The annual Campus Energy and Sustainability Contest kicks off today (Oct. 1). The residence hall or Greek house (not all are able to compete) with the greatest energy reduction over two weeks will win a Euro Wafel Brunch for their building. The contest will end Oct. 14, with winners announced the next day. A mid-contest update will be given Oct. 8.
There are a few changes to this year’s contest that will allow individuals to earn their residence hall bonus points. Residents who sign the contest pledge to personally reduce their environmental footprint and/or attend a few upcoming sustainability events will garner points toward the contest. All students who sign the pledge or attend the designated events also will be entered into a raffle to win an “eco” gift bag or a set of LED fairy lights with an energy-saving light timer. There will be a total of 20 individual prizes available, with 10 winners chosen each week.
All residence halls on Northside, Southside and the Southside Greek houses in Case Western Reserve University-owned buildings are eligible to participate. Anyone can make the pledge, attend events and be entered to win the raffle.
To participate, students are encouraged to get their friends and suitemates to reduce their residence hall’s electricity usage by turning off the lights, taking the stairs, unplugging devices, air drying clothes and not hitting the auto-open door button.
Students can check their hall’s usage on the Office of Energy and Sustainability’s website.
Students who attend the following events also can earn more points for their residence hall:
- Big Green Event: Held Oct. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Tinkham Veale University Center ballroom, this event will feature food and talks about sustainability in lightening rounds. RSVP for the Big Green Event on CampusGroups.
- Tree Walk: Held Oct. 12 from 9:45 to 11 a.m., the event will kick off at the Grand Staircase with bagels and feature a community arborist and University Circle history expert.