How it Works - Green Games

Curious about how to earn points for your community in Green Games? This page breaks down the value of each activity, showing how much they’re worth and how you can rack up bonus points. Whether you’re attending events, participating in challenges, or going the extra mile with sustainable practices, every action counts.

Green Games Points

Earn points by participating in the following activities. Check out each example and see how you can contribute!

100 Points

Service Program

Programs that utilize service components that are sustainably minded or grounded in environmental education may be counted for this category.

Example: Volunteer at the Campus Community Garden or Battle Park.

75 Points

Tour/Trip

Tours or trips that have an environmental focus may be counted for this category. Tours can be created by Carolina Housing or RHA, or they may be done by another department or organization.

Example: A trip to the farmers market or a tour of the green buildings on campus.

50 Points

Pledge/Floor Drive

Pledges and floor drives must be sustainably-minded to be counted in this category. This includes recycling drives and pledges to encourage sustainable habits.

Example: Hold a Hard to Recycle Item Drive or ask your residents to take a sustainability pledge.

50 Points

In-Community Program

This category encompasses all programs occuring in the residence halls that have an environmental focus.

Examples: environmental trivia night or screening of a documentary.

15 Points

Sustainability Education 101

This category focuses on introductory level sustainability concepts that are similar to utilize in programming. Must be an in-community program to be considered.

Example: Hold a vegetarian/vegan cooking class.

30 Points

Sustainability Education 201

This category focuses on higher level sustainability concepts that require thought and planning to utilize as a program. Must be an in-community program to be considered.

Example: Invite a speaker for a discussion on regenerative farming concepts.

30 Points

Bulletin Board

To be counted in this category, the bulletin board must be about sustainabiity or environmental education. Submit your pictures to the Green Games intern and try to use recycled paper and materials.

Example: A recycle right or environmental justice bulletin board.

10 Points

Bring Your Own (BYO)

Request that resident bring their own cups, plates, utensils, etc. to programs instead of using disposables. Aim to make every program a BYO program (when applicable).

Example: Ice cream social where residents bring their own bowls and spoons.

Bonus Points

Earn +2 points per resident at each Green Games event.
Watch for bonus point contests!
Host a program that follows the Monthly Theme for +30 points.
RAs and Sustainability Officers earn extra points for attending meetings.

DIY Crafts

Create magazine collages, upcycle old containers into compost bins, decorate a reusable tote bag or mend old clothing.
Creativity is greatly encouraged!

Food Theme

Get involved with the Sustainable Food Hub Club to improve food systems at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Host a cooking event for a plant-based meal.
Reduce food waste by creating “recycled recipes” out of leftover meals or ingredients.

Energy

Host a presentation on sustainable transportation methods, provide information on bus routes, plan a walking tour of Chapel Hill/Carrboro, etc.
Collaborate with University’s Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee (RESPC) to start an energy-saving competition in the residence halls.
Host an event on energy-saving habits by encouraging simple practices like turning off lights and sinks when not in use.

Guest Speakers

Invite a guest speaker or representative from an environmental organization or student group to talk about a special topic.
Examples from previous RAs include speakers from Carolina Dining Services, Carolina Thrift and Sunrise UNC.

Game or Activity

Host an “Environmental Trivia Night.”
Rent a projector and show an environmental-themed film or documentary.
Sort contamination of bins at your residence hall’s recycling bins.

Service Projects

Volunteer for Green Guides to help people sort their waste between compost, recycling and landfill in Lenoir.
Volunteer at NC Botanical Gardens Workdays.
For on-campus gardening volunteering, check out Edible Campus.
Organize a group of students to do a roadside or campus cleanup.

Pledge or Floor Drive

Increase compost collection and reduce contamination with a composting pledge.
Create a pledge about energy and water conservation, waste reduction, etc., and then have students sign it and distribute it.
Host a hard-to-recycle items drive for items such as batteries, Styrofoam, electronics, or fluorescent bulbs. Contact the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling and Environment, Health and Safety for help!

Trip/Tour

Contact Edible Campus for a tour of their gardens on campus.
Take a group to visit Coker Arboretum, NC Botanical Gardens, or Duke Gardens and learn about flora and fauna native to the southeastern United States.

BYO Programs

Aim to make EVERY program a BYO program (when applicable)!

Ice cream social where residents bring their own bowls and spoons.
Pizza party where residents bring their own plates (including information on how to recycle/compost pizza boxes!)
Sustainable cooking class where residents bring their own plates, utensils and ingredients.