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UCF Students Will Cash In On Energy Savings
By UCF Staff March 17, 2008
Photo: UCF News File
Shaina Duffey turns off the power strip on her desk at the Lake Claire residence hall. Shutting off computers when they're not in use is one way that students can help conserve energy.
During the month of February, on-campus residents at the University of Central Florida competed to see who could save the most energy at home. With the results in, it’s clear that students took their green challenge to heart.
About 6,000 students reduced their energy use by a competition-record 8.9 percent -- enough to power 150 homes for a month or the equivalent of nearly $17,700 in energy bills.
"It has been great to see students take an active role in energy conservation,” said Vernon Rogers, an area coordinator with UCF Housing and Residence Life, which co-sponsored the contest. “I hope we are able to continue to improve our conservation efforts and become an example to universities across the state and country."
This year’s winning buildings are Tower II, Citrus Hall and the BPW House.
Each student living in a winning building now has a two-week window to turn in a two-paragraph essay about what they did to conserve energy, along with a one-week log of energy conservation methods they used. Submissions will be turned in to the Resident Assistants for each building, and the winners will be chosen from a team of representatives from the Student Government Association and the competition’s creator, UCF’s Center for Energy and Sustainability.
At least $6,000 in SGA-funded scholarships will be divided among each building’s chosen winners. Other students will be eligible to win gift certificates to Best Buy and Wackadoos, along with a pizza party to celebrate the savings in their residence halls.
The energy-saving competition is the latest in several UCF efforts to “go green.” With several building projects underway, UCF is ensuring that new living and learning spaces are energy efficient and meet government energy-saving standards. UCF also is leading the way in eco-friendly fleet transportation. The Center for Energy and Sustainability was the first in the state to turn a fleet hybrid into a plug-in car for limited all-electric driving. UCF also uses biodiesel fuel in its fleet of vehicles.
With its first published carbon emissions study last year, the Center for Energy and Sustainability wants to reduce UCF’s energy consumption up to 20 percent in all education and general buildings on campus by 2011.
About 5,700 students who live on UCF’s main campus were involved in last month’s competition. Organizers expanded this year’s contest to include two residence halls that house about 350 students at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management campus near International Drive. And competing students were educated on simple energy-saving measures they could take everyday, such as turning off a computer or a room light.
This year’s competition ran from Feb. 1 to Feb. 29 and compared energy consumption with a baseline average of 3 previous years. Students last year slashed their energy use by 8 percent, which equated to enough power for 115 homes or about $12,000 in electric bills.
“It goes to show that our students have the capability to make small changes, which result in major benefits to our environment,” said Stacey Radnor, the marketing specialist with the Center for Energy and Sustainability. “I hope that the students remember what they have accomplished here within our UCF community and share their energy conservation tips with the rest of their friends and family.”
UCF Stands For Opportunity: The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 6th largest in the nation with more than 48,000 students. UCF's first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region's economic development. UCF's culture of opportunity is driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth, relevance and energy. For more information visit http://news.ucf.edu.
