Dorms Compete in October Energy Challenge
To the victor belongs an ice cream social
BU’s third dorm energy savings contest requires unneeded lights off and computers on for participating in the contest’s social media aspect. Photo by Kalman Zabarsky
“Turn off the lights when you leave the room.” “Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs.” “Take shorter showers.” “Unplug your electronics when you’re not using them.”
Rather than just environmental nagging, what if these exhortations were your ticket to a free ice cream social?
Boston University Student Government and sustainability@BU are offering that prize to the best watt-whittling dorm or area on the Charles River Campus in what they’re billing as the Dorm Energy Challenge.
During the month of October, dorms and campus areas will compete for points by participating in scheduled energy-reducing activities and by posting about energy saving on social media—Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram—with special, Dorm Energy Challenge–tailored hashtags: #EC Warren, #ECWest, #ECTowers, #ECSouth, #ECUppperBayState, #ECLowerBayState, #EC1019, #ECMyles, #ECDanielsen, #ECStuvi, and #ECKilachand. The posts should detail how residents are reducing energy use, and the sponsors are urging students to post photos as well.
“Students can earn one point for their dorm by posting with the hashtags on social media, and five points by participating in these events, where they can ‘unplug’ in a variety of ways,” says Lisa Tornatore, BU’s sustainability outreach coordinator.
The aim is “to educate students about different ways to conserve energy and encourage students to consume energy wisely,” says Charles “Brad” Miller (ENG’17), codirector of the Student Government’s environmental affairs department. This is the third annual challenge, but in the past, “student involvement and awareness were minimal,” Miller says, so this year’s challenge included a social media aspect to heighten publicity.
Additionally, the individual student judged to post the most creative or compelling photo will win a bamboo speaker.
The Energy Challenge events:
- A free yoga class today, Thursday, October 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Warren Towers Cinema Room
- “Unplugged,” two hours of activities and games that don’t require electricity, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, October 16, in the George Sherman Union Alley
- An “Eco-Rhett” Leadership Open House Monday, October 19, from 6 to 7 p.m. at a location still to be determined
For more information, contact the Environmental Affairs Department or Sustainability@BU.
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