BisonGreen Challenge
How the Challenge Works
The BisonGreen Challenge is a semester-long competition that rewards sustainable actions with points. Log what you do, see your impact grow, and compete with fellow Bison on the leaderboard.
1. Sign the Pledge Commit to building a sustainable Howard. Signing the BisonGreen Pledge earns your first 15 points and activates your Challenge account.
2. Log Daily Actions Walked to class? Used a reusable bottle? Chose a plant-based meal? Log your actions in the dashboard. Points add up daily across 8 initiative categories.
3. Climb the Leaderboard See how you rank among individuals, residence halls, and student organizations. A weekly cap of 150 points keeps it fair for everyone.
4. Earn Recognition Top performers receive recognition at BisonGreen signature events, social media spotlights, and end-of-semester awards.
Earn Points Across 8 Areas
Outreach & Education
Attend events, share posts, recruit friends, take Sustainability 101
Urban Green Space
Garden volunteering, litter pickup, planting days
Mobility
Walk, bike, transit, carpool to class
Waste Management
Reusable bottles/bags, plastic-free days, recycling, move-out donations
Greener Buildings
Lights off, unplug devices, stairs over elevators
Water Stewardship
Report leaks, shorter showers
Food Justice
Clean plates, plant-based meals, reusable containers, food recovery volunteering
Climate Action
Carbon footprint tracking, thrifting, repairing, climate event participation
Track Your Impact
The BisonGREEN Dashboard is your sustainability scorecard. Self-report daily actions, view your point total, see how your residence hall or organization ranks, and track your progress across all 8 initiative pillars.
Coming Soon
Sign the BisonGreen Pledge
As a member of the Howard University community, I pledge to help build a sustainable Howard for generations to come.
I commit to:
- Growing Communities - working together for healthier, resilient campus and neighborhood spaces
- Restoring Environments - protecting natural resources and shared spaces
- Educating Leaders - learning, sharing knowledge, and inspiring sustainable action
- Empowering Innovation - advancing research and creative solutions for resilience
- Advancing a Net-Zero Future - making responsible choices that reduce our environmental impact
Together, I honor Howard University's legacy and create a greener future for generations of Bison to come.
Together, We Are BisonGreen.
Challenge Rules & Fairness
Weekly Point Cap
Each participant can earn a maximum of 150 points per week. This prevents the leaderboard from being dominated by whoever has the most free time, keeping competition fair for students with heavier course loads or work schedules.
How Actions Are Verified
Low-point daily habits (reusable bottle, lights off, clean plate) are self-reported with no proof needed. Medium and high-point actions - attending events, volunteering, donating items, reporting leaks - require photo evidence or event check-in confirmation.
Pillar Balance Bonus
Earn a +10 point bonus each month by logging at least one action across 4 or more different initiative categories. This rewards well-rounded sustainability engagement rather than repeating a single easy action all month.