Wolfie Unplugged: SBU Set to Participate in Campus Conservation Nationals to Focus on Conserving Electricity
Stony Brook competes against three SUNY campuses to see which can conserve the most electricity
STONY BROOK, New York, April 1, 2014 – The Stony Brook University Office of Sustainability and Department of Energy Management are gearing up for the University’s first annual Campus Conservation Nationals (CCN) competition, the largest electricity reduction competition program for colleges and universities in the world. Stony Brook’s effort, dubbed “Wolfie Unplugged,” starts April 4 and runs until the conclusion of Earthstock, the University’s annual Earth Day celebration on April 25. Wolfie Unplugged will encourage students, faculty and staff to join together to find ways to better utilize energy resources throughout the competition and beyond.
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“We are eager to participate in the Campus Conservation Nationals energy competition and look forward to engaging our University community and challenging them to live more sustainably,” says James O’Connor, Director of Sustainability & Transportation Operations at Stony Brook University.
Challenging Stony Brook in the SUNY group are SUNYIT, SUNY New Paltz and the University at Albany.
“We are up against three other SUNY campuses to see which can save the most electricity, and although this is a competition, participating SUNY campuses hope to work towards the common goal of mitigating our impact on the environment,” said O’Connor.
Stony Brook University has selected 12 buildings — six residential and six academic — which will have their electricity usage tracked throughout the competition. The campus residences facilities include West Apartments I, Douglas, Whitman, Benedict, Hamilton, and Nobel Halls, representing one building from every residential quad. The six academic buildings include the Student Activities Center, Javits Lecture Hall, Earth & Space Sciences, Humanities, Administration and the Wang Center.
Participating buildings can save electricity in a number of ways, including turning off hallway and office lights, unplugging appliances, turning “on” the power save mode on computers, using stairwells as opposed to elevators and in residential areas, taking short five minute showers and using only cold water in washing machines. The University has enlisted the help of its EcoLeaders in order to tour participating buildings and suggesting ways to conserve – which includes adjusting lighting and installing more energy efficient solutions.
Students, faculty and staff are all urged to consider these tips throughout the year and use this time to practice these methods during the competition. With an engaged University community, Stony Brook can see dramatic improvements if energy conservation behaviors are practiced and utilized year-round, minimizing the impact on the natural environment.
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Help Stony Brook Compete to Reduce with “Wolfie Unplugged”
Stony Brook University students, faculty and staff can participate in Wolfie Unplugged by following these energy conservations measures:
• Interior & exterior lighting – turn off office lights, use window/ambient lighting
• Open exterior doors manually, when possible – not use ADA paddles (when possible)
• Set computers to “Power Save” mode
• Shared refrigerator use – share fridges on your floor or in your office area
• Turn down or off room heat (when possible)
• Turn up or off air conditioning (when possible)
• Unplug power strips, phones & computers when not in use
• Use stairwells, instead of elevators
• Air dry hair (don’t use blow dryers)
• Washer use (use cold water only)
• Showering length of time (5 minutes per shower)
• Turn TV’s off when not in use
• Are there heating or air conditioning issues in your building? Tell SBU by contacting: www.stonybrook.edu/fixit
About Campus Conservation Nationals
CCN was started in 2010 with a total of 38 schools and 80,000 students, and has collectively saved over $50,000. Last year, its third competition, featured 119 colleges and universities and over 240,000 students, resulting in a total savings of $158,000 over the three-week period. This year, more than 140 universities and colleges have pledged to compete, with the growth of the event leading to it becoming the largest electricity reduction competition program for schools worldwide.
Campus Conservation Nationals (CCN) is the largest electricity and water reduction competition program for colleges and universities in the world. In its fourth year, CCN gives a common voice and motivation to hundreds of thousands of students across North America, all working together to reduce consumption and mitigate the impacts of climate change. CCN is an opportunity to organize students and staff, host educational events, and challenge students and staff to participate in fun events that can have an immediate and lasting impact on your school’s carbon emissions and campus culture. CCN is jointly organized by the U.S. Green Building Council, Lucid, National Wildlife Federation, and Alliance to Save Energy.
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Reporter Contact:
Lauren M. Sheprow
University Media Relations Officer
631-632-6310
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