Feb 24, 2009 -- Yeshiva University was named one of 10 North American winners of the Climate Crews Contest in recognition of its effort to promote environmental awareness on campus. The contest, sponsored by the United Nations Foundation in partnership with the Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI), rewards student initiatives to make their college “greener.” As part of the prize, Esther Steifel, a Stern College junior and member of the Environmental and Energy Club on the Beren Campus, and Andrea Moore, sustainability coordinator at Yeshiva's Office of Energy and Sustainability Programs, will attend a conference in Washington, D.C., where they will meet leading climate, energy and sustainability experts. The Environmental Club will also receive a mini-grant to help offset the costs of their newly launched project, YU Unplugged, an energy-saving competition that will track each dorm’s energy usage on the Wilf and Beren Campuses, as well as the opportunity to host an on-campus sustainability seminar through the SEI. Yeshiva University’s contest submission was entered by the Office of Energy and Sustainability Programs on behalf of the student-run Environmental and Energy Club. YU Unplugged was the project that distinguished YU from the other colleges in the competition since it was the only proposal that focused on energy conservation. During the competition, each dorm’s energy usage will be measured and then divided by the number of people living in each dorm. These results will be tallied and compared to previous months’ energy bills. The dorm with the largest percentage decrease will receive a student-made, recycled-material trophy to display in the lobby of their building. Among the Environmental Club’s accomplishments is its participation in Recyclemania, a 10-week, national recycling competition among college campuses. Last year, the Environmental Club partnered with the Office of University Housing and Residence Life to institute an internal competition as well. Each month during the contest, first and second place prizes were awarded to the dormitory floors on either the Wilf or Beren Campuses that collected the most recycling. This year, the competition has expanded to include both the Cardozo and Einstein campuses. Moore sees the Climate Crews Contest win as evidence of the collaboration between students and Yeshiva's administration. She recognizes that this partnership will “further our ideal and lead us to a greener future at Yeshiva University.”