Washington and Lee University Launches Peer-Led Sustainability Initiative

Washington and Lee University (W&L) has officially certified the first student participants in its new Eco-Rep program, a peer education initiative under the Office of Sustainability and Energy Education (OSEE). The program is designed to enhance awareness and engagement with campus sustainability efforts by equipping students with in-depth knowledge of environmental initiatives and best practices.

Nine students completed their training and received certification during a ceremony on March 5 at Leyburn Library. 

Empowering Peer-Led Sustainability Education

Eco-Reps serve as trusted sources of sustainability knowledge, sharing accurate information with their peers through both formal guidance and informal discussions. These students are trained in W&L’s campus sustainability programs and provide insight into waste management, energy conservation, biodiversity initiatives, and more.

“Students learn from their peers — whether it’s a dinner table conversation about climate change or a moment of confusion about what goes in the compost bin,” said Jane Stewart, director of sustainability at W&L. “Some of the most important opportunities for sharing information about both complex environmental challenges and everyday on-campus solutions come in informal settings.”

In addition to acting as sustainability ambassadors, Eco-Reps will help develop programming and outreach campaigns in collaboration with the OSEE. Their feedback will also be instrumental in shaping future sustainability strategies on campus.

“Even in the short time I have been working with this group, I have already gained important perspective from them,” Stewart added.

Fostering Leadership in Sustainability

The program was co-created by Shae Reinberg ’25, an OSEE student intern, who will also serve as the student coordinator.

“The program emerged from the desire to increase awareness and education around the university’s sustainability initiatives,” Reinberg explained. “Peer education is an effective way to expand the reach of these important initiatives to the student body.”

Beyond promoting sustainability awareness, the Eco-Rep program offers students leadership development opportunities by training them to communicate complex environmental issues effectively.

“OSEE hopes to empower students across disciplines to practice leadership and communication, which they can apply to their professional and academic pursuits in any field,” Reinberg noted.

W&L’s Commitment to Carbon Neutrality

The launch of the Eco-Rep program aligns with W&L’s broader sustainability strategy, which has been in place since the establishment of its Climate Action Plan in 2010. The university updated the plan in 2019 to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and has made significant strides, including:

• Developing an offsite solar array to offset campus carbon emissions.
• Composting dining waste and eliminating disposable water bottles.
• Implementing an energy reduction program, cutting greenhouse gas emissions from electricity and natural gas by 50%.
• Upgrading campus utility infrastructure in June 2024 to transition heating resources from natural gas to low-temperature hot water.