KU launches second annual energy-saving competition

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Center for Sustainability has launched its second annual energy-saving competition, which begins today, March 7.

The contest, Lights Out–Round 2, is a competition among buildings on campus to see who can save the most electricity over a six-week period. This year the contenders will be 14 buildings primarily used by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, including last year’s winner, Bailey Hall.

“We see this as a fun way to save money while reducing our resource use and greenhouse gas emissions,“ said Jeff Severin, director, Center for Sustainability. “Each year that we do this helps students, faculty, and staff form habits that will help them continue to reduce their impacts.”

Training for students, faculty and staff is currently under way in order to prepare them for the friendly battle and encourage as many of them as possible to take a personal pledge to save energy in their building. 227 individuals took the pledge in 2012.

Last year’s competition led to a combined energy savings of 14.3 percent and was equivalent to the electric use of 10.4 homes for a full year.

Each building’s energy savings will be judged against the amount of electricity the building used during the same time period in 2011. At the end of the competition, the building that makes the greatest improvement wins a traveling trophy. All of the buildings will also receive some portion of the actual dollars they save during their competition.

The contest runs through April 17, with the winner announced on Earth Day, April 22. More information about Lights Out! can be found online.

The contest is co-sponsored by Energy Solutions Professionals, Overland Park.