Conservation Inspiration
The annual Energy Challenge rolls out next week, shining a light on Dickinson's conservation efforts
by Tony Moore
Now an annual tradition, the Energy Challenge this year kicks off March 28 and runs through April 18. The overarching theme is “Green Devils Take Charge,” highlighting the college’s new Green Devil Certification, a sustainability designation achieved through a new online self-assessment tool.
The Energy Challenge is a campuswide event aimed at bringing both awareness of environmental concerns and action through energy conservation, and this year’s weekly themes will help the entire Dickinson community engage on a daily basis:
- Less Is More, March 28 to April 4
- Flip the Switch, April 4-11
- Unplug and Go Outside, April 11-18
The Energy Challenge ties into Dickinson’s Climate Action Plan and the college’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2020. The 2015 Energy Challenge led to a total reduction of energy usage of 69,670 kilowatt hours, which kept 84,719 pounds of carbon from the atmosphere (and saved the college $6,270 on electricity costs), while landing Dickinson in the top 10 (out of 125 colleges and universities across the U.S.) in the Campus Conservation Nationals.
At Dickinson, a competition among the 15 residence halls is a hallmark of the Energy Challenge, pitting student against student to see who can reduce energy consumption the most. Also this year, students can partake in two Energy Challenge events:
- Kickoff: Desserts in the Dark, March 28, 7-9 p.m., Britton Plaza (Social Hall if rain)
- Finale Bonfire, April 21, 8-10 p.m., Morgan Field
Prizes will be awarded to the residence halls with the most energy reduction, and you can follow the the competition through the Center for Sustainability Education's Facebook page or Dickinson’s Energy Dashboard.
Learn more
Published March 23, 2016