Howard University is Biggest Energy Loser in DC Campus
Competition
Head Coach A. Tamasin Sterner Helps College Students Cut Energy Use
by an Average 7% on 3 DC Campuses
The Alliance to Save Energy, March 7, 2012
Washington, D.C., March 7, 2012 – In its first campus energy competition,
Howard University students reduced overall energy use by 14% in its
participating dorms, out-saving fellow competitors at American and George
Washington Universities in the Alliance to Save Energy’s “D.C. Campus
Challenge: How Much Can You Power Down?” competition.
Howard University’s Green Team led the energy-saving movement, promoting
the competition with social media, energy audits in students’ rooms,
educational posters and flyers and by turning off lights in empty hallways and
common areas. The team also formed a “study buddy” system encouraging
students to do homework with a partner or in small groups in order to light up
fewer dorm rooms.
Howard’s Office of Sustainability Director Alfonzye Chisholm Jr. said the
competition helps further its main objectives. “We entered this competition to
establish a ‘greener’ Howard University operation and environment, to help
lead the inclusion of minorities in this worldwide initiative and to help prepare
the next leaders in sustainability,” he said. “Winning was a huge statement for
all minority institutions.”
All Three Campuses Saved
During the month-long competition, students from the three D.C. universities
saved enough energy to power 14 houses for a full year. By reducing energy
use in their residence halls through education and outreach to fellow students,
they saved over 168,000 kWh of electricity in just four weeks – an average
reduction of 7% compared to a year earlier.
“Energy competitions like this boost energy awareness, inspire personal
behavior changes and increase energy-efficient practices,” said Judi Quach,
education project manager at the Alliance. “Plus, they result in electricity and
financial savings that benefit our communities and our environment.”
Funded by the District’s Department of the Environment, the Alliance’s
competition trained and provided students and staff with resources about
energy efficiency and conservation and strategies for running a successful
energy competition, including using community-based social marketing. The
Alliance coordinated energy audit training for each campus team with
Tamasin Sterner, President and Chief Coach of Pure Energy Coach LLC,
a company that provides coaching and training in audits, quality assurance
inspections and home energy retrofits.
George Washington University: Cupcakes with a Side of EnergySavings
The Alliance to Save Energy is a
coalition of prominent business,
government, environmental and
consumer leaders who promote
the efficient and clean use of
energy worldwide to benefit
consumers, the environment, the
economy and national security.
For more information, contact:
Allyson Schmutter
202-448-8759
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202-448-8759
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[email protected]
Ronnie Kweller
202-530-2203
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202-530-2203
end_of_the_skype_highlighting
[email protected]
George Washington University achieved an 8% reduction in electricity use
while raising awareness among students about the competition’s positive
impact on the community.
“It was awesome to come together to discuss ways that we can share this
passion with others to make the world more sustainable,” said Michelle
Stuhlmacher, a freshmen Eco-Rep – one of a group of students who shared
information about energy efficiency on campus and got students’ attention by
handing out free cupcakes with their energy-saving tips. They also let other
students record their energy-saving ideas on sustainability pledge trees posted
on residence hall walls and marshaled 300 student pledges for a “Turkey Day
Shutdown.”
“It is inspiring to see what great conservation achievements were achieved,”
noted Sustainability Project Facilitator Sophie Waskow.
American University: ‘Green Eagles’ Soar
At American University (AU), the Green Eagles spread the word about energy
savings, which led to a 3% decrease in electricity use across their residence
halls during the competition.
“There's so much power in the American University student body to make
sustainable decisions and impact the environment in positive ways,” observed
Green Eagle Kayla Ma.
Armed with watt meters and turn-off-the-light stickers, the Green Eagles
swapped out inefficient incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent lamps.
They also helped their peers set energy-efficient power settings on their
laptops, urged students to take part in their “Thanksgiving Shutdown” and
collected signatures for a sustainability pledge from 20% of the residential
student body.
“Our students worked really hard to conserve and spread the word,” said Emily
Curley, AU’s sustainability coordinator. “We’re proud to have saved over
20,000 kWh and almost $3,000 while also preventing almost 11 tons of CO2
from entering the atmosphere during the competition.”