College Sustainability Challenge
Get involved, take action and contribute towards sustainability with the College Sustainability Challenge
The College Sustainability Challenge encourages students living in College accommodation to take action on climate change by saving energy, water, recycling, and reducing waste. Join the competition and make a positive impact on sustainability!
Thank you to all students for your efforts in saving energy - every light switched off, socket unplugged, and kettle boiled with the right amount of water makes a difference.
Take a look at the latest leaderboard results.
What sustainable action do you pledge to do this year?
Take 2 mins to make a pledge and be in with a chance of winning a £50 voucher.
Energy Action Week 2024
25 November - 1 December
It’s Energy Action Week, part of the College Sustainability Challenge! Throughout this week, we're looking at ways we can reduce energy usage. There are a few ways for all of our students to get involved with Energy Action Week:
- Competition 1: Which appliances use the most energy at home?
- Competition 2: What is the ideal home temperature range?
- Masterclass: Exploring Electricity
- Take a survey to identify where you can save energy at home.
YorEnergy Competition
Save Energy, Reduce Carbon, Win Prizes!
Engage in friendly competition, learn energy-saving tips, and earn recognition for your college’s sustainability efforts. This year-long challenge pits colleges against each other to see who can save the most energy, with fun quizzes, competitions, and free training along the way.
By reducing your carbon footprint, you'll help your college win the top prize for the most sustainable residence at the end of the academic year.
College Leaderboard
Congratulations to this year's top colleges!
James College leads the engagement leaderboard, followed by Derwent College in 2nd place and Alcuin College in 3rd place.
Thanks to all students for your efforts in saving energy! The more you engage, the higher you climb on the leaderboard, with the winning college receiving a prize at the end of the year.
The next leaderboard will be released in December, combining energy savings and engagement. Track your progress through pledges, competitions, and climate quizzes. Visit SOS-UK for the latest ways to get involved.
| College ranking | College |
|---|---|
| 1st place | James |
| 2nd place | Derwent |
| 3rd place | Alcuin |
| 4th place | Wentworth |
| 5th place | Constantine |
| 6th place | Halifax |
| 7th place | David Kato |
| 8th place | Anne Lister |
| 9th place | Goodricke |
| 10th place | Langwith |
| 11th place | Vanbrugh |
Previous Leaderboard winners
1st place: David Kato College
2nd place: Wentworth College
3rd place: Halifax College
Tips on how to reduce your energy consumption
- Switch off the lights when you do not need them
- Do your laundry at 30 degrees
- Do not overfill your kettle - boil what you need
- Put a lid on pans when cooking if possible
- Make sure the windows are closed if the heating is on
- Only print when it’s absolutely essential
- Make sure you print and copy double-sided
- Use stairs if you can, leave the lift for those who need it
How can you make a wider contribution?
- Be a Student Switch Off ambassador for your college; open to both on and off-campus students. You'll be able to sign up to sustainability training, learn how you can make a difference while living in student accommodation, what everyday actions you can take, and how you can use these skills in the future.
- Be constructive – if you see that fellow residents are being wasteful with energy or not recycling, remind them about the competition and suggest ideas for improvement.
- If you run any of your college's social media, try and share sustainability content.
- Build sustainability into your daily activities so it becomes the norm within your accommodation.
Whether you're living on or off-campus, you can find more energy saving tips for your accommodation on the SOS-UK website: