Environmental Awareness Survey

The Office of Sustainability began surveying the UConn student body in 2004 in order to gauge the level of environmental awareness and knowledge in the student population. The survey has taken place every other year since 2004. Below are tables that have compiled responses from 2004-2012.

What is the most important environmental issue on campus?

  2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Trash/litter 23% 25% 17% 11% 18%
Recycling 7% 19% 20% 26% 31%
Water issues 3% 12% 20% 12% 17%
Air pollution 5% 7% 2% 2% 2%
Energy issues 5% 5% 17% 25% 21%
Global Warming 0% 0% 4% 0% 4%
Other 2% 4% 2% 8% 1%
Unsure/Left Blank 55% 28% 18% 10% 6%

What features are important for new building construction at UConn?

2012
Water Conservation 63%
Energy Conservation 80%
Alternative Energy Use 65%
Low Impact Design 65%
Sustainable Materials 67%
Sustainable Site Selection 39%
Other 3%

What environmental initiatives are important for UConn?

  2012
Purchasing Recycled Products 46%
Purchasing Recyclable Products 48%
Using fuel-efficient or alternative-fuel campus vehicles 41%
Using renewable energy sources for campus needs 59%
Carbon neutrality 19%
Sustainable water use 57%
Reducing plastic waste 64%
Composting or other reducing food waste 53%
Increase public transportation options 24%
Other 3%

How frequently do you recycle products in your dorm room?

2012
Always 66%
Sometimes 30%
Never 3%

How frequently do you recycle products in the classroom, recreation, or student union buildings?

2012
Always 57%
Sometimes 42%
Never 2%

What types of items do you regularly recycle on campus?

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Newspapers N/A 57% 79% 81% 56%
Bottles/Cans 55% 77% 93% 95% 96%
Mixed Paper 50% 29% 73% 65% 71%
Cardboard N/A 12% 52% 67% 59%
Sneakers N/A 8% 12% 7% 2%
E-waste N/A N/A N/A 13% 7%
Other N/A 1% 8% 0% 7%
Blank 9% 0% 3% 0% 0%

What types of items do you regularly recycle at home (not at UConn)?

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Newspapers N/A 76% 81% N/A 79%
Bottles/Cans 75% 91% 95% N/A 96%
Mixed Paper 63% 44% 69% N/A 76%
Cardboard N/A 52% 75% N/A 82%
Sneakers N/A 8% 12% N/A 15%
E-Waste N/A N/A N/A N/A 16%
Other N/A 5% 11% N/A 21%
Blank 9% 0% 3% N/A 0%

How convenient are the location of recycling bins at UConn?

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Very convenient 11% 18% 25% N/A 35%
Somewhat convenient 43% 40% 53% N/A 55%
Not very convenient 26% 32% 17% N/A 9%
Not at all convenient 11% 10% 3% N/A 1%
Blank 9% 0% 2% N/A 0%

What would be the single best way to encourage students to recycle more at UConn?

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
More bins in academic buildings 21% 23% 16% 23% 20%
More bins in residences 25% 26% 19% N/A 14%
More bins in dining halls 6% 13% 6% N/A 7%
More accessible bins around campus 17% 18% 13% 42% 23%
More Recycling Outreach N/A N/A N/A 25% 20%
More Janitorial training N/A N/A N/A 10% 1%
More clearly marked bins 19% 16% 22% N/A 11%
Other (specify) 0% 4% 14% N/A 4%
Blank 12% 0% 10% N/A 0%

What would be the best way to encourage UConn students to use bicycles more on campus?

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
More bike paths 38% 29% 20% 25% 27%
More bike racks 22% 23% 17% N/A 20%
More storage facilities 29% 23% 21% 43% 18%
Loaner program N/A 23% 28% 22% 24%
More bicycle signage N/A N/A N/A 10% 4%
Other (specify) N/A 2% 9% N/A 7%
Blank 11% 0% 5% N/A 0%

What types of things do you do to conserve water where you live?

  2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Limit shower time N/A 33% 38% 37% 55%
Turn off the water while
brushing my teeth or shaving
N/A N/A N/A 73% 87%
Save my laundry for when I have full loads N/A N/A N/A 79% 79%
Report sink leaks to ResLife or landlord N/A N/A N/A N/A 36%
Other N/A 2% 8% N/A 3%

What types of things do you do to conserve energy where you live?

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Use a clothing rack to dry clothes N/A 14% 16% 13% 25%
Turn off lights when not in use N/A 78% 88% 89% 94%
Turn off electronics when not in use N/A 58% 74% 69% 78%
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
instead of incandescent bulbs
N/A N/A N/A 39% 42%
Lower thermostat when leaving the room N/A 30% 41% 38% 35%
Lower thermostat when leaving the room at the end of the semester N/A N/A N/A N/A 36%
Other N/A 2% 8% N/A 8%

What would you be willing to pay in student fees per semester to reduce UConn’s impact on the environment?

  2012
Less than $5 13%
$5 23%
$5-$10 15%
$10-$15 17%
More than $15 11%
Nothing 18%
Other 3%

Are you aware of the EcoHusky student group at UConn?

  2006 2008 2010 2010 2012
Yes 65% 80% 88% 88% 66%
No 35% 18% 12% 12% 34%
Blank 0% 2% 0% 0% 0%

If yes, what interaction with EcoHusky have you had?

  2006 2008 2010 2012
Seen Articles 33% 51% 76% 51%
Followed EcoHusky on Facebook N/A N/A N/A 11%
Visited website 5% 27% 35% 16%
Active member 1% 4% 10% 3%
Volunteered for event 1% 8% 16% 7%
Attended meeting 1% 8% 12% 6%
Seen Poster 40% 53% 89% 70%
Other 8% 12% 0% 8%

Your accumulated college credits at the end of the current semester will allow you to be classified as:

  2006 2008 2010 2012
Freshman 8% 4% 21% 19%
Sophomore 30% 14% 23% 26%
Junior 26% 19% 19% 31%
Senior 28% 24% 29% 23%
Graduate 8% 36% 8% 1%
Blank 0% 3% N/A N/A

Do you currently live on or off campus?

2006 2008 2010 2012
On-campus 81% 52% 75% 76%
Off-campus 18% 46% 25% 24%
Blank 1% 2% N/A N/A

Are you male or female?

Year 2006 2008 2010 2012
Male 48% 35% 31% 28%
Female 50% 61% 69% 72%
Blank 2% 4% N/A N/A