Tonight the Green Cup trophy, designed by Dudley House RH Charles McGhee Hassrick, moves to its new home at Breckenridge House, the 2008 Battle of the Bulbs winner! Congratulations again!
Breck House also won an organic study break from Trader Joe's!
Congratulations also to our raffle draw winners:
$25 Gift Certificate to the Seminary Co-op Bookstore (Alicia Caillier, Mathews House)
$25 Gift Certificate to the Seminary Co-op Bookstore (Oleg Chanyshev, Off-Campus)
Set of 4 recycled glasses from Cavu Glass (Erik Lokensgaard, Off-Campus)
Critical Mass Messenger Bag from Patagonia (Mary Chang, Salisbury House)
A big thank-you to our sponsors and to everyone who participated in this year's competition! Keep up the good conservation work, remember to have fun doing it in the dark, and we'll see you next year!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Closing Event
Tonight at 8 p.m. in McCormick Tribune Lounge, come for:
- The awarding of the Green Cup
- Raffle prize winners: prizes from Patagonia, the Seminary Co-op, and more!
- Free Food!
RESULTS
Final Results are in: congratulations to Breckinridge and Maclean, who placed first and second!
Click on the image to enlarge it.
Monday, February 25, 2008
LAST Tip of the Week
This week, it's time to go all out--storm the lounges, check the bathrooms, and conserve as much electricity as you can. Don't forget that clothes dryers and elevators also use a lot of energy, so limit your use of these as much as possible!
Also, don't forget about No Power Hour on Thursday!
Also, don't forget about No Power Hour on Thursday!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
DO IT IN THE DARK: (No) Power Hour!
Celebrate the final week of Battle of the Bulbs with a (No) Power Hour on Thursday from 9-10 p.m. Go dark by turning off all your lights and by unplugging everything possible for the hour!
Week 3 Results
Week 4 is your big chance to do something special to show your committment to energy conservation! Don't slack off now!Click on the image to enlarge it.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Week 3 Targets
Remember, victory depends on your overall energy reduction, so don't wait until the 4th week to get proactive!
Click on the image to enlarge it.
Tip of the Week
Most of the energy used by a washing machine comes from heating the water. Next time you do laundry, use warm or cold water instead of hot (clothes also last longer that way!). You can also hang clothes to dry rather than putting them in the dryer.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Did You Know? Energy Star Devices
Most electronic devices (such as computers and monitors) and appliances (including microwaves, dishwashers, and toasters) come with an Energy Star label that identifies energy efficient products.
The EPA estimates that selective purchase of Energy Star devices saved around $12 billion in 2005.
The EPA estimates that selective purchase of Energy Star devices saved around $12 billion in 2005.
Week 2 Results
Building Week 2: 8th–15th
Target Usage %
Blackstone 3584 3720 -6.6
Breckinridge 4392 3840 -21.3
Broadview 7371 7020 -14.3
Burton-Judson 18765 21000 +0.7
Maclean 5565 5423 -12.3
Pierce 19608 20404 -6.3
Snell-Hitchcock 9021 11340 +13.1
Shoreland 35181 38240 -2.2
Max Palevsky 42866 46577 -2.2
ALL DORMS 146353 157564 -3.1
Chart to come soon!
Target Usage %
Blackstone 3584 3720 -6.6
Breckinridge 4392 3840 -21.3
Broadview 7371 7020 -14.3
Burton-Judson 18765 21000 +0.7
Maclean 5565 5423 -12.3
Pierce 19608 20404 -6.3
Snell-Hitchcock 9021 11340 +13.1
Shoreland 35181 38240 -2.2
Max Palevsky 42866 46577 -2.2
ALL DORMS 146353 157564 -3.1
Chart to come soon!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Tip of the Week
As Week 2 begins, here's another tip to lead your house to victory:
Last one awake in your house at night? Make a quick round to check for empty common areas and bathrooms with the lights still on. Flick them off--and prevent several hours of unnecessary energy use.
Last one awake in your house at night? Make a quick round to check for empty common areas and bathrooms with the lights still on. Flick them off--and prevent several hours of unnecessary energy use.
Week 1 Results!
Click on the image to enlarge it (depending on your web browser, you might have to click again once it opens in a new window).
Monday, February 4, 2008
T-shirts, CFLs, pledge forms, giveaways, etc
Have you seen those awesome 100% organic cotton Battle of the Bulbs t-shirts from American Apparel around campus? You too can become a proud wearer for the low price of $10! Just stop by our table in the Reynolds Club this week on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 11:30-2 p.m.
If you buy a t-shirt, we'll hook you up with two free tickets to the raffle at our closing ceremony, where we will be giving away sweet prizes from Patagonia and more! If you don't want to throw down the bones for a shirt, but still want to be awesome, you can fill out a pledge form to participate in the Battle and we'll automatically enter you in the raffle (for free!).
Speaking of more stuff about the table, you can also drop by to get free buttons adorned with clever slogans like "Kiss Me, I Do it in the Dark!" Even if you live in an apartment, you can still pledge to participate. For apartment-dwellers, we're giving away free compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), which use about a quarter of the energy a traditional incandescent bulb typically sucks up, and last ten times as long! (If you live in a dorm, you should be able to get these for your desk lamp simply by putting in a work order).
If you buy a t-shirt, we'll hook you up with two free tickets to the raffle at our closing ceremony, where we will be giving away sweet prizes from Patagonia and more! If you don't want to throw down the bones for a shirt, but still want to be awesome, you can fill out a pledge form to participate in the Battle and we'll automatically enter you in the raffle (for free!).
Speaking of more stuff about the table, you can also drop by to get free buttons adorned with clever slogans like "Kiss Me, I Do it in the Dark!" Even if you live in an apartment, you can still pledge to participate. For apartment-dwellers, we're giving away free compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), which use about a quarter of the energy a traditional incandescent bulb typically sucks up, and last ten times as long! (If you live in a dorm, you should be able to get these for your desk lamp simply by putting in a work order).
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Week 1 Target
Click on the image to enlarge it (depending on your web browser, you might have to click again once it opens in a new window).
Friday, February 1, 2008
Tip of the Week
Open the blinds and let in the light! Taking advantage of natural sunlight reduces your need for electric lighting, cutting down on energy use.
The Battle has Begun!
As of 12 a.m. today, the Battle has begun! Energy usage is going on record...is your dorm the best conserver or the worst guzzler?
Tip: Nobody in the room? Turn off the lights! Electricity use is not significantly increased by turning the lights off and on unless you're only going out for a couple of minutes.
Keep your eyes peeled for info on each dorm's progress. Our first update will be in a week.
Tip: Nobody in the room? Turn off the lights! Electricity use is not significantly increased by turning the lights off and on unless you're only going out for a couple of minutes.
Keep your eyes peeled for info on each dorm's progress. Our first update will be in a week.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
FAQs
Questions are organized categorically with questions about Battle of the Bulbs at the top, followed by questions about better ways to save energy, and then tips on saving energy at the bottom. If your question isn't answered here, please direct it to the Bulbs listhost.
Battle of the Bulbs
How are you keeping track of energy use?
We tabulate data weekly after it is provided to us by Chris Keating, the director of Residence Halls and Commons. Chris is getting his data directly from electricity meters at each building.
What are this year’s weekly reduction targets?
We plan on keeping the same reduction goals (5% for the first week, and 10, 15, and 20% for the second, third and fourth weeks) which work out to a monthlong reduction of 14%.
What about power outages?
While we cannot measure the impact of a power outage until the week is over, it is unlikely that power outages will have a significant impact on overall energy reduction. Contrary to popular belief, the Shoreland’s power outage in 2007 was not the main contributor to its amazing 4th week drop!
Remember: power outages should only encourage you to do your best to save energy! Energy reduction matters for the whole month, so even if a dorm has an exemplary week, it might not win (case in point: Shoreland).
What about ongoing construction?
Quote from Chris Keating, Director of Facilities & Business Operations for the Residence Halls & Commons:
"[E]ach residence hall has its own meters to measure electricity usage. Neither of the construction projects adjacent to those two buildings were connected to electric sources on the residence hall side of the meter. Therefore, no electricity consumed in those projects was reflected in our meter readings. The increases in BJ and SH usage from 07 to 08 were primarily a result of the telecommunications closets which were built in each of those buildings to support the infrastructure of the new telecom rewiring that was done. BJ had four closets built and SH had two. Each closet is air conditioned to keep the telecom equipment operating properly. Neither of these buildings had this type of infrastructure prior to Summer 07."
Are there any rules?
There are no rules except the standard rule about fair play, but there are weekly guidelines. Each week in February has a higher reduction target; and we outline the necessary steps you need to take to reduce your dormitory's electricity use by a further 5% for that week. Every week, we will post the electricity reduction target for each dorm and the weekly results on a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet will be available on this website and on the information boards located in each of the dining halls, the Admin building, the Reg and the Reynolds Club.
Is energy use due to heat calculated along with energy use due to lights, electronics, appliances, etc.?
No. Heating in the dorms is provided by radiators, which are powered by steam, which is generated using natural gas. The energy meters only measure electricity use.
How many dorms participate? Which ones?
Ten dorms: Burton-Judson, Snell-Hitchcock, Blackstone, Breckinridge, Broadview, Maclean, Max P., Pierce, Shoreland, and—starting this year—Stony Island.
There’s a dining hall in my dorm—that uses energy too. That’s not fair!
Your dorm’s performance is rated using its own energy use during the last week of January as its baseline. The dining halls were in operation then as they are now.
How can I get my dining hall to reduce electricity use as well?
We’re in the process of talking to dining hall managers to see whether some lights can be turned off when unneeded (e.g. during the day), or whether other energy-conservation measures could be adopted. You can also to talk to your dining hall manager about it, but don’t be surprised if he/she refuses to raise the temperature in their refrigerators—that’s for safety reasons!
Are other campus buildings participating in this?
No, but we’re working on it.
Prizes
What does the winning dorm get this year?
The Green Cup (a truly awesome light-up trophy with light bulbs inside) and bragging rights for being 2009’s energy-saving champions! We’re also working on a local and/or organic food study break for the winning dorm.
What are the raffle prizes?
Sports stuff, goodies from Whole Foods, and more.
Better Energy Conservation
Can we transition to LEDs instead of CFLs?
Unfortunately, there is currently no initiative in Housing to replace existing electrical fixtures with LEDs, as it is costlier than simply using a CFL, which uses the same socket as the conventional lightbulb. However, such a consideration will be brought to the attention of Housing as construction on the new dorm continues.
I can't turn off the lights in my dorm’s halls , lounges, and/or stairwells. What do I do?
Talk to your building manager and ask him/her to alternate hallway lights and to turn off lounge lighting at night, if possible.
Doesn’t it waste more energy to turn lights and electronics on and off than to just leave them on, especially if you’re only going to be out of the room for a short time?
Turn out the lights if you are the last to leave a room, unless you are coming back within two minutes. Contrary to popular belief, turning lights on consumes no more electricity than they use when already lit. This is true for both fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.[1]
Can I recycle my CFLs?
Facilities does have a safe disposal program for fluorescent lights. We are currently checking to see if this also applies to CFLs.
How much energy does this ACTUALLY save, anyway? Is it enough to matter?
· In 2007, all dorms collectively managed to reduce their energy usage from Feb. 2006 by 8.7%, or 35 tons of carbon emissions.
· “The lessons learned from Battle of the Bulbs have a direct effect on students, said Christopher Keating, the director of residence halls and commons. Lower energy use would ultimately reduce the student housing fee.”[2]
· Assuming typical Chicago (ComEd) electricity costs fluctuate around 10 cents per kWh, in 2007 we saved the University about $5,500-$6,000 in one month.
· The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that about 5% of all residential energy consumption can be classified as “phantom power.” If Americans could prevent the loss of these 64 million megawatt hours of electricity, they would prevent a hundred billion pounds in carbon dioxide emissions every year.[3]
Energy-Saving Tips
What can I do to save energy?
· Turn out the lights when you leave a room
· Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which consume ¼ of the energy of a traditional bulb and lasts 10 times as long. If you live in a dorm that provides desk lamps in every room, the front desk should be able to give you CFLs for your lighting fixtures. If the front desk does not have CFLs, file a work order. Otherwise, the University of Chicago Environmental Center (UCEC) may be able to either give you a bulb, or at least direct you to a local retailer that sells them
· Keep your thermostat as low as possible.
· Tell someone. If you believe that a dorm or academic building is being consistently overheated, get in touch with someone from facilities or Residence Halls and Commons (RHC). RHC is generally happy to turn down the heat and save a little extra money
· Don't open windows in overheated rooms. File a work order or Contact facilities or RHC and ask them to reduce the heat (unfortunately, we can't count energy savings from reduced radiator usage because the University produces its own steam on-site to heat buildings and thus doesn’t track usage at each building with the same specificity that the electric companies charging the University for the electricity drawn from the grid do, but do it anyway! Go full steam!—pardon the pun).
· Share a fridge. Mini fridges consume a lot of energy and are generally not full.
· Turn off electronic devices (computers, printers, etc.) when not in use.
· Set computers to automatically enter sleep mode after about 15 minutes of inactivity.
· Unplug your cell phone, laptop, and iPod chargers when not in use. Many types of electronics draw energy as long as they're plugged in, even if they are supposedly "off."[4]
· Avoid using electronics that use high levels of energy, such as hair dryers.
· Wash your clothes in cold water. This also helps your clothes last longer.
· Hang dry your clothes, or dry your clothes halfway in the dryer and then hang dry them. This also extends the lifespan of your clothing!
Miscellaneous
How much are you selling your t-shirts for?
$10.
Why is this called the Battle of the Bulbs?
The primary way for students to save electricity in the dorm is to reduce lighting usage: that is, to keep as few light bulbs on for as little time as possible. Therefore, the most potent weapon in the battle is the light bulb, or avoidance thereof. The name was originally inspired by the fact that compact fluorescent bulbs are much more efficient and longer-lasting than incandescent light bulbs—we thought that pitting something energy-saving against the energy-guzzling would be a fun symbol for the competition.
What do you think about that Maroon article that guy wrote a few days ago? I think I might agree with him.
Ha! Ha! Ha! (Actually, we also published a response in the Maroon. It's here.)
[1] Grist: Environmental News and Commentary
[2] “Dorms slash energy use for Battle of the Bulbs.” 6 Mar. 2007. The Maroon.
[3] See http://www.carbonrally.com/challenges/10.
[4] Green Guide to the University of Chicago
Battle of the Bulbs
How are you keeping track of energy use?
We tabulate data weekly after it is provided to us by Chris Keating, the director of Residence Halls and Commons. Chris is getting his data directly from electricity meters at each building.
What are this year’s weekly reduction targets?
We plan on keeping the same reduction goals (5% for the first week, and 10, 15, and 20% for the second, third and fourth weeks) which work out to a monthlong reduction of 14%.
What about power outages?
While we cannot measure the impact of a power outage until the week is over, it is unlikely that power outages will have a significant impact on overall energy reduction. Contrary to popular belief, the Shoreland’s power outage in 2007 was not the main contributor to its amazing 4th week drop!
Remember: power outages should only encourage you to do your best to save energy! Energy reduction matters for the whole month, so even if a dorm has an exemplary week, it might not win (case in point: Shoreland).
What about ongoing construction?
Quote from Chris Keating, Director of Facilities & Business Operations for the Residence Halls & Commons:
"[E]ach residence hall has its own meters to measure electricity usage. Neither of the construction projects adjacent to those two buildings were connected to electric sources on the residence hall side of the meter. Therefore, no electricity consumed in those projects was reflected in our meter readings. The increases in BJ and SH usage from 07 to 08 were primarily a result of the telecommunications closets which were built in each of those buildings to support the infrastructure of the new telecom rewiring that was done. BJ had four closets built and SH had two. Each closet is air conditioned to keep the telecom equipment operating properly. Neither of these buildings had this type of infrastructure prior to Summer 07."
Are there any rules?
There are no rules except the standard rule about fair play, but there are weekly guidelines. Each week in February has a higher reduction target; and we outline the necessary steps you need to take to reduce your dormitory's electricity use by a further 5% for that week. Every week, we will post the electricity reduction target for each dorm and the weekly results on a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet will be available on this website and on the information boards located in each of the dining halls, the Admin building, the Reg and the Reynolds Club.
Is energy use due to heat calculated along with energy use due to lights, electronics, appliances, etc.?
No. Heating in the dorms is provided by radiators, which are powered by steam, which is generated using natural gas. The energy meters only measure electricity use.
How many dorms participate? Which ones?
Ten dorms: Burton-Judson, Snell-Hitchcock, Blackstone, Breckinridge, Broadview, Maclean, Max P., Pierce, Shoreland, and—starting this year—Stony Island.
There’s a dining hall in my dorm—that uses energy too. That’s not fair!
Your dorm’s performance is rated using its own energy use during the last week of January as its baseline. The dining halls were in operation then as they are now.
How can I get my dining hall to reduce electricity use as well?
We’re in the process of talking to dining hall managers to see whether some lights can be turned off when unneeded (e.g. during the day), or whether other energy-conservation measures could be adopted. You can also to talk to your dining hall manager about it, but don’t be surprised if he/she refuses to raise the temperature in their refrigerators—that’s for safety reasons!
Are other campus buildings participating in this?
No, but we’re working on it.
Prizes
What does the winning dorm get this year?
The Green Cup (a truly awesome light-up trophy with light bulbs inside) and bragging rights for being 2009’s energy-saving champions! We’re also working on a local and/or organic food study break for the winning dorm.
What are the raffle prizes?
Sports stuff, goodies from Whole Foods, and more.
Better Energy Conservation
Can we transition to LEDs instead of CFLs?
Unfortunately, there is currently no initiative in Housing to replace existing electrical fixtures with LEDs, as it is costlier than simply using a CFL, which uses the same socket as the conventional lightbulb. However, such a consideration will be brought to the attention of Housing as construction on the new dorm continues.
I can't turn off the lights in my dorm’s halls , lounges, and/or stairwells. What do I do?
Talk to your building manager and ask him/her to alternate hallway lights and to turn off lounge lighting at night, if possible.
Doesn’t it waste more energy to turn lights and electronics on and off than to just leave them on, especially if you’re only going to be out of the room for a short time?
Turn out the lights if you are the last to leave a room, unless you are coming back within two minutes. Contrary to popular belief, turning lights on consumes no more electricity than they use when already lit. This is true for both fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.[1]
Can I recycle my CFLs?
Facilities does have a safe disposal program for fluorescent lights. We are currently checking to see if this also applies to CFLs.
How much energy does this ACTUALLY save, anyway? Is it enough to matter?
· In 2007, all dorms collectively managed to reduce their energy usage from Feb. 2006 by 8.7%, or 35 tons of carbon emissions.
· “The lessons learned from Battle of the Bulbs have a direct effect on students, said Christopher Keating, the director of residence halls and commons. Lower energy use would ultimately reduce the student housing fee.”[2]
· Assuming typical Chicago (ComEd) electricity costs fluctuate around 10 cents per kWh, in 2007 we saved the University about $5,500-$6,000 in one month.
· The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that about 5% of all residential energy consumption can be classified as “phantom power.” If Americans could prevent the loss of these 64 million megawatt hours of electricity, they would prevent a hundred billion pounds in carbon dioxide emissions every year.[3]
Energy-Saving Tips
What can I do to save energy?
· Turn out the lights when you leave a room
· Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which consume ¼ of the energy of a traditional bulb and lasts 10 times as long. If you live in a dorm that provides desk lamps in every room, the front desk should be able to give you CFLs for your lighting fixtures. If the front desk does not have CFLs, file a work order. Otherwise, the University of Chicago Environmental Center (UCEC) may be able to either give you a bulb, or at least direct you to a local retailer that sells them
· Keep your thermostat as low as possible.
· Tell someone. If you believe that a dorm or academic building is being consistently overheated, get in touch with someone from facilities or Residence Halls and Commons (RHC). RHC is generally happy to turn down the heat and save a little extra money
· Don't open windows in overheated rooms. File a work order or Contact facilities or RHC and ask them to reduce the heat (unfortunately, we can't count energy savings from reduced radiator usage because the University produces its own steam on-site to heat buildings and thus doesn’t track usage at each building with the same specificity that the electric companies charging the University for the electricity drawn from the grid do, but do it anyway! Go full steam!—pardon the pun).
· Share a fridge. Mini fridges consume a lot of energy and are generally not full.
· Turn off electronic devices (computers, printers, etc.) when not in use.
· Set computers to automatically enter sleep mode after about 15 minutes of inactivity.
· Unplug your cell phone, laptop, and iPod chargers when not in use. Many types of electronics draw energy as long as they're plugged in, even if they are supposedly "off."[4]
· Avoid using electronics that use high levels of energy, such as hair dryers.
· Wash your clothes in cold water. This also helps your clothes last longer.
· Hang dry your clothes, or dry your clothes halfway in the dryer and then hang dry them. This also extends the lifespan of your clothing!
Miscellaneous
How much are you selling your t-shirts for?
$10.
Why is this called the Battle of the Bulbs?
The primary way for students to save electricity in the dorm is to reduce lighting usage: that is, to keep as few light bulbs on for as little time as possible. Therefore, the most potent weapon in the battle is the light bulb, or avoidance thereof. The name was originally inspired by the fact that compact fluorescent bulbs are much more efficient and longer-lasting than incandescent light bulbs—we thought that pitting something energy-saving against the energy-guzzling would be a fun symbol for the competition.
What do you think about that Maroon article that guy wrote a few days ago? I think I might agree with him.
Ha! Ha! Ha! (Actually, we also published a response in the Maroon. It's here.)
[1] Grist: Environmental News and Commentary
[2] “Dorms slash energy use for Battle of the Bulbs.” 6 Mar. 2007. The Maroon.
[3] See http://www.carbonrally.com/challenges/10.
[4] Green Guide to the University of Chicago
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Kickoff Event--Thursday!
The BoB kickoff will be taking place this Thursday, January 31 in the McCormick Lounge (1st floor of the Reynolds Club) at 8 p.m. Come for snacks and information (particularly energy-saving tips) on the Battle of the Bulbs!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Last Year's Winner
In February 2007, BJ won, with an overall 20% electricity reduction over the course of the month!
The dorm with the highest participation rate was Breckenridge with 66% pledged residents.
Shoreland won the prize for effort by reducing its energy use 45% in the last week of the competition (its overall reduction was 15%).
Overall, the dorms collectively saved 69,240 lbs of carbon from entering the atmosphere. Well done!
The dorm with the highest participation rate was Breckenridge with 66% pledged residents.
Shoreland won the prize for effort by reducing its energy use 45% in the last week of the competition (its overall reduction was 15%).
Overall, the dorms collectively saved 69,240 lbs of carbon from entering the atmosphere. Well done!
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