.com.

Light pole banners around campus, biweekly ads in the Kaimin and various events throughout the year are intended to help remind and educate students about "the power of one."

"I don't know how else it can be done," Peacock said. "It all starts with each person making a choice."

jayme.fraser@umontana.edu