CSB, SJU both offering energy challenges from Feb. 19-March 2

A challenge has been laid down by the Sustainability Offices at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

The challenge? For CSB and SJU students to become more conscious of their energy usage, and to live more sustainably on the campuses and beyond.

For the first time, the Sustainability Offices at both CSB and SJU will run challenges to address those issues simultaneously from Monday, Feb. 19, through Friday, March 2 – the start of spring break.

CSB is sponsoring the “Spring 2018 Cut the Current Water and Energy Use Challenge.” At SJU, it’s known as the “Reduce Your Watt? Energy Challenge, Round 2.” But the goal of each remains the same – cut energy usage in campus residences and raise awareness of sustainability efforts.

Last spring, residents from Aurora Hall reduced their energy use by 17.8 percent. Overall, CSB residences reduced energy usage by 6.1 percent, according to Elissa Brown, sustainability coordinator at CSB.

Although the CSB Sustainability Office is encouraging campus residents to reduce water usage as well, it is not a measured part of the challenge since the campus does not track water usage through as detailed a metering system.

Cut the Current standings will be updated daily in the Gorecki Center, Brown said. The Sustainability Office will also have a table in the Gorecki Center passing out energy-efficient light bulbs and informative tips on how to cut energy usage. The residence that reduces energy the most receives a pizza party; the winning team will be announced after spring break.

In past years at SJU, there has been an energy challenge in the fall between Tommy and Mary halls, and then a second challenge in the spring for all residences on campus, said Pearce Jensen, sustainability fellow at SJU.

This school year, the fall challenge was for all residences at SJU, with residents from Virgil Michel reducing energy usage by 2.2 percent. That’s why this challenge is being called “Round 2.”

“When it comes to energy, I like to remind people to be curious and ask questions about how things actually work, because energy is not just this magical power that comes out of thin air,” Jensen said.

Some easy steps to cut energy usage include washing laundry in cold water and air-drying the clothes; taking shorter and colder showers; installing energy-efficient LED lightbulbs; turning lights off when leaving a room; unplugging idle electronic devices to prevent “phantom/vampire energy draw”; setting sleep settings on your computer; and turning down thermostats.