Skidmore competing to reduce energy use

Skidmore is participating in Campus Conservation National 2012, a nationwide electricity and water use reduction competition among colleges and universities. Created by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council through its Students Program, and in partnership with Lucid, Alliance to Save Energy, and the National Wildlife Federation, the contest began Feb. 13 and continues through March 5. Skidmore stuents are competing with their colleagues at colleges and universities across the country to achieve the greatest reductions in residence hall energy consumption over the three-week period. 

Skidmore Unplugged is a Skidmore campus competition aimed to inspire behavior change toward an energy conscious lifestyle. The eight campus residence halls compete for the largest percent reduction in energy consumption, which enables direct comparison of dormitories of varying occupancy and size. The residents of the winning residence hall in the 2011 competition reduced their total energy consumption by 4 percent. "Sustainable Skidmore is excited to expand our efforts to reduce energy consumption on campus and promote behavior changes that can be carried with students far beyond the Skidmore College community. Skidmore Unplugged and the Campus Conservation Nationals are important events because they demonstrate how small actions by many people are both manageable and can make a big a difference" said Tessa Leverone '12, Skidmore's Sustainability student manager.  

Skidmore joins the ranks of more than 100 universities and colleges nationwide that registered for the program. This year, in addition to the dorm-wide competition, Skidmore is also competing against Hobart and William Smith and Hamiliton colleges, as well as St. Lawrence and Colgate universities for the largest total percent reduction in the N.Y. Negawatt Challenge. The savings from all participants accumulate to reach a national challenge goal of one gigawatt-hour. Using Lucid's Building Dashboard, participating schools can instantly compare performance, share winning strategies, and track standings among the leading schools and buildings. With sponsorship from United Technologies Corp, Sloan, Sterling Planet, and Constellation Energy, the Campus Conservation National is an opportunity to organize students and staff to make immediate and lasting impacts on a school's carbon emissions and campus culture.  

Look for the S-Reps in the Dining Hall Atrium throughout the competition to find out more info about which building is in the lead on campus, and which campus is in the lead!   They will collaborate with the Peer Health Educators for parts of the competition to show the many connections that relate to electricity savings.