Go for the Green!
Sustainability Challenge in the Residence Halls
Donate to the Housing Recovery & Food Drive
Donation Period: April 18 - May 15, 2026
Donate food and unused hygiene products to the recovery drive! Donations will be given to Western's WHOLE Pantry. Look for the green donation bins in your community: Map of Donation Locations
What is Go for the Green?
Go for the Green (GFTG) is a sustainability competition between residential communities at Western. During a set period (March 1-May 15), communities compete to see who can make the biggest positive impact—by using less energy and getting involved in fun, eco‑focused events and activities.
This year’s challenge primarily focuses on:
- Reducing waste contamination, especially in compost, cardboard, and single‑stream recycling (plastics, cans, glass, and paper).
- Cutting back on water and electricity use in the residence halls.
- Being mindful of space heating, while recognizing that every building is different. Since not all buildings work the same way, scoring will factor in these differences to keep things fair for everyone.
Students can pledge to save energy, compost food scraps, reduce recycling contamination, participate in GFTG events, and practice sustainable habits on campus.
The residential community with the highest score will win a dessert bar and earn the title of “Best of the Best” Eco-Warriors.
- Build cost-saving habits that students can leverage when they move off-campus.
- Promote Sustainable Transportation initiatives.
- Support food insecurity programs on campus.
- Advocate several of Western’s Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) 2025-2030 priorities listed below by promoting, influencing, and encouraging responsible & sustainable practices while also instilling upon students an appreciation and understanding of the impact of human choices on people around the world and the planet itself.
- SAP Priorities: Student Life, Waste, Built Environment, Transportation, Campus & Community Engagement, Grounds.
Planned Events (2026)
Join us at events to win participation points! If you plan to attend, RSVP! Attended an event? Fill out the attendance form to receive points: GFTG attendance form
Date/Time & Location: April 15, 2026 from 6-7pm in the Ridge Commons 1st floor lounge
Event Description: Join Transportation Services for a conversation about sustainable transportation! We’ll gather resident feedback on bike storage needs and concerns and share helpful information about current bike transportation options on campus.
Date/Time & Location: April 21, 2026 from 12-5pm in the VU MPR
- Can't attend in person? Join virtually! Session recordings will also be posted online after the event; students can watch the recordings to earn points if they are unable to attend on the 21st.
Event Description: The sustainability symposium will have 5 sessions focused on waste and energy. See session descriptions below.
- Session #1: Learn more about the Go for the Green sustainability challenge.
- Session #2: Hear perspectives from WWU’s Energy Manager and learn more about building water & energy audits.
- Session #3: Learn about WWU’s waste management improvement initiatives launched in Fall 2025.
- Session #4: Learn about the project to replace existing campus centralized steam plant and distribution system with several smaller nodal plants.
- Session #5: Hear updates from varying Facilities Development & Operations (FDO) teams about sustainability related items of interest.
Date/Time & Location: April 23, 2026 from 4-6pm in the Clark Glass 4th floor MPR
Event Description: Swap event! Donate and/or exchange clothes, books, plants, etc. with other students! In addition, browse items available courtesy of the Western Worn Community Closet and learn more about campus reuse initiatives.
Date/Time & Location: Donation period is Apr 18-May 15. Donation bins will be located in each community: map of donation locations
Event Description: Support food insecurity by donating goods that will be provided to Western’s WHOLE Food Pantry.
Points Breakdown
Although this competition highlights reducing energy use, the scoring also rewards residents for pledging to participate and joining events that support sustainability and strengthen community connections.
Fill out the pledge form!
Attend GFTG events!
- Electric Usage at 20%
- Water Usage at 15%
- Building Heating at 5% (steam/natural gas)
- Composting Commitment (Active Participation During Period) at 5%
- Composting Contamination at 5%
- Single Stream Recycling Contamination at 5%
- Cardboard Recycling Contamination at 5%
- GFTG Poster Competition at 5%
- Other Campus Events Participation at 5%
- Bellingham Earth Week Events Participation 5%
- Off Campus Field Trip Participation at 5%
Pledge to Go for the Green!
Why pledge?
- It helps build positive, sustainable, money-saving habits that students can take with them when they move off-campus.
- It helps reduce energy at WWU.
- Reducing waste contamination related to composting, cardboard, and recycling channels increases the amount of waste that can be sent to be repurposed.
Extra Credit Opportunities
Wondering about other ways to Go for the Green? Check out these extra credit opportunities:
- Sustainability Poster Contest ($500 prize!)
- Bellingham Earth Week (attend events)
- Tentative Off Campus Field Trip: Tour Sanitary Service Company (SSC)
Go for the Green Tips & Tricks
Level: Beginner
- Turn off lights when you leave a room
- Only wash full loads of laundry and wash on cold when possible
- Keep windows closed to conserve heat output (aside from airing out your room as needed)
- Turn off the tap when you scrub and brush
Level: Intermediate
- Keep overhead lighting off when there is natural light
- Unplug devices, lighting, and appliances when not in use
- Take shorter showers
- Turn down the head and bundle up when it's cold
Level: Expert/Advanced
- Study in already lit and heated public spaces to avoid increased energy demand
- Turn off and unplug all devices, lighting, and appliances before you go to bed
- Educate your roommates and/or suitemates on why it's important to turn off the light and unplug
Level: All Residents
- Participate in events that promote and encourage responsible & sustainable practices
- Gain understanding of how your choices impact people and the planet
- Build a stronger residential community, meet new friends, and have fun!
Waste Sorting Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some easy ways to reduce your energy usage for GFTG:
- Wash only full loads of laundry, and wash on cold
- Turn off lights when you leave a room
- Turn down the heat and bundle up
- Keep windows closed to conserve heat when you can (aside from airing out room)
- Turn off the water when you scrub and brush
- Unplug your electronic devices, lighting, and appliances when not in use
- Take shorter showers
- Take the stairs over the elevator if you are able
- Limit TV time
- Study in already lit/heated public spaces to avoid increased energy demand
- Turn off/unplug all devices, lighting, and appliances before you go to bed
To compost:
- Compost food scraps and soiled paper in the provided compost bin in your room
- Know where your compost drop-off location is
- Avoid placing landfill trash in green compost drop off toters to reduce compost contamination
We will be catering a dessert bar for the winning residential community! We encourage all residents from the winning community to come together to celebrate their win, take a load off, and eat some delicious free desserts. You’ve earned it! Vegan and gluten free options will be available.
Good question! We will be comparing each residential community to themselves in previous years. For example, Nash’s energy use will be compared to an average of Nash’s energy use between 2018 and 2023, so that the change in usage will be relative to its normal energy consumption. We are just comparing the percent change in energy consumption compared to average years, so that we can calculate the impact that students are having!
Contact Us!
Want to learn more? Check out Housing Sustainability or email ResidencesFacilities@wwu.edu.
Additional Resources
Looking for additional sustainability resources? Use these to take your knowledge to the next level:
We the Power | YouTube
- Local community members break down legislative barriers and taking power from big energy companies and putting it back in the hands of locals.
@energy | Instagram
- The U.S. Department of Energy shares ways to reduce energy use and promote clean energy.
@intersectionalenvironmentalist | Instagram
- Follow for posts focusing on the intersectional aspects of environmentalism. A great place to start if you’re new to sustainability and want to learn!
Energy Justice & Climate Change Resistance | Podcast
- Listen to intersectional environmentalist discuss the “link between marginalization + climate vulnerability” and the importance of energy justice.