by Brianna Crandall — December 3, 2010—The results are in for what is billed as the nation’s largest real-time electricity and water use reduction competition on college campuses, the Campus Conservation Nationals 2010—and the 40 participating colleges and universities collectively reduced electricity consumption by 508,694 kilowatt-hours to save $50,209 and avoid putting 816,394 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The Alliance to Save Energy, in partnership with Lucid Design Group and the National Wildlife Federation, established the inaugural Campus Conservation Nationals, in which schools competed from November 1-19, 2010 to achieve the greatest energy reductions in their residence halls.
Organizers noted that by doing simple things to make energy use more visible, such as e-mailing residents their weekly energy use, posting energy- and water-savings tips, and rewarding users who achieve the most savings, students can combat the “hotel mentality” often held by dorm residents who do not pay directly for the energy they consume.
With 25.8 percent reduction in electricity use, DePauw University is the overall winner and will receive Building Dashboard for two buildings from Lucid Design Group. The software will enable students to view, compare and share building resource use data, track electricity budgets, host real-time competitions and communicate sustainability efforts to the campus community.
To achieve such substantial reductions, DePauw engaged in a wide variety of promotional and marketing activities to motivate its students. Residential Assistants (RAs) on each participating floor made bulletin boards displaying energy-saving “Battle Tactics.” Students could also become “Conservation Vigilantes,” making sure conservation was happening in their neighbors’ rooms. An effective hour-long event called “The Big Turn Off” encouraged people to turn off everything in the dorm and congregate in a common area.
NATIONWIDE CATEGORY WINNERS
Electricity
- Campus with the greatest average percent reduction across all participating residence halls: DePauw University—25.8 percent
- Campus with the greatest total reduction across all participating residence halls (per person): DePauw University
- Building with the greatest percent reduction: Stratford Heights 8, University of Cincinnati
- Building with the greatest total reduction: Cannon Hall, Appalachian State University
- Campus with the greatest total reduction across all participating residence halls (per person): DePauw University
Water
- Campus with the greatest average percent reduction across all participating residence halls: Humboldt State University—15.4 percent
- Campus with the greatest total reduction across all participating residence halls (per person): Emory University
- Building with the greatest percent reduction: Siddall Hall, University of Cincinnati
- Campus with the greatest total reduction across all participating residence halls (per person): Emory University
REGIONAL- AND CAMPUS-LEVEL CATEGORY WINNERS
- California
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona—4.8 percent reduction in overall energy use
Ohio
- Bowling Green State University—11.4 percent reduction in overall energy use
New York
- St. John’s University—12.2 percent reduction in overall energy use
To learn more about the competition or join the 2011 competition, visit the Compete to Reduce Web site.
