Green Team, a campus environmental organization, and Physical Plant have teamed up this semester to host a university-wide competition called Energy Wars during the month of February. The point is for colleges throughout the nation to compete against one another with the aim of significantly reducing their energy usage as a whole.

Unlike Water Wars, dorms will not be competing against one another for cash incentives, but there are many reasons to want to reduce your energy usage.

The main reasons behind energy reduction and this competition are threefold:

• Economic - In the 2008-2009 year, our campus spent nearly $3 million on utilities, a cost that has been continually increasing year-by-year because of higher rates and usage. Your room fee pays for things like the bed you sleep on, the desk you use, and your utilities. If the university has to pay less for electricity, they won't have any reason to raise your rates!

• Environmental - Help the environment and slow global warming. Electricity production has huge social and environmental consequences. Air pollution, acid rain, global warming, and domestic energy insecurity are caused in some part by electricity production.
  

• Personal - Increase your comfort. Energy efficiency makes a nicer place to live by using daylight, relying on fresh air, and avoiding heat producing lights and appliances.

Start simple and turn off the lights when you leave a room. Turn off and unplug appliances when they are not in use. Turn down the thermostat if your room is too hot (or contact Physical Plant at ext. 6264). Check out an Energy Wars flyer for more tips!

And the best way you can help out is to get involved with the Green Team campaign to reduce our environmental footprint. To volunteer, contact Green Team Presidents Nikki Jimenez and Juliana Lisuk.