Yulee Hall wins UF 'Eco-challenge: Battle of the Halls'

April 19, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Yulee Hall is the winner of the 2010 “Eco-Challenge: Battle of the Halls” competition in University of Florida residence halls. Yulee residents won the Gator Dining Services reusable to-go container challenge and posted solid performances in both the water and energy conservation challenges, to win the overall competition.

Yulee Hall is home to the Global Living Learning Community. One of the goals of this living-learning community is to develop globally competent learners who demonstrate knowledge about world history, current events and global economics and sustainability. Yulee Hall is the designated location for sustainability pilots in residence halls. Yulee Area residents launched the highly successful “Shower Coach Challenge: Can You Take a Five Minute Shower?” water conservation pilot earlier this academic year, which expanded to Graham and Murphree areas in the spring.

Weaver Hall residents won the January water competition; Lakeside Residential Complex residents won the February energy competition. Yulee Hall residents won the Gator Dining Services reusable to-go container challenge and the overall competition. All three residence halls will receive improvements to their communities that support sustainability. Staff and student leaders will meet to determine the improvements. Yulee Hall residents also will celebrate with a Gator Dining Services catered event in their facility and will be recognized at the campus-wide Earth Day celebration on April 21.
The “Eco-Challenge: Battle of the Halls” competition is co-sponsored by the Inter-Residence Hall Association and the Department of Housing and Residence Education Green Team/Recycling/Sustainability Committee. Campus-wide cost savings, as a result of sustainability competitions, are minimal and are viewed in the context of a year-long budget for utilities.