A contest for residential facilities aims to reduce electricity consumption while offering prizes to buildings that see the biggest success.
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Elon University’s 9th POWERless Energy Competition begins this week with the ultimate goal of increasing energy conservation awareness and behaviors.
The residential building and area in each Division that reduces energy use by the greatest percentage over three weeks (Feb. 26 – March 19) will be declared the winner. The contest rewards residents in the top buildings and areas as it promotes lifelong energy conservation habits.
Residential buildings and areas are divided into Division I or II based on occupancy. The competition begins this week at College Coffee. Since the competition’s inception in 2008, Elon students have conserved a total of 653,873kWh.
This spring’s POWERless competition is also linked to Campus Conservation Nationals, an energy and water conservation competition among colleges and universities. In 2012 Elon contributed to the CCN competition’s collective savings of 1,739,046 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 2,642,287 lbs of carbon dioxide - the equivalent to taking 151 American homes off the grid for a year.
In addition to reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and conserving fossil fuels, participants also have a chance to win a number of tangible prizes.
- Top building in each division: For every 5 percent in energy reduction, $25 will be donated to a nonprofit organization of the building occupants’ choice.
- Top area in each division: Area winners will be added to the coveted POWERless trophy, which resides in the Moseley Center.
- Individuals: Students also have the opportunity to win prizes when they “Commit to Conserve” on the Building Dashboard. Students must associate with the building they live in when they make a commitment.
All students who make a commitment on the Building Dashboard will be entered into a prize drawing for five sustainability prize bags. The prize bags will include at least the following items: Elon reusable water bottle, a gift card to a local merchant and the campus shop, a compact fluorescent light bulb and a sustainable t-shirt.
Individuals from the top two buildings in each division who Commit to Conserve on the Building Dashboard will be entered into a prize drawing for two bikes and two $50 Phoenix Cash prizes.
Facebook Fans: Every week the ElonSustainability facebook page will feature a different POWERless trivia question called Power Play. Answer the Power Play question correctly and your name will be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift certificate to a local eatery. There will be a drawing for each question.
All drawings will take place after the competition has concluded.
Get ready: Wonder why everyone keeps talking about energy or want to know more about today’s top energy issues? Join us March 4 at 7 p.m. in McKinnon Hall D&E for a screening of "Switch" followed by a Q&A with diverse panelists.
Get set: Weekly updates will be posted on E-net, and real-time data for most buildings is available on Building Dashboard. Danieley Center, Station at Mill Point, Kivette Hall, William W. Staley Hall, William A. Harper Hall and Trollinger House do not have real-time data on the Building Dashboard, but results for these buildings will be updated on the Dashboard weekly.
Additional information and updates will be posted on the Elon Sustainability Facebook page and E-net.
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by Eric Townsend, Staff Last Updated - 2/22/2013
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