USU Housing and Residence Life Kicks-off Fall Energy Wars

Students in ten Utah State University residence halls will compete to reduce energy throughout October and November to become the 2013 Energy Wars Champions and win prizes.

USU Housing and Residence Life and the Sustainability Council have collaborated to revive the competition that last took place in spring of 2011. The ten buildings are split into five areas: Living Learning Center, Student Living Center, South Campus, Richards and Bullen, and the Towers. Each area will compete against its own two-year energy consumption average to achieve the greatest percentage reduction. Housing areas will be eligible for prizes each week, halfway through the competition and at the end. The area that has conserved the most energy at the end of the competition will win a dance party.

In order to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money, competition organizers hope students will adopt small behavior changes that lead to a big impact. Turning off the lights in unoccupied rooms, using a power strip to turn off unused electronics, taking shorter showers that use less hot water and skipping the elevator by taking the stairs are examples of behaviors that save energy.

More information is at the ‘Energy Wars’ website or email bluegoesgreen@aggiemail.usu.edu.

Contact: Alexi Lamm, 435-797-9299, alexi.lamm@usu.edu