- January 3, 2018–January 23, 2018
Kill-a-watt is a residence hall-wide sustainability competition and education program during the month of January. This initiative of Calvin College seeks to be a fulfillment of its vision to be "caretakers of creation and agents of renewal for creation in our daily lives and as a collective community."
See who's winning: Kill-a-Watt point standings
Ways to get involved
DREAM certify your room
What: DREAM stands for Dorm Room Environmental Awareness Movement, and is a certification based on the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification for residential and commercial spaces.
Why: This survey will help you identify ways to reduce resources used by your room and by your daily practices. It also will win a button for your backpack and contribute points towards your dorm.
(Note: survey must be completed before 11:59 p.m. of January 21)
Sign up for Lifestyle Challenges
What: The new year is a prime time to make improvements to how we live our lives, sign up to try out a new sustainable habit for Interim.
Why: Lessen your impact on the planet, make a positive difference in the lives of others, and live out our calling to take care of God's creation... and of course, score big points for your dorm!
(Note: survey must be completed before 11:59 p.m. of Tues January 9)
Recruit Faculty/Staff and Upperclassmen for Lifestyle Challenges
What: Send this link to any faculty/staff members or upperclassmen (junior/senior) friends who would like to join your hall’s team.
Why: Faculty/staff points count double for your hall!
(Note: survey must be completed before 11:59 p.m. of January 9)
Conserve Energy
What: Make the effort this January to shut off lights, unplug unneeded appliances, and use the stairs instead of the elevator.
Why: Saving electricity is a great way to live within our planet’s means and reduce the amount of carbon we release into the atmosphere.
Attend Kill-a-Watt Events
What: A variety of great events will be happening all over campus throughout the month of January, focused on the theme of sustainability. See the list below and look for events being planned in your own dorm.
Why: Each event that you attend will not only allow you to engage with new and important ideas, but will also add points to your dorm's tally!
Kill-a-Watt Events
Turn Down For WATT!—Friday, Jan. 5, 8 p.m.
Hoogenboom
Green is the new black: Kicking off Kill-a-Watt with a black-out dance.
Come join us as we celebrate the beginning of Kill-A-Watt with a hype dance party. You will have opportunities to sign up for lifestyle challenges, to learn a little bit more about Kill-a-Watt, and have tons of fun. Hope to see you there. Turn down for WATT.
eARTh Prize—Jan. 5–18
Create your own sustainability-themed art, place your art in your dorm lobby by Jan. 18.
Show off your creative side AND your sustainable side with the first ever Calvin College eARTh Prize! Create art of any medium that relates to sustainability. Pieces will be judged based on its relatedness to sustainablility, use of recycled or reused products, and aesthetic value. Submissions are due Thursday, January 18th, and can be displayed in your dorm lobby. Individual winners will be announced at the Kill-A-Watt finale event and the dorm of the winners will receive a large amount of points towards the competition.
Guided Nature Tours—Monday, Jan. 8, 10–11 a.m. and 3–4 p.m.
Bunker Interpretive Center
Come and enjoy the winter wonderland through a guided nature walk through Calvin’s very own Nature Preserve. There will be hour-long walks guided by Jeanette Henderson, Program Manager of the preserve. This will be a wonderful opportunity to get points for your dorm and see what the preserve has to offer! The adventure will begin inside of the Bunker Interpretive Center. You get points for every member from your dorm that attends, and this event is double points! So get your squad together and head on over.
January Series - Pashon Murray's Detroit Dirt: Zero Waste from the Ground Up—Tuesday, Jan. 9, 12:30 p.m.
CFAC Auditorium
On Tuesday, January 9, at 12:30pm Pashon Murray, co-founder of Detroit Dirt, a local compost and biomass collection company, will present Detroit Dirt: Zero Waste from the Ground Up as part of the January Series. She is dedicated to finding waste solutions, strengthening neighborhoods, and helping the local community in Detroit. You can get KAW points for your attendance when you leave the talk.
Caring for Creation: A Call to Justice and Mercy—Wednesday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m.
Araceli Eikenberry
Chapel
This week’s Wednesday chapel is sustainability themed! Join us in thinking deeply about what it means to be stewards of creation according to God’s word and in worshiping the Creator of this beautiful world through song, testimony, and reflection.
Snodgeball—Friday, Jan. 12, 1–2 p.m.
Commons Lawn
Snowball Dodgeball -- Campus Wide Snowball fight
Do you like fun? Do you like snow? Do you like snowball fights? Do you like dodgeball? If any of these apply to you, or even if they don’t, come out to the Commons Lawn for a game of Snodgeball (Snowball Dodgeball)! Tournament style - winner dorm takes all. The more people you bring, the more likely you are to have the last person standing.
DCM film: “The True Cost”—Wednesday, Jan. 17, 10:30 a.m. or 2 p.m.
CFAC Recital Hall
Not only can you be learn about the textile industry and its brokenness, you can also receive credit for your DCM class. This documentary exploring the impact of fashion on people and the planet. There will be a short discussion led by your Sustainability Coordinators afterwards.
Kill-a-Watt Finale—Monday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m.
Johnny's
DIY corner (Make your own laundry detergent, toothpaste, cleaning wipes), clothing swap, pot your own plant, naming of eARTh prize winner and Kill-a-Watt 2018 champions
Join us for the FINAL Kill-a-Watt event on Monday, January 22 featuring a clothing swap, announcement of the eARTh prize winners, Do-It-Yourself activities, food, fun, and much more. You won’t want to miss it. Be at Johnny’s to celebrate your Kill-A-Watt success this interim! The night will end with announcing the 2018 Kill-A-Watt champions and presentation of the Trophy of Sustainability.
Resources
Questions?
Contact killawattcalvin@gmail.com