PRESS

"University of Maryland wins green award"

October 16, 2009, Meridith Cohn

"Winning this contest reinforces the level of activism and interest that our students have in environmental issues," said Mark Stewart, Maryland's campus sustainability coordinator, in a statement. "Through the Student Government Association, through this contest, through constant petitioning outside the [Stamp Student] Union, there's just wonderful activism, and I'm inspired daily by the passion of our students"

"Greening Higher Ed, from the Top Down and the Bottom Up"

October 15, 2009, Matthew Wheeland

"The AGC, which has just announced its first set of rankings, gauges sustainability from the bottom up: the grassroots competition asks students, faculty and staff at schools to commit to measuring and reducing their energy use."

"And America’s Greenest Campus Is …"

October 13, 2009, R.M Schneiderman

"The contest, which was funded by grants from the Department of Energy and various foundations, will award the two schools $5,000 each, to be put towards green initiatives on campus.

In total, more than 460 schools and 20,000 people participated in the contest, which began in April and was created as a partnership between Smart Power, a nonprofit clean-energy marketing company, and Climate Culture, a clean-energy social networking site (think Facebook meets the Jenny Craig of carbon)."

"America's Greenest Colleges"

October 8, 2009, Brian Wingfield

"Virginia's George Mason University is a participant in "America's Greenest Campus," a national contest that tracks reductions in carbon emissions through software provided by Climate Culture, an Internet firm and online community.

'The benefit in my mind is the education that it provides to a lot of people,' says Colin Bennet, an assistant in the Office of Sustainability at GMU."

"SU competes for greenest campus in U.S."

September 22, 2009, Durrie Bouscaren

"When students first register, they complete a survey that analyzes their current lifestyle and measures their carbon footprint."

"America's Greenest Campus Competition"

July 6, 2009, John Pumilio

"Ever wonder what your personal carbon footprint is? Well, Climate Culture has a nifty little online calculator to help you estimate it in about 5 to 10 minutes."

"Slash energy costs by 30%"

May 26, 2009

"If you're tired of sweating high summer cooling costs - and winter heat bills besides - these techie tools can help. Used in concert, they may save you 30% annually on energy bills, says Zeke Hausfather of Climate Culture, an online community focusing on energy consumption. And that, as you'll see below, adds up to cool cash."

"Get to Know the Climate Culture"

May 7, 2009

"Climate Culture makes smart reduction recommendations based on your individual habits, living situation, geographic location and other personalized information. Not every household is the same, and so, not everyone should be taking the same actions to reduce energy use. Out of hundreds of different options, you can pledge the energy adjustments that make sense for your home and lifestyle.""

"Go Green and Win Some Green. Hollerrrr."

May 3, 2009, CC Staff

"The contest is catching on quickly; in only the few short weeks since it was launched, AGC has signed up over 6,000 students at over 400 universities, and it’s shaping up to be the largest measurable youth environmental campaign in U.S. history! Currently, students who have signed up have committed to: reduce their annual carbon emissions by 4 million pounds, save over $500,000 per year, reduce 1.5 million gallons of water usage each year, and avoid using over 25,000 gallons of gasoline total."

"America's Greenest Campus: Green College Campus Contest"

April 30, 2009, Jillianne Hamilton

"America’s Greenest Campus is a nationwide contest that enables colleges and universities to compete against each other in reducing their carbon footprints. The contest has support from the US Department of Energy and is designed to energize and engage our nation’s youth to combat global warming."

"Earth Day 2009, nonprofits and you"

April 21, 2009, Lawrence Kopp

"To commit to help saving our earth every day, check out Climate Culture, an online tool used to track your carbon footprint based on your daily habits. Currently, Climate Culture is teaming up with SmartPower, the nation's leading nonprofit dedicated to marketing clean energy, to teach America's youth about the importance of lifestyle changes to positively impact the environment by hosting a contest called America's Greenest Campus."

"Tech companies celebrate Earth Day in cool ways"

April 17, 2009, ITworld staff

"Climate Culture, a carbon tracking platform helps people reduce their energy use and impact on climate change. The company recently launched a contest called America's Greenest Campus, the first nationwide contest that enables colleges to compete in reducing their carbon footprint. The Greenest Campus could win up to $20K. Climate Culture allows any group or company to log on and compete against each other to reduce their energy use."

"Friday Links"

April 10, 2009, Elia Powers

"There’s a contest among colleges nationwide to reduce the carbon footprint of anyone associated with the campus. Students/faculty/staff/alumni with an .edu e-mail address have until Oct. 5 to track their reductions and report it on a website."

"Universities compete to be America's Greenest Campus"

April 10, 2009, Sarah Ryu

"The America's Greenest Campus contest is the first national competition among colleges to reduce their communities' carbon footprints."

"Climate Culture, the organization behind the contest, is a group of recent graduates from Yale, Harvard and New York universities dedicated to sustainability efforts. Its Web site provides a carbon-footprint calculator and reduction service while promoting a sense of community with others also passionate about environmentalist efforts."

“'Obama Girl' and the Selling of Clean Energy”

April 6, 2009, Marc Gunther

“Behind that commercial is some serious market research, and smart use of social media to spread the message....The America’s Greenest Campus contest that she is promoting is aimed at college students, faculty, staff and alumni. The contest, created by a partnership that includes Smart Power, the U.S. energy department and a company called Climate Culture, is a way to get colleges to compete as students and their allies reduce their collective carbon footprints between now and October.”

“College News interview: creators of 'America’s Greenest Campus'”

April 6, 2009, Lisa Kilian

“Over the week, I interviewed Colin Bennet, the campus organizer from leading George Mason University, Thomas Scaramellino, founder and CEO of Climate Culture, and Brian Keane, president of SmartPower. What I found were three very enthusiastic people hopeful of the environmental change the contest could have on many Americans and as for the competitive mindset – virtually missing.

“We’re all striving for the same thing,” Colin Bennet said. “I truly believe that the climate crisis is a ‘human’ problem.”

“Obama Girl's 'Save Your Energy' and New Green College Contest”

April 3, 2009, Brian Clark Howard

“Save your energy. You're looking good but you drive an H3… Be like Ed Begley."

“So sings the adorable, lovable Obama Girl, in her latest video, urging us all to save energy. The pop ditty is surprisingly catchy, and the video is cute fun.”

“Climate Culture’s Green College Campus Contest”

April 3, 2009

“Created by Climate Culture, a new startup that helps people save money and go green, and in partnership with Smart Power, a non-profit marketing organization that supports green energy, this contest pits college campuses around the U.S. against each other to prove their green university mentality.”

“Obama Girl Joins Climate Culture to Green Campuses!”

April 2, 2009, Brian Keane

“Climate Culture is a very cool, new online community dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint. It employs social networking (automatically integrated into Facebook) and users get to create an avatar and experiment with reducing carbon footprints in this virtual world. (Oh...and in the process, figure out how to reduce it in the real world, too.)”

“Obama Girl Also Obsessed By Guys 'Like Ed Begley'”

April 2, 2009, Alex Pasternack

“Organized by Climate Culture, a social network focused on energy reduction, the competition has so far encouraged more than 4,000 people to reduce their carbon footprints by over 4 million pounds.”

“Making Energy Culprits into Energy Heros”

April 1, 2009

“At AmericasGreenestCampus.com, eco-minded participants will make real commitments to reducing their energy use and overall carbon footprint through an extensive list of energy saving, everyday actions. Participants log onto the America’s Greenest Campus social networking community (that’s completely integrated into Facebook), and create their own virtual worlds based on their current carbon footprint, as well as a cool avatar.”

“Obama Girl Strikes Back!”

March 31, 2009, Russell Simmons

“I woke up this morning and reminded myself that we are an amazing species, but sometimes we can get a little carried away. And right now, I think we’ve gotten a little carried away. That is why I am pleased that Global Grind has joined America's Greenest Campus today in announcing a nationwide effort to empower young people to reduce their carbon footprint and fight climate change on college campuses across America. For those who don’t know what your carbon footprint is – it is basically the amount of pollution you contribute to the environment every day. Check out this entertaining video starring the “Obama Girl” and join me today in creating a new footprint. A footprint for a greater consciousness about how we can treat our planet earth with much greater care and love!”

“How green is my campus?”

March 31, 2009, Harry Fuller

“[Climate Culture] allows individuals or groups to monitor and evaluate hundreds of different actions, that can affect spending, and use of resources from water and paper to energy.... It addition to giving carbon footprint data, the site provides each contestant with an avatar that can evolve through several stages to become ever-more impressive and heroic.”

“Climate Culture Employs Social Media to Turn America’s Universities Green”

March 31, 2009, Ben Parr

“Social media is clearly at work here in the creation and promotion of this contest. Climate Culture is a great example of a green social media technology that depends on community features and spreading the word. The “Save Your Energy” Obama Girl video is a smart and sensible use of a popular web celebrity to get more people to participate in the contest. They even have Russell Simmons on board to spread the word.”

“College Students Heed Warning on Climate Change, Engage in 'America's Greenest Campus' Competition”

March 31 ,2009, Brian Keane

“The truly incredible piece to the Climate Culture web site and America's Greenest Campus, though, is that it's powered by an advanced carbon and energy advisor, which helps participants create customized savings plans. There are literally hundreds of actions in home, work, travel, and shopping to choose from. The savings numbers are specific for each person, depending on where someone lives, their lifestyle, and their personal preferences. Green-minded participants can see how much CO2, electricity, gasoline, and many other resources are saved.”

“How to Reach Echo Boomers: Making Energy Culprits into Energy Smart Heroes”

March 31, 2009, Brian Keane

“The real teeth of AGC, though, is the advanced carbon and energy adviser that allows everyone who joins to get personalized information that tells them exactly how much CO2, energy, water and other resources their actions save. The tool takes into account where someone lives, what their lifestyle is, and all the other factors needed to provide the kind of accurate and empowering information young people need to know—the kind of information that will inspire them to take meaningful, and sometimes basic actions.”

“Schools Compete To Have America's Greenest Campus”

March 19, 2009, Zaher Karp

“[Quote from GMU coordinate Colin Bennett]'The best part about Climate Culture is seeing a visual representation of your reductions, and also the competition. Competing with other schools adds to the fun, since we’re all on the same side—we’re all trying to do our part striving towards climate neutrality. Reducing our emissions is part of our university history, when our school entered into the American College & University President Climate Commitment.'”

“'America’s Greenest Campus' reduces carbon footprints nationwide”

March 31, 2009, Lisa Kilian

“AGC introduces participants to Climate Culture which is a very useful social-networking tool when it comes to environmentalism. Signing on to Climate Culture is like signing up for a personal environmental trainer. The social networking site uses your history and your statistics to order to teach you new ways to reduce your impact on the environment, save money while doing it, and meet others as passionate as you are, who have tips of their own.”

“Students take sustainable competition to the Web”

March 19, 2009, Amanda Fox

“The Climate Culture site is also an educational tool, with tips and information about what raises carbon impact and increases wasteful energy. On Climate Culture, a student’s avatar guides a participant through different ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint specific to a student’s lifestyle.

“[Marian Brown, special assistant to the provost] said it does not take much effort to be more sustainable, and with the help of Climate Culture, she hopes more people will find it easier.

“'A lot of times it’s not related to being sacrificial, [it’s related to] energy ... being wasted, which also wastes money,” she said. “We would be saving money big-time if we changed our everyday habits.'”

“Green Social Network Startups Tap Competition to Fight Climate Change”

March 9, 2009, Katie Fehrenbacher

“In association with its virtual game site, Climate Culture recently launched the contest America’s Greenest Campus, whereby college students sign up and pledge ways to reduce carbon emissions. Climate Culture is working with the Department of Energy and SmartPower, as well as universities including Stanford, Harvard, Penn and Yale, for the contest. The college with the most participants and the largest carbon-emissions reduction wins cash prizes. ...Climate Culture is betting that the desire to socialize through teams and healthy competition will be an incentive to take action to fight climate change.”

“Helping Me Get Green Simply & Socially”

March 4, 2009, John Bell

“Climate Culture is a Web 2.0 social network-enhanced tool to help me reduce my family carbon footprint. It was developed by a group of Ivy League-plus grads and it's board of advisors is dominated by Yalie profs.

“They use very simple and smart Web 2.0 menus. As you calculate your initial carbon footprint, you get to walk through a terrific list of tactics to reduce it. This list is magic. They are helping me think of ways to take actions - from big to small - and then giving me an idea of the impact. I earn points for answering questions and can reduce my footprint by acknowledging those things I already do or are willing to commit to doing.”

“Help Ithaca Become 'America's Greenest Campus'”

February 27, 2009, Marian Brown

“Once in Climate Culture, you create your personal profile and a customized avatar, and then enter data to help you assess your current climate impact. The carbon emissions reduction section of Climate Culture is absolutely loaded with great ideas for carbon reductions for you to consider related to your home, your workplace, your travel habits, and your consumer choices.”

“Top 5: Virtual Villages”

February 23, 2009, Ethan Lyon

"Climate Culture ranked #1 emerging virtual village!"

“Virtual World Promotes Sustainable Living”

February 20, 2009, Bella Laird

“Centered around a patent-pending carbon footprint calculator, Climate Culture offers users personalized advice on the amount of carbon, energy, dollars and other resources they expend through hundreds of lifestyle choices and daily actions. The site's Personal Energy Advisor tool uses regionally specific datasets that reflect the types of energy generated, temperatures, incoming solar radiation, energy prices and other factors determined by ZIP code to power many of its personalized calculations.”

“Mason in Race for 'America's Greenest Campus' Title”

February 12, 2009, Tara Laskowski

“Climate Culture, an upstart social network built around a sophisticated footprint calendar, has launched a college greening initiative with cash prizes.

“Students, faculty and staff members, and alumni can sign up to look at their carbon footprint, make pledges to reduce it and learn tips on going green.”

“'Going Green' Becomes the New Black”

February 6, 2009, Evelyn Scotti

“As more people are going green, so are universities... It is time to compete in an online contest among universities and colleges in the U.S. I urge you to take a break from Facebook and register at Climate Culture (www.climateculture.com). Use your WSU e-mail to signify you’re a student, and make declarations to lighten your carbon footprint. Two schools will win overall, one for highest number of participants and one of the most carbon reduction by percentage.”

“'America's Greenest Campus': Green Contest Pays Students Big Green Rewards”

February 3, 2009, Alex Pasternack

“But the deal just got a little sweeter. Climate Culture, an upstart social network built around a sophisticated footprint calculator, has launched its massive college greening initiative, America's Greenest Campus, using rewards that any student can appreciate: an intercollegiate contest and $20,000 in prizes. Think of it as the NCAA of sustainability.”

“Climate Culture Unleashes Power of Individual Efficiency”

January 19, 2009, Carl Frankel

“Alert from the world of eco-business innovation: New York City-based start-up Climate Culture has developed an ingenious way to build a business by helping consumers and the towns they live in reduce their eco-footprint.

“Sophisticated resource-efficiency software is at the heart of the company's strategy. Dubbed the Personal Energy Advisor, it comes wrapped in a Web 2.0 website including a carbon footprint-reduction game and also featuring personal islands that reflect each player's progress. In the game participants can compete against each other and earn points to enhance their status level, and their avatars get cooler as their energy consumption declines..”

“Play a Game, Save the Earth”

October 2008, pg. 26, Jenny Sherman

“Trying to go green can quickly begin to feel like another chore you don’t have time for, especially since it’s not clear what would make the greatest difference. That’s the rationale behind climateculture.com, which incorporates the best elements of carbon calculators, eco-product reviews, and community forums to make reducing your environmental impact fun.... Climate Culture takes it to the next level.”

"Chicago’s Greenest Person"

September 23, 2008, Nara Schoenberg

"To find Chicago’s greenest person, the Tribune used Climate Culture’s calculation tools to rank 11 finalists nominated by green organizations in the Chicago area. The winner: Ken Dunn, a 65 year old resident of Hyde Park who is responsible for only 3,800 pounds of carbon dioxide each year, compared to the American average of 44,000 pounds. “‘It would definitely make a huge difference if we all became Ken’, says Zeke Hausfather, Chief Energy Scientist at Climate Culture.”