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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GE AND mtvU UNVEIL TOP TEN STUDENT PROJECTS TO GREEN COLLEGE CAMPUSES STUDENT VOTING KEY TO DETERMINING WHO WINS $25,000 ECO-GRANT AND ANGELS & AIRWAVES EARTH DAY CONCERT NEW YORK, NY and FAIRFIELD, CT January 16, 2007 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- mtvU, MTV’s 24-hour college network, and GE, today announced the top ten student projects in the first-ever mtvU GE ecomagination Challenge. Over 100 student groups nationwide submitted for the competition, with ambitious proposals addressing everything from energy conservation to urban runoff and waste production to wildlife preservation. The ten finalists’ projects stood out as the most innovative and pragmatic plans for improving campus sustainability. 
College students are encouraged to check out the finalists’ multi-media proposals on www.ecocollegechallenge.com and vote for the project with the greatest potential environmental impact – for both the proposed campus and beyond. Student votes, along with input from mtvU, GE and top environmental experts will determine the winning team, which will receive a $25,000 grant for the execution of its idea and be featured on mtvU and mtvU.com. The winner’s school will also receive an mtvU Earth Day Concert headlined by college favorites Angels & Airwaves.
The schools and projects in the running for the mtvU GE ecomagination Challenge grand prize are:
A comprehensive, solar-powered composting program to cycle nutrients back into the Earth, educate cafeteria diners on the importance of conservation, and through a compost-for-food swap, cut down on the distance the school’s food travels from field to plate. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Biodiesel @ MIT A solar-powered processor to convert waste vegetable oil to biodiesel, in an effort to reduce energy costs and the university’s environmental footprint. Northeastern University – NU Goes Green A Green Building Concept – including the installation of green roofs, re-grading of walkways and introduction of vegetated swales – to reduce urban runoff, energy spent addressing it and the pollution NU generates. University of Maryland – QUEST Team SOS A next generation solar-powered trash and recycling compactor for receptacles across campus. The device would use photovoltaic cells to compact trash and recyclables on site, decreasing the volume of waste created and the number of times the receptacles must be emptied – thereby increasing recycling, reducing waste build up and saving the university money and resources. University of Massachusetts – UMass Human Power Plant Project A device that captures and converts mechanical energy generated by stationary bicycles and rowing machines in the campus fitness center. The captured electrical energy will be made available in the campus center where students can charge laptops and other portable devices. The intent is to educate students about energy consumption, introduce a new alternate energy source and hopefully spur the use of other renewable energy sources on campus (wind and solar power, etc.) University of Michigan – Greenroofs at the University of Michigan A modular greenroof on the highly visible U of M Outdoor Activities Center to drive storm water retention, energy conservation, reduction of air and water pollution, native wildlife preservation and stimulate more eco-activism on campus. University of Southern California – Sustainacafé A test-bed for campus sustainability and a demonstration site for innovative technology and programs. The Sustainacafé will reduce USC’s consumption of water and energy, waste production and provide the campus and neighboring communities with information about sustainability, the campuses’ environmental footprint and strategies for reducing one’s impact. University of Wisconsin, Stout – Happy MicroOrganism Compost Train An innovative, proprietary composting process that would compost large quantities of food waste with a minimum of energy and labor. The solution would reduce the energy spent transporting the school’s food waste, cut down on landfill and put to work a currently unutilized natural resource. Vanderbilt University – Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative A sustainable biodiesel production system that will fuel both campus vehicles and alternative energy awareness. The system will be designed to function completely "off-the-grid," without using public electricity, water sources, or possibly even methanol. The ten proposals are explained in greater detail on www.ecocollegechallenge.com. Students can vote for their favorites before the deadline of March 2nd, 2007. Starting today, mtvU, mtvU.com and mtvU mobile will be going behind the scenes of the mtvU GE ecomagination challenge, showcasing different projects and teams each week until voting ends. After the votes are tallied and a panel of environmental experts have weighed in, mtvU and GE will select the winning project. The winner will be announced on mtvU and mtvU.com in late March. Ecomagination is GE's commitment to imagine and build innovative technologies that help customers address their environmental and financial needs. It is both a business strategy to drive growth at GE and a promise to contribute positively to the environment in the process. The ecomagination Challenge is a joint initiative of mtvU and GE, and mtvU’s own extension of Break the Addiction, THINK MTV's campaign to mobilize a new generation of environmental activists, by engaging young people to take daily steps that have a measurable impact in the fight against global warming. Launched on Earth Day 2006, Break the Addiction is a year long campaign and 12-step program to engage young people to make smart, every day choices that both improve their life and help to curb the impact of global warming and preserve our environment. Angels & Airwaves is lead singer and guitarist Tom DeLonge, guitarist David Kennedy, drummer Atom Willard and bassist Ryan Sinn. The band’s members are avid supporters of pro-environmental initiatives and have been vocal proponents for greater eco-responsibility. Angels & Airwaves debut album, “We Don’t Need To Whisper,” was released May 23rd, 2006 on Suretone/Geffen Records and entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #4. The album has gone on to sell over half a million copies in the U.S. alone. Angels & Airwaves was recognized with the 2006 mtvU “Woodie of the Year” (Artist of the Year), given to the act that makes the biggest splash on the college music scene each year. The mtvU Woodie Awards are the only awards honoring the music voted best by the college audience. About GE GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com. About mtvU Broadcasting to 750 colleges across the country, with a combined enrollment of over 7.2 million, mtvU is the largest, most comprehensive television network just for college students. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, mtvU can be seen in the dining areas, fitness centers, student lounges and dorm rooms of campuses throughout the U.S. mtvU is dedicated to every aspect of college life, reaching students everywhere they are, through a three pronged approach – on-air, online and on campus. mtvU focuses on content including music videos from emerging artists which can’t be seen anywhere else, news, student life features, events and pro-social initiatives. mtvU is always on campus, with more than 500 events per year, including exclusive concerts, giveaways, shooting mtvU series and more. For more information about mtvU, and for a complete programming schedule, visit www.mtvU.com. mtvU.com makes mtvU the first MTV Networks channel distributed in its entirety via broadband, streaming 24/7 and on demand, featuring all of mtvU plus exclusive new music, original series and student-produced programming for college students and music fans everywhere. mtvU also owns and operates Y2M, parent company of College Publisher – the largest interactive network of online college newspapers in the US. The network comprises over 500 campus publications that serve institutions including Brown University, the University of Illinois, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin and Duke University, with a combined enrollment of over 5.5 million students and a subscriber base of 2.1 million. MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 120 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services – MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 100 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide. CONTACTS: Jason Rzepka mtvU 212-654-7198 jason.rzepka@mtvstaff.com Jay Jay Nesheim MTV 212-846-7166 jayjay.nesheim@mtvstaff.com Britta Barrett GE 203-373-2389 britta.barrrett@ge.com |
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