Students and visitors in the ECEB lobby have learned about energy efficiency through the Student Sustainability Committee-funded touch-screen energy display since Engineering Open House 2021. Two kiosks present ways to reduce energy use and encourage visitors to commit to one or more of these. In return, their names are entered into a random drawing to receive a solar phone charger. Names are selected for Earth Day in April and Energy Efficiency Day in October.

On the wall behind the kiosks a large touch screen displays a dashboard showing ECEB’s energy use and production in real time, energy efficiencies incorporated into the building design, and drone pictures of the ECEB solar array. A poster above the screen celebrates ECEB achieving net-zero energy.

I had a Q&A with Marin about interaction with and growing awareness of concepts of sustainability:

Q: How were you first exposed to concepts of sustainability?

A: My seventh-grade science teacher taught a unit on sustainability and encouraged me to submit a stop-motion film I made to a youth environmental film contest through the One Earth Film Festival in Chicago.

Q: What are some sustainability practices you have implemented into your daily activities?

A: I recycle and try to use eco-friendly products whenever possible.

Q: Has sustainability influenced your decision making?  If so, how?

A: As a college student living in a dorm, it’s hard to use reusable dishes and utensils without access to a kitchen. However, I make an effort to use reusable items.

Q: What is a rooted belief you hold about sustainability?

A: I believe that everyone making an effort to be more sustainable in their own lives will have a great impact on the Earth.