Plymouth, N.H. –Nearly 200 students living in Belknap Hall have won the 2012 “Do It in the Dark” energy saving competition between Plymouth State residence halls. “Do it in the Dark” is a student-named competition between all the traditional residence halls that encourages saving energy by tracking and comparing reductions in each residence halls’ energy consumption between October 1 and December 1. Belknap residents reduced their energy consumption 25.23% from the baseline energy usage established in 2009, edging out Pemigewasset Hall with a 24.28% reduction, followed by Grafton Hall with 22.28% reduction, Smith Hall with 21.11% reduction, Blair Hall with 16.84% reduction, Mary Lyon Hall with 10.25% reduction, Langdon Woods with 7.09% reduction and Samuel Read Hall Hall with a 6.81% reduction in energy consumption. The goal of the competition is to increase the students’ awareness of energy conservation, an awareness they can apply outside of the University. Belknap Resident Hall Director Bob Feeny said the students really wanted to win the competition.
Belknap Hall won the 2012 "Do It in the Dark" energy conservation competition between PSU's residence halls by reducing their energy use by more than 25% over a two month period.
“We honestly didn’t notice the competition after the first week or so,” said Feeny. “It made me realize how quickly culture can change when everyone gets on board. I was constantly hearing students reminding each other to turn off lights in the common areas. It was refreshing to see that kind of spontaneous, organic community cooperation.”
“Do It in the Dark” was started in 2007 and is a joint project sponsored by the Office of Environmental Sustainability, the Office of Residential Life and Physical Plant. Brian Eisenhauer, PSU’s Director of Sustainability, said the competition not only saves energy; it raises students’ awareness about saving resources.
“The work we do on this competition is an excellent example of our sustainability goals, as we can see the direct results of students’ efforts on campus in reduced energy use,” Eisenhauer said. “Through engaging students we also hope they learn principles that last a lifetime and benefit them long after they leave the Plymouth State University campus.”
As a reward for winning the “Do It in the Dark” competition, Belknap residents will get their laundry done for half-price in February. On average, each on-campus Plymouth State student spends about $700 each semester on energy costs.
For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu
Clear. Temperature: 68; Wind: W at 8; Conditions as of Mon May 20 at 04:00 PM EDT